Page 31 of Follow Your Bliss

“It’s not a vacation. I have a business meeting on Friday not far from my parents’ condo. There’s plenty of room.”

“Won’t it take forever to get there? The interstates are probably all backed up, even with contraflow.”

I wasn’t looking forward to driving on interstates that had all been converted to all outflowing traffic. But deep in my gut I knew it was the right call. “Yeah, it might take a long time, but I really think you should come with me. This storm could be bad.”

She looked around and sighed, defeated. “Okay. I guess you’re right.”

“And I’d feel better if we moved all your dresses you’re working on into the church. I’m gonna go throw some things in a bag. Pack up. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”

I gave her fifty minutes, mostly because it took me longer than I expected. I had to pick up everything loose outside that could be a flying hazard in high winds, and then transfer Rose’s garment rack, fabrics, and supplies into the church. The whole time I picked up, humid wind fluttered the trees in an unmistakable pattern that only natives to hurricane weather could discern on a gut level.

In the kitchen, I threw road snacks into an oversized bag, and then I sought Rose out in her workroom again. This time she was packing up. “You ready?”

“Almost. I packed a bag for me, but I wanted to bring some things to work on. I still need to use the bathroom and grab my iPad.” She zipped up the duffle of sewing supplies, and I took it from her.

“Okay, go ahead. I’ll grab your bag and put it in the car. Where is it?”

“It’s on the floor in the bedroom. The purple one.”

“Alright. Lock up the kitchen door for me on your way out, okay?”

“Will do!”

I spotted her purple bag on the floor, added it to my shoulder, and went to the car to wait.

And wait.

“Come on, Rose,” I muttered, flipping through the photos on my phone. Thankfully I was ahead of schedule with my social media posts, so leaving town early wouldn’t mean a lag. And I had photos from Becca’s party, Rose’s table, and a bathroom cabinet I was building. I could turn those into posts, too, if we had to stay away past Friday.

I swiped back further—Rose’s camp Polaroid and bucket list, the only things I’d taken photos of from the capsule before reburying it. I meant to text them to her. Surely she’d want them, even though she rushed out that night without seeming to care and without even looking at the second half of her list. But instead, I’d printed her list out on paper and used it as inspiration to start my own.

Even though I’d started learning how to take care of myself, seeing Rose’s list made me realize that the pain of losing my future with Kasey had made me stop looking too far ahead. Instead, I’d had my head down, working hard. But it was time I made a conscious effort to make sure I got what I wanted out of my one life.

I pulled the printout from my wallet. She said she’d grown out her bangs and been to NYC, but that meant she hadn’t made it to Paris, had never waltzed with a cute guy. I smirked at “make J.S. fall in love with me.” I was thinking about her all the time, but love? I still wasn’t sure that was a good idea.

From the second half of her list, she’d definitely gotten a tattoo, in fact, several sexy ones. She’d probably learned to drive, and she was already a wedding dress designer. But had she kissed under mistletoe? Had she ever seen a waterfall?

Rose stepped out of the kitchen door and locked it, and I folded the list back up and tucked it away in my wallet. She slid into the passenger’s seat with a backpack and a pillow, wafting in that sweet smell of roses and casting a worried gaze to the sky.

“Are we going to make it? It looks like some rain bands are already moving in.”

I grimaced. “Yeah, they’re saying on the news we have time if we head east, and if we leave…this morning. We’re a little behind on that, but I think we’ll be okay.” I pointed at the pillow. “You know we have pillows at the condo.”

“I go nowhere without Princess Sleeparella.” She gave the pillow a squeeze before stowing it in the back.

“Princess Sleeparella?”

“Best pillow ever. I have a hard time sleeping without it.” She fastened her seatbelt and rearranged her bag by her feet. “Sorry it took me a minute. I couldn’t find my tablet, but it was in my backpack the whole time. Here, I grabbed us each a bottle of water.” She picked up the end of my phone charging cable as I took the bottle and murmured,thanks. “Can I plug my phone in? I’ve only got ten percent.”

“Yeah, sure. Oh and here.” I grabbed a Deck Daddy shirt from the dashboard. “This is your prize from the epic Nerf gun battle. It’s new, so I washed all the chemicals out for you.”

She took it from me and opened it up. “Thank you! Yesss. This is the one I wanted.” She hugged it and sniffed it. “It even smells like you.” She sniffed it a second time.

Something warm filled my chest at her knowing what I smelled like. And liking it enough to go in for another whiff.

She folded the shirt into her lap and fished a prescription bottle from her purse. “Listen. This is a little embarrassing, but if we’re sharing a condo…” She bit her lip and met my gaze. “You should know I sometimes have anxiety attacks.” She shook the bottle, and the pills inside rattled. “And panic attacks. And I don’t always think about taking my medicine when I get that way. So if that happens, would you help me remember?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

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