I grab his arm and squeeze him lightly. “I will. And I’m sorry I never answered your calls. I will from now on. Promise.” He plants a kiss on my cheek before easing himself into his car. “Oh, and love you, too, you big lummox,” I remember to respond. I then wink at him. “And by the way … nice wheels.” He laughs and starts his engine up. He waves at me as he passes, and I watch him leave the parking lot.
Once he’s disappeared from sight, I look at the earrings again, and another tear leaves my eye. Matthew is turning out to be a wonderful young man, and it hurts my heart that I won’t be a part of his life anymore—not in the watching him grow up in the family sense anyway. Wrapped up in my own little world, I forgot to ask him about Cindy. I must remedy that tomorrow.
I turn on my heel and make my way back to the apartment complex. As I get to the door, I notice the same man who came out when I arrived here three days ago is also heading towards the door. I blush as I realize just how embarrassing this whole situation is. It’s the second time this stranger has seen me in tears.
“Good evening.” He opens the door for me to go past.
“Good evening, and thank you.” He walks right behind me as we wait for the lift.
“I’m Brian, by the way. I live on the third floor. You’re new here,” he observes.
He puts his hand out for me to shake, which I return.
“My name’s Ana. I’m staying with a friend called Jessie. I just moved in on Friday.” He frowns at me, and I notice a little crinkle in his forehead.
“Yes, you seemed a little upset, if you don’t mind me saying?”
I half smile, my eyes downcast in embarrassment. “No, things are difficult for me at the moment. I’m trying to get over a break-up.” The door pings, open and we venture into the lift.
“Ah, I see. I’m sorry to hear that.”
His genuine smile has me returning one right back at him. The door opens at floor three, and he lets himself out.
“Well, if you need anything, I live at number three-one-three.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” The doors close, and soon after I’m standing outside Jessie’s door. I let myself in and make my way to the living room where Jessie is sitting, waiting.
“What’s that you got?” she asks, spotting the box in my hand.
She’s sitting in her pajamas with a bag of tortilla chips on her lap, and the scene makes me smile. Jessie’s certainly a comfort girl. “It’s a present from Matthew.” I hand her the earrings, and she studies them, her face suddenly reddening.
“Oh, shit. It’s your birthday, isn’t it?” She closes her eyes, ashamed as she shakes her head in dismay.
“It's tomorrow, but please, don’t sweat it. It’s not a big deal.”
She hands me back the earrings and smacks her forehead.
“Shit, Ana, I’m so sorry. I’ll cancel tomorrow with Jerry, and we will do something together.”
I vehemently shake my head. “No way are you cancelling your plans. I have the movies with Michael tomorrow, and I’m not cancelling that to be with you,” I tease, nudging her elbow with a wink. “Besides, Tuesday’s a rubbish day to have a birthday. We can do something this weekend if you want? Maybe we should invite Mandy and make a night of it?”
Her face animated, she grabs my arms and shakes me. “You bet your ass we will.”
5
The next morning I wake to the sound of my phone constantly vibrating. I groan but somehow manage to lift myself up to grab it.
Do I really want to address this?
Inhaling a few deep breaths, I peer at my phone, and when I see it’s Jessie calling, my heart rate calms a little. I press the accept button and rub my eyes.
“Up now, sleepyhead,” she sings. “The birthday girl can’t waste her time in bed all day.”
“I know … I’m up now.” I yawn, rubbing my eyes a little more.
“Good. Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, feeling a little better, thanks. Tomorrow I will have to face the music and come to work. I can’t stay like this forever.”
I hear what I think is a relieved breath. “Good, cause it’s been boring as fuck without you here. Plus, that bug-eyed David won’t stop sniffing around me like I’m his next target. He’s worse than Tom, and that’s saying something.”
That thought makes me chuckle. “I’m sure you can look after yourself plenty, Jessie.” I admire her strength and no-nonsense approach to just about everything.
“Well, I did tell him that I’d cut his balls off and shove them down his throat if he enters my personal space again, but it only made him that much more determined. He can’t take the hint, the little shit.”
Jessie discussing work is making me miss it. I would have loved to have seen Jessie giving David hell.
“Don’t worry, Jessie, I’ll be there tomorrow and if he dares hassle you again, I’ll personally shove his balls down his throat myself.”
“The only problem with that, Ana, is he’ll probably enjoy hearing that. The slimy little bastard.”
I throw my head back as laughter vibrates my throat. With renewed energy coursing through my veins, I promptly get myself out of bed. “Right, I’m definitely up now and heading for the shower.”
“Good, good. Oh, and just one more thing. It looks like a birthday card has arrived at work for you. Do you want me to bring it home? I don’t think it’s ticking.”
I roll my eyes at her comment. “Very funny. Yes, please. I’ll open it later. See you soon, hon.”
“Okay. Laters, babe.”
After hanging up, I make my way to the bathroom to get ready. Although the pain of Jake is still there, it’s a little more bearable after all the trouble everyone has gone through to let me know how much they care. It also helps that someone’s gone to the trouble of sending me a card. I’m intrigued to find out who that may be.
Pondering on that last thought, I get showered and dressed, making my way to the kitchen to make something to eat after I’m done. I bring my phone with me, but I sit and eat my cereal first.
Jake can wait.
Once I’m finished, I brace myself for what I’ll find. I check my text messages first and find that half a dozen are from Matthew, all begging me to call and wondering if I’m okay. The rest are from Jake.
Ana, please call me. We need to talk.
Please answer your phone. I need to explain.
I’m going out of my mind not being able to see you. I’m so sorry. Please see me. I miss you.
They’re all pretty much the same, so I delete each and every one of them. I mean, seriously … what does he expect? I’m certainly not entertaining the idea of seeing him with my mother back in the picture.
I put my phone back on the table, and just then another beep alerts me to a new message. I pick it up, and it’s Jake again.
Happy Birthday, Ana. I wish I could see you and talk to you. I need you to know how I feel. Nothing’s changed.
That’s the message that has me out of my seat and pacing the room. How dare he send me a message like that, telling me nothing’s changed? And in bold letters too! Everything has changed and there’s no going back.