Page 19 of One More Weekend

Sighing, I went back to work and typed away.

I got lost in the world I’d been crafting, a Western about hiding oneself.

The only thing that pulled me out of the film playing out behind my eyes was the sound of footsteps approaching the counter.

Before I even looked up, I smiled. “What can I get started for you?”

“Wow, don’t even remember my order?” Jenna’s familiar voice rang out after a scoff.

Rolling my eyes, I tucked my phone into my pocket and tried to stop my face from flushing. “Sorry, I was distracted. Want a snack too?”

Jenna bit the inside of her cheek. “Surprise me?”

With a nod, I stood from the stool and got to work on her oat milk latte with an extra shot of espresso. I wasn’t sure Jenna even had blood but instead a constant flow of deep, brown coffee flowing through her veins.

I looked over my shoulder as I tamped down the espresso into a puck. Behind me, Jen was scanning the pastries and sweet treats in the glass display.

“What brought you in? I thought you were doing job apps?” I murmured over the grumbling of the espresso machine. I wasn’t used to these weekday visits, normally I’d only really get to see Jen on weekends. This was a nice bonus for me at least.

“Ugh. Yeah, I was but I got stuck. That apartment was starting to feel like a prison so I went for a walk and ended up here.”

Steaming the milk, I raised an eyebrow. “That’s a long walk.” It would’ve been at least forty minutes to go from Two Bridges all the way up to Alphabet City. She must really be in her head.

After her drink was made, I reached into the display and picked out a double chocolate chip brownie for her and heated it up in the oven for just a few seconds before passing it over in a brown paper bag with her coffee.

“I get off in a little over an hour if you want to walk back together?” Even as the words left my lips, I felt my feet ache from standing up all morning. But I wasn’t about to let my best friend fall deeper into whatever depressive haze she was in.

With a nod, Jen snapped. “Perfect, I’ll just try and work here. We’re still going out tonight, right?” There was a glint of excitement in her eyes, her first night out to a sapphic bar since her breakup.

“For sure.” The pain spread up from my arches to my heels, making me regret the words coming out of my mouth. But we always had fun and, with any luck, we’d both find someone to bring home.

“Yay! Oh, and I cleaned the fridge for you.” Jen winked as she grabbed her order and looked for a table.

My shoulder dropped with relief, one last task to do once I got home.

As she moved across the shop and set up at the bar by the window, plugging in her laptop and pulling out a notebook, I felt my chest tighten.

What will I do without her?

She was a perfect roommate, she liked our place as clean as I did and was willing to compromise to make it that way. Everything we did was reciprocal without obligation, everything eventually coming back to each of us.

Biting my lip, I sat back on my stool. I guess I could take some comfort in her still applying for jobs. Clearly, she wasn’t set on leaving New York.

My stomach turned at the thought. Ultimately, that meant that she didn’twantto leave. If she moved away, it would be circumstantial and that felt so much worse than if I knew it was what she really wanted.

I swallowed hard.

I needed to make the most of the next couple of months.

14

JENNA

This is embarrassing.I rubbed my forehead as I scrolled through yet another page of job listings, the sound of brewing coffee coming from behind me.

I’d already read through every single posting I could find.

Peeking down at the messenger bar in the bottom corner of my screen, I checked my message to Tommy. It read:

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