As soon as I walked out of the forty-story building that I hoped would become my future place of employment, I called Lottie. The first thing I wanted to do…was call Billy. But the doubt creeped in, and I just wasn’t sure I could handle talking to him yet. I wasn’t sure he’d even want me to call. We hadn’t discussed it. Maybe because deep down, we both knew a clean break was best.
“Hey! How’d the interview go?” she asked immediately upon answering.
“Good. I think I might actually get the job. They seemed enthusiastic and very interested.”
“That’s awesome, Han. If anyone deserves it, it’s you. And they’d be idiots not to snatch you up before someone else.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I know I am…so…how are you settling back into city life?”
“Oh, you know…easy enough… How’s everything there?”
“Hannah, you’ve barely been gone for twenty-four hours. Nothing here changes that quickly, if ever at all.”
“Yeah, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking…” God, why couldn’t I just spit it out, what I really wanted to ask her? It was Lottie, for crying out loud. “How’s Billy?”
I heard her heels clicking on the wood floors as she moved into what I assumed was somewhere more private. “Do you really want to know the answer to that?”
Did I? God, does that mean he’s already moving on? Had he called Lauren to help heal his broken heart? Could I even be mad about it if he had?
“No.”
My phone beeped with an incoming call. I pulled it from my face to look at the caller, then pressed it back to my ear. “Hey, Lottie. I have to take this call. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay. Take care, Hannah. And if you need anything…”
“I know…bye, lady.” I clicked over to the other call, while walking down the street. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, honey. Are you on your way?”
“Yes, I’m headed that direction now.”
“Great, your father and I are already here and have a table.”
“Perfect. See you soon.”
I crossed the street to the waterfront as a new wave of thick clouds moved in washing the whole city in gray. After checking my phone one more time for a call or text I knew in my heart may never come, I slipped it back into my purse and opened the door to the restaurant. It was one of our favorites. We’d been coming here for years, whether for a casual meal or celebration.
Bypassing the hostess stand, I searched the room for my parents. My mom waved frantically from a booth by the window that overlooked the water. I smiled, happy to see my parents. They were two of my favorite people in the world. I counted myself very lucky to have them in my life and to have the relationship I had with them.
They both stood from their seats as I approached the table, showering me in hugs and kisses. Mom switched sides to sit with my father, giving me the opposite booth seat all to myself. As they slid into their seats, hands clasped on the top of the table, a little pang of longing seeped into my chest.
My parents had always been my greatest examples in life. I wanted to be like them in every way. They were the ideal couple, the best parents, the greatest friends. On the surface I was a lot like them. I had my mother’s beautiful looks, and wafer-thin figure. I had my dad’s smarts and tenacity. The only thing I fell short on was having a soulmate, the way they had each other.
“We’ve already ordered your favorite bottle of champagne,” Mom said as she picked up the lunch menu to look at the day’s specials.
“Champagne? Really?”
“What?” Her normally silky voice squeaked a little higher as she shrugged her right shoulder. “This is a celebratory lunch.”
“It was just an interview, Mom, not a job offer.” Yet. Or at least, I hoped.
She fluttered her hand in my direction. “Nonsense. You’ll get the job. And when you do, we’ll celebrate with two bottles of champagne.”
I looked to my dad, who was the more sensible of the two. With a light shrug, he took a drink of his water. We both knew there was no arguing with my mother when her mind was made up.
Once our champagne had been poured, our orders taken, Mom sat forward conspiratorially. “Sooo…have you heard from him?”
Cheeks burning, I lifted my glass of champagne. I wasn’t ready to have this conversation with my parents. I didn’t want to disappoint them with my foolishness. How did I tell them I willingly let my heart fall for a man I could never be with?
“Adele,” my father chided softly, always coming to my rescue.
“Please, Phillip,” my mother shushed him. “I don’t see the harm in asking. I was just curious if the man who has swept our beautiful, brilliant baby girl off her feet has called her?”
Giving my dad an appreciative smile, I spoke up for myself, “No.” I set my glass back on the table, pinning my mother with my stare. “The answer is no. He hasn’t called, and I don’t expect him to. I told you, we weren’t that serious.”
She sat back in her seat, her lips pressed tight as she inspected me. As she came to some conclusion, a smile curled onto her face. “He will.”
Did I mention I got my romantic notions and hard-headedness from my mother?
I spent the rest of the afternoon with my parents, not ready to be alone again. As the hours passed, I knew I had to leave their sides eventually unless I decided to admit to them how heartbroken I really was. I was pretty sure they knew anyway. Mom hadn’t brought it up again, and my father kept giving me comforting side hugs and knowing looks as we walked through Pike Place Market.
When we finally said our goodbyes, I took the sushi I’d picked up for dinner and headed home. When I’d arrived home to an empty apartment, realizing Billy wouldn’t be walking in at any point, the loneliness settled in again.
Curling up on the couch with my sushi and wine, I flicked on the TV. I aimlessly surfed through the channels, stopping on a baseball game. I sat back, watching the game. I had no idea who the teams were or which one I was cheering for, but just watching it made me feel a little less lonely for some reason.
Halfway through my meal, my phone vibrated on the coffee table in front of me. I picked it up, looking at the pop-up message.
Billy: Hey blondie, how was your interview?
With a tingling in my limbs, I bit at my grinning lip as I typed out my response to Billy.
Hannah: I think they may make me an offer. I don’t want to get my hopes up, though.
Billy: I’m sure they will. I have no doubt you knocked it out of the park, slugger.
Hannah: Speaking of…guess what I’m doing right now.
Billy: Shit…we already going there? Shouldn’t you warm a guy up first? Let me know where you’re laying and what you’re wearing?
I laughed like a teenage schoolgirl, my fingers rapidly typing away.
Hannah: No. Head out of the gutter, cowboy.
Billy: Damn. Way to get my hopes up… So what are you doing then?
Hannah: Watching a baseball game.
Billy: Alone?
Hannah: Yes. Alone.
Billy: Damn, sweetheart. We really are going there then. That gave me as much wood as finding your lace panties earlier today.