Page 17 of The Escape Plan

I smile up at them, silently thanking them for being here with me in this moment.

This morning feels like an eternity ago, and at that point—when I was reeling from the shock of finding Andrew and Lisa together—I didn’t really consider the fact that she’d be here at The Serendipity a lot. I also didn’t consider that I’m living right underneath thebrand-new happy couple, so I’d know about it every time she’s here.

Talking to Ezra about it was nice, but he didn’t have much advice for me short of, “You’re better off without that fool.”

My brother never liked my ex. He has also become Handsome Irish Stranger’s number one fan in the five freaking minutes the man has been in town, because he went on to recommend that I try datinghiminstead because he has “great taste in music.”

A top priority in my choice of a life partner, apparently.

I went on to remind him that his wife, Mae, only listens to K-pop, which he despises—he’s more into melodramatic sad-boy-guitar-clashing type of music, my dear brother.

That shut him up pretty fast.

I was a little nervous to tell him about the conversation I’d had with Freya about the opportunity at Evoke in Boston; that niggling feeling that I shouldn’t leave was brewing in me again.

But Ezra kind of surprised me by being pumped. Immediately said that I should go for it. It’s a dream opportunity.

He said that I’m single now, the world is my oyster, I’m twenty-five years old… I should be going after whatIwant in life. He reminded me that Boston’s close enough for an easy day trip to Serendipity Springs—just over an hour each way—and that he’ll help me look for a car. I could still easily visit my family. Every week, if I wanted to.

I’m not leaving, I’m growing my career.

Beep!

The sound of a car unlocking on the street below momentarily pulls my attention from my thoughts. I peer down in front of my building just in time to see Andrew walking Lisa to her vehicle.

It compounds everything I’ve been thinking about—my life might be in Serendipity Springs right now, but so is my ex.

It really is the perfect time to grow elsewhere, to focus on my career and escape for a while, knowing that I can—and will—always come back for the people I love when they need me.

And more than that, with the reassurance that the people who lovemeknow this too.

All of a sudden, the little flutter that danced in my stomach earlier is back. Now, it’s tangoing up a storm,Dancing with the Starsstyle.

I’m going to submit an article that blows Nisha’s socks off, and get myself my dream job!

With something that feels akin to peace, I watch Lisa drive off. Things are looking up. It’s even cooled down since I’ve been out here, and I'm glad I left my window open. Hopefully, some of that cooler air has made its way inside.

I stand, stretch, and pivot around...

The window’s closed.

“Could’ve sworn I left that open,” I mutter with a frown.

I reach for the handle at the bottom of the window and pull… and keep pulling.

“What the?” I try—and fail—to pull it open again.

I swear under my breath as I try a third time…

The window remains firmly stuck.

I take a step back, my heart leaping in my chest.

I’m on the fire escape, in the middle of the night, dressed only in a tank top and pajama shorts. My options are bleak, at best. I could climb down the fire escape to the ground floor, but I don’t have my key to get back into the building. I could also climb upthe escape, but that would take me to Andrew’s apartment, and if I know one thing for certain, it’s that I’m not askinghimfor help.

No way.

Ez and Mae have a spare key to my place, but they also have a toddler, and I know that sleep is a precious commodity. I don’t want to call them unless I absolutely have to.

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