Chapter 4 #3
Annie chuckled. “All of it? Like, this isn’t supposed to be my life.
I’m supposed to be working my cushy accounting job and living with my hot girlfriend who’s killing it on Capitol Hill.
We’re supposed to be planning our future together.
And now I’m almost thirty, waking up every morning in my childhood bedroom to a collage of women I cut out of magazines when I was fifteen, listening to my parents have the same arguments they’ve had since I was five. ”
Max waited for a moment, not wanting to jump in and offer advice where it wasn’t wanted. “It kind of sounds to me like you’re having your junk drawer moment.”
“What’s that?” Annie asked, that adorable puzzled expression spreading across her face as she scrunched her nose.
“It’s something my mom used to say.” Max smiled softly, remembering the way her mom had sat her down after her first breakup, when she was nineteen, to have this very conversation with her.
“You know how everyone has a junk drawer—that drawer that you shove shit in until it’s so crammed full you can’t really open it?
Sometimes you just have to take the drawer out, flip it over, and dump everything out.
Start sorting through all the crap. Start deciding which parts of your life get to stay and which get tossed in the trash.
Make space for new things. You can’t add anything new to the drawer when it’s so full of shit you don’t need anymore. ”
“Junk drawer,” Annie echoed contemplatively as she considered Max’s analogy, her brows furrowed. “I like it. Now, how long does that take?”
“You in a rush to get somewhere?” Max shot back, seizing the opportunity to nudge Annie with her shoulder once more, enjoying the brief heat where their bodies touched.
“Yes, the fuck out of here.” Annie buried her face in her hands once more, long blond strands falling forward.
“I just—” she started, popping up again.
“I want to hit fast-forward, you know? Like, just move me through this part of life and onto the next part where I’m happy again.
I know that’s coming, and I’d like to get to that. ”
“Wouldn’t that be the dream?” Max’s smile was a conspiratorial one. She knew exactly which feeling Annie was talking about. Had wished the same thing on several occasions. “What is it they say for breakups? It takes one month for every year you were together or some BS like that?”
“Ugh, don’t tell me that.” Annie groaned into her hands.
“How long were you two together?”
“Seven years.”
Max had so many questions. None of which needed answers at this moment, so she filed them away for later. “And how many months has it been since the breakup?”
“Two and a half,” Annie grumbled.
“Four and a half to go then.”
More silence followed before Annie sat up, straightening her posture, rolling her shoulders back with an air of practiced confidence. “I can do this. I can get through four and a half more months,” she said as she got to her feet. Max followed, not quite sure if Annie was reassuring herself or Max.
“I know you can do it.”
They stood there for a moment. Annie’s gaze was perfectly level to hers, thanks in part to the slight heel of her black leather Doc Martens peeking out from beneath her wide-legged trousers.
“You were right,” Annie said, cocking her head to the side ever-so-slightly.
“You being an unaffiliated third party really did help. I, uh, obviously my family knows Caroline and I broke up, still working on my mother understanding that it’s not a break.
But, um, I didn’t exactly tell anyone why.
I’m uh—” Her voice cracked the tiniest bit.
Max wanted to reach out to give Annie’s arm a reassuring squeeze, but once again, the fact that they were practically strangers flashed through her mind.
“I’m just a little embarrassed by the whole thing.
Like, actually, really embarrassed.”Annie reached up to wipe away a cluster of tears as she continued.
“And I unfortunately think that’s going to be something my pride is going to have to learn how to sit with.
” She laughed. “But thank you, truly. I needed this.”
“Anytime.” Max waved her off in a way she hoped came across as cool and nonchalant.
More quiet followed, the distant sounds of the club restaurant still reaching them, even in this secluded, dark, empty hallway. For a moment, Max’s eyes dropped to Annie’s lips and—
“I’m sorry I made a huge mess. I hope it’s not too much trouble to clean up, I’m obviously happy to pay for any damages,” Annie followed swiftly, taking a nervous step back.
“Accidents happen, right? I delegated the cleanup task. We’re all good.” Max grinned, sliding her hands into the front pockets of her requisite black slacks, rocking slightly forward.
“Okay. Well. Um. I think I’m going to call my brother and see if he can pick me up. You don’t have to wait with me, I’m sure you need to get back to work.”
Fuck. My tables.
“Crap, yeah, I’m going to be honest, I totally forgot that existed.” She looked over her shoulder in the direction of the dining room and then back at Annie.
“I’m good, I promise. Thanks again for everything. I’ll see you around, okay?”
“Yeah,” Max breathed. “See you around.”