Page 29 of You Were Invited
She sighed. "Yeah... he's kind of the reason why I'm here... actually."
“He?”
“My ex. Newly.”
“Ah.”
“Just trying to put some space between me and him.” She lowered her voice and muttered. “Very much needed space.”
“I’m guessing it wasn’t mutual.”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Definitely not. And I… I didn’t exactly initiate the coolest breakup. Though, I don’t think it would have gone well no matter how I did it. He’s making leaving a bit… difficult.”
Julian frowned a little. "Are... are you in some kind of trouble?"
Her eyes widened. "No, it's... it's just complicated. I needed some distance, is all." She noted the concern in Julian's voice. "I didn't mean to make it soundsodramatic." She bit her lip. "Idon't know." She added some wood to the stack. "He loves going out and being around people and he doesn't really get it."
"Get what?"
Of course I'm being vague.She hated how it was her fault that the conversation had turned so awkward. But when she looked over at Julian, and saw that he was listening, her nerves melted away.
"I just don't think I want the same things he wants. I can't stand to be around people sometimes. I need my space. To be myself. Does that make any sense?"
Julian blinked. "I think that makes perfect sense."
"It... it doesn't make me a bad person to not want to be around people all the time?"
He smiled back and sort of laughed. He shook his head. "No."
She sighed. “And I don't need to impress others into liking me, but that seems to be the only language he and his friends understand. And to not feel like I'm performing for their entertainment would be nice. It’s so… shallow. Sorry. I guess I needed to rant a little…”
“No, by all means.”
She fell silent for a moment. Maybe she shouldn’t have vented, but talking to Julian was so easy. “You live out here full-time, don't you? What made you want to live out here?”
“The woods are quiet. It’s… There’s less… drama — obviously,” he said, then added, “I don’t dislike people. But I’d rather be here with my work. I get peace. Out here.”
“People can be a lot sometimes.”
Julian picked up the last log in the wheelbarrow and held it aloft, one end up. “Well, we’re done.” He swung his arm like he was going to light an Olympic torch and slotted it onto the topof the stack, which was now up to Annie’s chest. He swatted his hands clean—or clean-ish— on his pants.
“Thanks for the help. Molly and Peter will really appreciate it.”
“Well, won’t you, too?” Julian asked. “When you come visit again?”
As they’d talked, she’d mentioned the many trips to the cabin with her friend. She nodded. “Of course I will! And, of course, too, I’ve already been enjoying your fine product, and didn’t even know it.”
He laughed before he glanced back over at his cabin. “Well... I got another job I need to cut with my mill.”
“Oh.” Annie tried to hide her sudden disappointment. “Yeah, gotta keep that wood moving,” she replied, immediately feeling silly. Her thoughts did a 180 to spare her the cringe and turned to work. She’d been enjoying herself, but it was time to get back into the little routine she’d created. Her deadlines would be here before she knew it.See, I’m just another day’s work. Good company, but just something on his to-do list.
“Or... someone...?”
Shuttup!Annie scolded Serene Hallowbrew.
Julian turned to his wheelbarrow and laid his hands on the handles. His fingers danced there for a moment. “Annie, you don’t haveta, but would you like to watch?”
She went to swallow and coughed as the spit went down the wrong pipe.
