“Pierre.” I stand up and put my hands on his shoulders. “Go. Be happy. Stop worrying about me. I’m a grown woman in the greatest city in the world with an apartment I don’t have to share. This is not a sad moment.”
He kisses my forehead. “You’re the best sister.”
“I’m your only sister in New York.”
“Still the best.” He grins, grabbing his bag. Frankston trots after him, tail wagging, not even a backward glance.
The door closes.
The apartment is quiet.
Like really quiet.
This is amazing. I stand in the middle of the living room and let the silence wash over me. No hockey highlights blaring. No Frankston clicking across the floors. No Pierre arguing with the espresso machine. Nothing.
I walk over to the speaker system, connect my phone, and crank the volume until the bass vibrates through me, and I dance through the kitchen in my underwear.
To freedom.
I callJo while I’m in the bath.
“Hey,” she answers, sounding tired.
“Pierre moved out,” I tell her.
“We knew that was going to happen. I’m surprised it took him so long.” She laughs.
“He’s been practically living at Issy’s for weeks. It was just a formality at this point.” I sink lower into the bubbles.
“Are you okay?” she asks, and I can hear the worry in her voice even from across the ocean.Classic Jo.
“I’m great, it feels fantastic.” It does. It really does.So why is there a tiny knot in my stomach that won’t go away?“Wish you were here, though. I miss you.” Don’t get emotional. You just celebrated your freedom. You’re in a bubble bath. This is not a sad moment.
“I miss you too,” she says, and the ache in her voice matches the one I’m pretending isn’t in mine.
“How’s work?”
Jo lets out a sigh that tells me everything I need to know. “It’s fine.”
“That didn’t sound fine.”
“I’m just bummed that Polly got offered a dream job and won’t be working at the club anymore. Just going to miss working with my bestie.”
“Aw, that sucks.”
“I think there might be a promotion coming up at work, so fingers crossed they will be opening applications for that soon,” she explains.
“Good luck with that,” I tell her.
“How’s the team going? The boys good?”
“Yeah, everyone’s settled in. Content is going well, the numbers are insane. Same old chaos.”
“And Felix? He’s doing okay after everything.”
“He’s good. He’s happy with Harper. They’re disgustingly cute together.”
“He deserves it after everything.”