“Of course,” Jonathan said. “Be my sexy roommate.”
“Holy shit, I’m moving to Phoenix.”
“Holy shit, you’re moving to Phoenix.”
“I’m so excited, I can’t believe it,” Zoey said, slapping her forehead with her hand.
“You did it, Zo. This is so great.”
“I can’t wait for us to start a life together.”
“Me either,” Jonathan said. He kissed the screen and she kissed hers.
Zoey spent the last two weeks dwindling down on her jobs. She quit the Buonissimo Italiana first, handing in her apron and nametag within a week of the new job news. ISLAY was next after Tanya and Zoey had a talk, and Tanya graciously let Zoey quit on the spot. Zoey planned to stay to the very end with Cycle Yoga Love, though.
They had a farewell ride planned for Zoey, where Zoey created the playlist and she planned to ride double podium with Taylor, which was nerve-wracking as hell. Brady and Dan agreed to come, as well as Caroline and Addison. Zoey’s farewell ride was scheduled for a Saturday, and Zoey planned to drive down the next day to Phoenix with a fully loaded car. Caroline agreed to drive down with her to keep her company. Zoey’s body hummed with the excitement to see Jonathan and start their new life together.
She had spent every free moment sorting items, letting go of things that weren’t coming with her. She cleared out her storage unit, selling most of her furniture, and made about a hundred dollars from going through her wardrobe. She made runs to Goodwill every day and threw away old makeup or nail polish that just needed to be trashed. Her room looked nearly empty.
The night before the farewell ride, her mother leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed again, observing Zoey packing her large suitcase.
“You really have cleaned this place out,” her mother said.
“Oh yeah. I’m not leaving anything here. If it’s not coming, it’s going to Goodwill or the trash.”
“I appreciate that. My friends’ kids sometimes treat their house like a storage unit.”
“Not me. I’m the perfect daughter,” Zoey said.
Her mom walked over and sat on Zoey’s bed. The bed was staying along with all the bedding. “I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you and inspired by you,” she said as she brushed Zoey’s hair over her shoulder. “I even have another date scheduled for tonight.”
Zoey guffawed. “You haven’t gone on dates in five years, and now you’re going on two in a month.”
“Well, with you gone, it might be nice to have some male company. The book clubs are nice and all, but it might be time to see what’s out there for me.”
“I wholeheartedly approve,” Zoey said, pulling her mother in for a hug. “I look forward to the hard time I can give him as payback.”
“Feel free. I don’t know how to pick them,” she said. Zoey didn’t think her mother was crime-documentary-men-picking status, but there were definitely some duds out there.
“I can help you with a profile,” Zoey said. “Or Taylor’s sister Ellie is really good at them. She could help you.”
“Have a kid help me?” her mother asked, rolling her eyes. “Isn’t she twenty-two?”
“She’s had a good success rate,” Zoey said.
“I would prefer you help me. You know me better than Ellie does.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got you,” Zoey said, pulling her mother in for a tight hug. “After all, I was hired to do social media.”
32
On her last day in town, Zoey entered Cycle Yoga Love to find the place decorated in streamers and signs. “Good luck, Zoey!” posters were everywhere. Long-time members milled around the lockers and benches in cycle shoes.
Zoey used the bathroom and came out, looking for Taylor. Taylor was already in the spin room, messing with the computer and tweaking the playlist. Taylor and Zoey had decided on matching ISLAY neon pink tights and black crop tops. It was the last outfit Zoey was able to get with her discount.
This past week was emotional, but Zoey felt a sense of calm about moving to Phoenix. It felt right to fulfill a wish she had when she was seventeen. She had visited all her old spots in Lillyvale and favorite places to eat and had done a driving tour of all the landmarks of her life in Lillyvale. She ate alone at Tuscan Grove, using a dusty gift card she had forgotten about. She ordered the seafood medley and regretted it four hours later.
More and more members filtered into the locker area, all of them giving her hugs and well wishes. Some even brought gifts, including bottles of wine and gift cards to Whole Foods, which Zoey was thankful for. This event had sold out, which made Zoey feel great. They planned to donate half of the proceeds to a foundation that supported the arts in local schools.
“Hey, desert dweller!” Dan said as he walked through the door. Caroline and Brady followed with Addison. Dan hugged Zoey and then presented her with a bouquet of flowers, a variety of blue, purple, and bright pink. Dan never got her flowers when they dated, but she would gladly accept them now.
“We just got you a gift card,” Brady said, handing her a small envelope.
“I got you our favorite wine,” Addison said. “Well, I hope it’s still our favorite wine. Hopefully, you’re not triggered.” She handed her the wine they were drinking the night she vomited on Zoey.
“Thank you,” Zoey said, kissing everyone.
“Jonathan couldn’t make it up here for this?” Brady said.
“No, he said he had a prior commitment to work overtime and couldn’t get out of it,” Zoey said. Anyway, she would see him in less than forty-eight hours if she hauled ass.
“I am so ready for our road trip,” Caroline said. “I’ve already bought all the snacks.”
“Did you get Cheetos?” Zoey asked. She only allowed herself Cheetos on specific occasions.
“You know it,” Caroline said, high-fiving her. “Crunchy, hot, and puffs.”
“You’re the best,” Zoey said with a fist pump. “Let me get your shoes, and I’ll show you all where your lockers are for your stuff.”
After they were shoed and their stuff was put away, Zoey climbed on the companion bike on the podium, while Taylor would get the bike directly next to the iPad propped up on a stand to make lighting changes and mess with the playlist if it got weird.
Taylor climbed on the bike and motioned to Zoey, who wanted to say some things.
“Hi, everyone, I’m Zoey,” Zoey said into the microphone. “Taylor will be leading the class, but I’m up here since I am leaving Lillyvale and Cycle Yoga Love and moving to Phoenix, Arizona. I am so sad to leave this great community we’ve built,” she said, starting to move the pedals. “Half of the proceeds from today will go to a foundation to support the arts in local schools, a cause very close to my heart. How many of you took a class in the arts while you were in school?” A few hands raised, and Zoey nodded. “I think it’s necessary, so that’s why I requested we support it if we were going to do this thing as well.”
Zoey nodded to Taylor. The music flooded from the speakers and the lights dimmed.