Page 199 of Between the Blue
But preparation clearly didn’t do a thing.
Because I immediately felt dread.
But I also knew something else, something my Nana told me when I was just a kid.
The first step of moving on is to move.
So I do.
One step at a time.
I get out of bed and get ready for my day in complete silence. I don’t turn on any music. I don’t put on a TV showas background noise. Even the sounds of the city that normally find their way through my window pane seem to have tampered down for my sake.
Which is why it’s completely jarring when my cell phone goes off ringing at full volume on my bedside table, snapping me out of my robotic state.
I realize it must be Nana. I haven’t called her once this week, and I ignored all her attempts to get ahold of me the last two days while I was already ignoring the rest of the world. Everything in me wants to just let the call go to voicemail. But I know she’ll just call me back again. I shouldn’t let her worry.
I snatch the phone off the table on my way into the kitchen. I quickly accept the call and hold the phone against my ear with one hand as I dig into my kitchen cabinet with the other for a tea bag.
“Hey. Missed you,” I say in a sigh.
The line is quiet for a few moments before a confused chuckle I’m not expecting comes through the line. “Well, that’s flattering, I suppose. I guess it has been a while since we’ve seen each other, Addison.”
My eyes widen as my phone nearly slides out of my hand. After I get hold of it again, I pull it back away from my face, seeing the phone number on the screen rather than my Nana’s contact name. I squint my eyes as I read the Caller ID label in smaller font below the number, and my stomach flips as soon as I register it.
Collins Bohemian.
“Oh– My gosh– I’m sorry…” I sputter. “Who is this?”
But I already know.
“Natasha Collins.”
The blood drains from my face, and I think I forget how to speak.
“Have I caught you at a bad time?” Natasha asks.
“No!” I blurt, coming back to life. “No, now is great,” I say, putting on my best attempt at a joyful tone. “I just…wasn’t expecting a call from you. I’ve only ever talked to your assistant.”
“Yes, I understand,” she says.
I wait for her to say more, but she doesn’t, and silence settles between us for several seconds. Just as I pull the phone away from my ear to make sure we didn’t get disconnected, I hear Natasha’s voice again.
“So, tell me, Addison, how are things going?”
“Going?” I repeat.
“Yes,” she says. “With your internship with my husband’s team. How are things going?”
“Oh… Well, they’re going,” I reply, completely caught off guard by the question. “I’ve learned a lot and am so thankful for the opportunity. I’ve really been pushed out of my comfort zone and have been able to challenge myself there.”
“So, you’re happy?”
My mouth falls open, and I’m once again unprepared to answer her question. “Um– Yeah.Yes.” My voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat in an attempt to cover it. “Yes ma’am,” I insist.
I swallow dryly, and as the silence stretches between us, I seem to sense Natasha’s push for me to elaborate.
“I have been happy with the Texas Storm,” I continue. “It’s been a great growing experience as a photographer and a professional and it’s been an honor to work with the organization. But, at the end of the day, editorial fashion is my passion. And this is just–”
