Chapter Seven
Caroline
After a week of hiding out and wallowing away in self-pity, I finally had to face reality and stop avoiding all of my adult tasks.
It’s been a lovely time back at home with my phone turned off, escaping into a fictional world and pretending all of my problems don’t exist. But unfortunately, I’ve learned that putting things off for longer just makes them ten times worse…
and I will feel a lot better to get that anxiety off my chest.
I plug in my phone with a new audiobook picked out for the drive and back out of the driveway.
My parents are waving from the front door like I’m heading off to college, and not a grown ass adult about to go meet with her lawyer.
Oh to be a kid again, thinking math homework was the biggest of my worries.
It’s funny how we wish away time, until time is all we want back.
However, I now have too much time to think to myself on this drive and keep trying to refocus myself on the audiobook playing, but I’ve zoned out so much that I don’t even know what’s happening in the story.
Finally after an hour of replays, I turn it off and switch to the radio.
Listening to country music with the windows down, sun shining, and an iced coffee in the console really makes you forget about your troubles for a bit.
Pulling off the exit for North Avenue, it feels odd to pass by the apartment building that I called home just last week.
I’m not sure nostalgia is the right word, but the memories come flooding back and I quickly shut down my jam session.
I quietly pull up to the basic franchise hotel that I’m staying at and repress the sadness that I’m not staying at a Warren Hotel for free.
I can still see it from my room’s window, but this journey is about choosing the high road, right?
After checking in to my room, I make myself at home and unpack my bag, while I have some down time. Luckily everywhere I need to be this week is within walking distance and the crisp fall air is supposed to be beautiful.
Suppressing the possibilities of what I may have to face tomorrow, I lay down and open the Zillow app to browse available apartments in the area.
Holy shit, they’ve really gone up in price since I last had to find housing.
I may have to expand my search window outside of my Lincoln Park comfort zone.
Sure, I make decent money when I pick up shifts at the pilates studio, but I’m going to have to find a new hospitality career if I plan to keep up with the Joneses.
Especially since I’m sure the Warrens aren’t saving my position at their company.
I finally give up and decide to turn off my brain with a little Friends in bed before calling it an early night. I have a wake-up call at 7 AM so that I can meet with my lawyer and discuss serving this bastard what he deserves.