From Rachel’s Diary
From Rachel’s Diary:
Soup and bread really do fix more than they should.
Alix found bowls that didn’t match. They were adorable.
Jules had added mismatched glasses and tumblers—for ambience he said.
I liked them too. Quan brought chopsticks for reasons no one questioned, particularly when he kept working one, twirling and fidgeting.
Made me think of finger exercises. . David showed up late with pastries that smelled like sin and bad decisions.
Yes, I ate three and stole a fourth for breakfast tomorrow.
I walk enough.
We ate sitting wherever we fit—stairs, the floor, the edge of the counter.
Someone put music on low. Someone else brought up classes, Jules and David both had one today, my first wasn’t for another two days, but I did have a seminar the next.
Alix’s start tomorrow and Quan said he has sessions all day tomorrow.
I laughed more than I expected to.
That surprised me.
My phone buzzed a few times while we were eating. Frankie, mostly—updates, jokes, something about rehearsal logistics that made no sense out of context. I didn’t check any of it. I still haven’t, I’ll answer her in the morning. I wanted to stay where I was for a little while longer.
After we all drifted back to our own places and I locked my door behind me, I finally listened to Dominic’s message.
He sent me a voice clip in response to mine. He sounded altogether too damn sexy in his. It wasn’t long. He told me he liked hearing my voice first thing in the morning. Said he wished he were here. Said he was proud of me.
It made my chest ache in that quiet, familiar way.
I miss him even more now. Not in a way that makes me want to run away or I guess run back to him—but he still fits into me somewhere. Even at a distance. Even if I’m not ready to give him what he wants.
Today felt full. In a good way. The best way.
I think that counts for something.