Page 105 of Foul Territory
“I have.” I smile. The apartment is more than I’ll be able to afford long term. I looked everywhere for a studio or aone bedroom but there wasn’t anything available for my move-in date. All I could find remotely in my price range is a two bedroom. I’m hoping I can either find a night job bartending or a roommate. Otherwise I will be coming back to Alabama with my tail between my legs.
“If you need anything, you have our numbers,” Jade—the other co-owner—says.
“Thank you both. I appreciate everything you're doing for me. It’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to everyone at home. You’re making me feel so welcome. It makes things a little easier.”
Jade and Zoe exchange a look. “You are going to be a huge asset to us while you learn and create your own product line. Our hope is that while you’ll be working for us, we will also be creating a collaborative relationship for the future,” Jade says.
“When we started we didn’t have any help. We had to do all the leg work from figuring out how to get our business license to learning every FDA regulation we needed to follow. It was a lot,” Zoe says, shaking her head at the memory.
“It sounds overwhelming.” I knew there would be a lot I would need to figure out, but thinking about it is almost paralyzing.
“It was and sometimes still is but the purpose and the passion for what we’re doing in the beauty industry is always greater,” Jade says wistfully.
“With your knowledge of cosmetic chemistry and creativity, you're going to be a powerhouse. We look forward to watching you grow.”
“Zoe, thank you. I still can’t believe this is happening.” I press my fingers into my cheeks. They are warm from all the praise.
“How is that boy of yours?” Jade asks.
“He isn’t our business. You don’t get to ask about him.” Zoe smacks Jade’s arm playfully. When we were discussing my move to North Carolina, they noticed my hesitancy and asked what would keep me here.
Koa was the first and only thing that came to mind. It didn’t take much to get me to open up. His proposal for a second chance was so fresh at the time.
Look what that’s gotten me. I’m right back where I started. Maybe even worse. I got a taste of how good we could be together and then it was ripped out from underneath me.
“It’s fine. He’s fine.” I don’t think they would understand if I said it’s been very‘Bella New Moon’around here the last couple of days. If it wasn’t for everything that I have to do in order to start my new life, I would be staring out the window watching the world go by.
“You’ll have to bring him to the office sometime. Let him see where you’ll be working every day,” Zoe says.
“I’ll do that,” I agree, as if he'll be moving with me when I know for a fact he won’t.
“Until next week then. You take care of yourself, Sydney.” Jade gives me a knowing smile. She can see straight throughmy facade. It’s probably easy to see I’m barely holding myself together at the moment.
“See you both next week. Thank you.” I log off the video call and doom scroll through social media. After adding ten more books to my wishlist, I toggle over to the Fiction Forum.
I’ve been hesitant to log on since I found out who AverageJoe really was. I felt so angry and betrayed. I shared things I never would have if I’d known it was Koa. “Which was his point.” I remind myself of our conversation from a few days ago.
I open up our private chat and comb through the chats with a new lens. Reading all of the messages in Koa’s voice has my heart fluttering and my stomach doing flips.
He wasn’t subtle with his affections. On more than one occasion he was openly flirting with me. If I read everything line by line, it’s obvious he has felt the same burden I have the last few years.
Loving someone when you can’t be with them. Knowing you should be with them and there is no one else who understands you the way they do. I don’t know how to let go of that feeling.
I also don’t know how to move forward. Koa’s future is undecided. He’s still working out details with his agent over which team he’ll sign with. None of which are located in North Carolina last I heard.
A knock on the door breaks me from my thoughts. I have no idea who it could be. Everyone I know would just let themselves in. I look out the peephole and noone’s there. Probably someone accidentally at the wrong door. It happens all the time.
I open the door and glance down the hall in both directions. It’s empty except for a delivery man. Sure enough, he left me a package. My favorite kind of package, but I haven’t ordered anything recently. I mentally pat myself on the back for keeping my cart empty even with the current climate of my emotions.
With very little grace, I rip open the box like it contains life saving medicine. I would be right. It’s not medicine but the contents do mend my heart and feed my soul.
Jumping in place with excitement, I pick up a book I’ve been dying to read for the last few weeks and flip through the crisp new pages. I glance down and notice a second copy of the same book. “Wait, why did I get two copies? Who is this from?”
After emptying the contents of the box, I find a note at the bottom.
For the next time we get to spend a perfect day together.
Damn him.
