Page 12 of Change My Mind
“Whatever you say. Thanks for the heads up on the thirtieth. Good night, macaron,” I said.
“Good night and see you next week, macaroon.”
I laughed softly as I hung up the phone. It turned into a groan when my eyes fell on the mocking pile of clothes that needed to be packed…somewhere.
Eight
T-minus twenty-four hours until Addie is back in London
A reminder that when you get home tomorrow – bar a total utter travel NIGHTMARE – you will no longer be the only one in the flat
So make the most of living alone while you can!
I’ve been working crazy hours the last week
I have not been making the most of living alone at all
Although isn’t this a bigger adjustment for you? I’ve lived with people for years – haven’t you been flying solo for a while?
I have
Jury is still out on how I’m going to find it
Probably fine
I just have to remember to not walk around naked – which is easy enough
I am about to start dinner service
Have a safe flight and see you tomorrow
Nine
ADDIE
“Ican help you unpack if you need.” Xander was hovering. He had fulfilled his duties of picking me and my suitcase hoard up from the airport and getting me to the place that I would now be calling home. But he wanted to feelmoreuseful.
The best and worst thing Xander Harris did was retire. It gave him a lot more free time, but nine years later, he still didn’t know how to fill it when it wasn’t his turn to work in the restaurant.
Help would be nice because I had so much stuff and zero desire to deal with it by myself.
But it wouldn’t be as nice as being alone. Just for a moment, to recenter myself from the noisiest night flight I had ever been on before I had to meet my new flatmate in person.
Mum had really done us both a solid in giving us the other’s number because it was way less scary to move into this new space feeling like I had a good rapport with the person I was going to live with.
He seemed funny. Nice. We had some shared interests, and there was nothing that made me think he would be a shit person to share a space with.
I had tried to find him on social media to see if I could put a face to the name, but it came up bust. Even Rachel couldn’t find an Eli Jenkins anywhere. So, I was finding out today what he looked like. If he had gone down a similar path, he would definitely have found me. Although recently, I had just been posting faceless photos documenting my ‘goodbye Montreal’ journey.
“Thanks for the offer, Xander, but unpacking is the easier part of it.” A half-truth. “I’ll be fine. Go surprise Juliette with lunch or something.”
Xander looked like he wanted to protest, his mouth opening and closing as he took in the array of luggage surrounding me on the street. It was a lot. I’d had to buy three more suitcases in the end, leaving me with a total of six. I looked ridiculous trying to manoeuvre them around from place to place.
After a moment, he remembered who he was talking to and accepted that I wasn’t going to budge on this, even if I probably should. Instead, he opened his arms for a hug. I stepped into this body gratefully. A Xander hug had the ability to turn your day around. This one was no different.
“I’m around if you need anything at all. Just give me a call, I’ll come,” he said as he pulled away.
I didn’t doubt he would.
