June Again #3
15 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: This sucks.
Thank you. That’s much better.
I feel like I only just got here though. I can’t believe I’m leaving already. I can’t believe you’re not coming with me.
The past couple of weeks have honestly been some of the best of my life.
I’m so happy I agreed to do this. I love Detroit, I love your apartment.
I love Justin and his fucking… oddities.
You’ve started to make a real life here, and I am so happy I got to share a part of it, even just for a little while.
You have to come over to Meadowcraig soon. You promised! In fact, you should fly over for Isla’s wedding! You can be my plus one.
Oh, please, Brian? Please!
15 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: RE: This sucks.
Count me in.
I’d love to finally meet Isla and Penny, and if she doesn’t mind having me, I’d love to share in her happy day with her.
But Jesy, I want you to understand something.
My life isn’t here in Detroit. Not the apartment, or the job, or Justin and his oddities. You are my life. My home is wherever you are.
If I could bring myself to uproot your life again, I’d beg you to join me over here and see out the rest of the year here in Detroit. But I can’t do that. I won’t do that. And before you offer, I won’t let you do that.
Your job right now is to focus on your book. On getting settled in Meadowcraig. I will plan my life around you. As long as I have a laptop and strong WIFI connection, I can work from anywhere. So, I think it’s about time someone put you first.
Do you understand what I’m saying, Jesy?
15 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: This sucks.
I’m not sure.
Because it kind of sounds like you’d be happy to join me here in Meadowcraig once you’re done with Detroit.
15 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: RE: This sucks.
If it sounds that way, I guess that’s what I mean.
Better get writing that book, babe. I want the biggest house in Meadowcraig.
16 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: BIG TROUBLE
Jesy Mason, when you get home you are in BIG trouble!! You stole it, didn’t you? Admit it!
Don’t tell me you didn’t, because it was on the table yesterday. I saw it. I know I saw it.
You just wait, Missy. You just wait.
16 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: I have no idea what you’re talking about
I’m home! It sucks.
By the way, you’re insane. I didn’t steal it. I don’t even know what it is.
16 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: Likely story
Yeah, yeah.
We’ll put a pin in that.
I woke up alone this morning, and I really did not like it. You know, you look so peaceful when you’re sleeping. It’s the only time I see you truly relaxed. Did you know that you have a permanent worry line at the top of your nose? It disappears when you’re sleeping.
I didn’t want you to leave, Jesy.
I had the best time with you. Showing you around the city was so much fun. Even if you took the piss out of me. By the way, I do know my way around, thank you very much. Getting lost was a fluke. If you didn’t distract me, I wouldn’t have got mixed up.
The apartment feels so gloomy without you. Like you’ve taken all the brightness from it. I am utterly miserable and it’s entirely your fault.
Three more months I’m stuck here for. How have I managed to agree to this?
16 Jun | From: Jesy Mason | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: Halfway done
You’re three months through your six months of purgatory. It’s going to fly by.
Also, you did get lost.
You may have picked up a few Americanisms, maybe you even know you way around here and there… but you got lost.
Oh, Brian. You were so funny, though. Walking around like you knew where everything was, and what streets were where. I still laugh when I think about the big speech you gave about the statue, only to realise it was the wrong statue.
When I was on the plane, I kept thinking about it and bursting into laughter. Mr Cosmo (actual name) who sat beside me must have thought I was a maniac. One moment he’s offering me a tissue for my tears, the next he’s slapping my back after I choke on my laughter.
He was a nice man, actually. Not at all judgemental of the crazy woman next to him.
Not sure how I am going to get out of bed, I feel like I could sleep for a week. Who knew travelling would be so exhausting, huh?
16 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Mason
Subject: I want my hoodie
Don’t think you can distract me with all your chatter about the plane. I know you have my hoodie, Jesy. Admit it!
You have received an instant message from:
brIAN
Brian: You can’t hide forever, Jesy.
Jesy: Baby! Oh, I miss you.
Brian: Nice try. Stop distracting me.
Jesy: I’m naked right now.
Brian: Pics or it didn’t happen.
Jesy: I can’t take pics. I’d have to take my new hoodie off, and that’s a sacrifice I’m not willing to make.
Brian: I knew it!
Brian: You little thief!
Jesy: You shouldn’t leave things lying around if you don’t want me to pick them up. I don’t know how many times I told you that while I was there.
Brian: Nag nag, like a little old Wifey.
Brian: Brian, how many times do I need to tell you to put away your dishes after you’ve washed them!
Brian: Brian, you know, you have a perfectly good laundry hamper, why are you leaving your clothes on the floor?
Brian: Brian! Stop leaving the toilet seat up! It makes my arse cold!
Jesy: I didn’t say that one.
Brian: No, I made that one up for dramatic effect.
Brian: Come back and nag me some more!
Jesy: I wish I could. Leaving you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Brian: Letting you go was equally bad.
Jesy: Still. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Brian: If you say so. You know what else makes the heart grow fonder? Having you by my side so I can see your pretty face and kiss your pretty lips and fuck your…
Brian: Hang on.
Brian: We were talking about my hoodie.
Jesy: Oh, were we? I don’t recall.
Brian: Minx.
Jesy: I needed it, Brian! I needed something of yours with me on that plane! Otherwise, I might have really lost it.
Brian: Mr Cosmo might argue you already lost it.
Brian: Well, this just isn’t fair. I have nothing of yours with me.
Jesy: Don’t you?
Brian: Do I?
Jesy: Check your nightstand.
Brian: Be right back.
Brian: You naughty, naughty girl.
Jesy: Do you approve? It took me a long time to decide what to leave you, actually.
A picture seemed too impersonal, and honestly, after our nighttime photoshoot, I don’t think I could have taken something sexier than what you already have.
My clothes wouldn’t fit you as your hoodie fit me, and I didn’t want to buy you something impersonal.
Brian: So you left me your panties?
Jesy: I left you my panties.
Brian: You know, that’s a fair trade-off. Keep the hoodie. Don’t expect the panties back.
Jesy: Deal. I need to sleep, babe. Busy day tomorrow.
Brian: Sweet dreams, Beautiful.
You have received an instant message from:
ISLA
Isla: Are you back on Scottish soil? And more importantly, are you back on Scottish time? You’ve been incredibly difficult to get hold of the past few days.
Jesy: Unfortunately.
Isla: Isla: Oh, are you about to be gross and cliché?
Jesy: Depends what you mean.
Isla: Did you leave your heart in Detroit?
Jesy: Gross.
Jesy: But yes.
Isla: You sap. Jet lag gone?
Jesy: Just about. I feel slightly more human. I still can’t believe I’ve been back nearly a week already.
Isla: And yet you haven’t brought me my souvenir yet!
Jesy: Funny.
Isla: Seriously, you okay?
Jesy: Yes and no.
Jesy: Leaving was always going to suck, but we left in a good place. I had such an awesome time there, and he really took care of me.
Isla: As he should.
Jesy: I don’t know. I just felt… loved.
Jesy: I know that sounds silly, but he understands me enough to know I’d want to visit the museums. He wants to inspire me enough to make sure I had notepads on hand.
When I spoke, he not only listened, but spoke back.
And I know, how low is my bar that these things are impressive to me?
But then I think about all that time with Jerry where something else was always the priority.
Jesy: It was nice.
Isla: It is nice. And maybe your bar is low, but these are all basic things a relationship should have. Mutual respect and understanding.
Jesy: I guess so…
Isla: So, is that what this is? A relationship?
Jesy: I… don’t know. We didn’t put any kind of labels on it, you know? But he did say taking it slow wasn’t really for him.
Jesy: But that he didn’t really trust me.
Isla: Ouch.
Jesy: I mean, yeah. But it was fair. I really hurt him leaving him there all alone.
I remember when I arrived at the airport, the relief on his face was so obvious, I knew he thought I wasn’t coming.
I’d gone for a shower while he took a work call and when I came out of the bathroom, his face was pale and, again, that relief was palpable.
Jesy: I really did a number on him.
Isla: He can’t hold it over you forever if he’s choosing to go forward with you.
Jesy: Agreed. And he said as much himself.
Jesy: But when I think about everything… he broke up with Rachel, he wanted to ask me to come to Detroit with him, he wanted to commit… I can definitely understand why he’s so cautious now.
Jesy: He was so in this, and I was out the door.
Isla: So, taking things slow, but also not?
Jesy: I think… taking things slow, exclusively. He knows I’m his. I know he’s mine. There are no dating other people but no labels yet either.
Isla: Whatever works for you, hen.
Isla: I’m definitely cheering you both on.
Jesy: Thanks, babe. Love you.
Isla: Love you, too.
22 Jun | From: Brian Trainer | To: Justin Carter
Subject: Beers?
Do you want to get a couple of beers tonight?
22 Jun | From: Justin Carter | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Beers?
Ah. Need cheering up, do you?