Seventeen Days (32 page)

My bedroom furniture is ruined. The beautiful oak bed? It appears she’s taken a hacksaw to parts of it. The bedding itself? It’s in shreds. Literal shreds. The matching dresser and bed side table? Also ruined. Why she felt the need to do this, I’ll never know. She must not have wanted me to take these things with me. Not like I was going to anyway. At least, not today. There’s nowhere I could have stored them. Besides, I can replace things like this later. I’m honestly not entirely sure why we made this trip today instead of two weeks from now when actual classes start, and I could have moved everything to my new place, but my best answer is: I haven’t been thinking logically lately. 

My clothes are what I honestly came for. When I left, I only packed enough to get me through a couple of weeks. I always planned on coming back to get the rest when I could. 

Aunt Savannah had the wonderful idea to stop at The Container Store before we stopped here to grab a few boxes and bins to toss my things in.
What would I do without her today?
She’s my brain, that’s for sure. Seems like I left mine back in Alabama. Shit, maybe I left it on the plane when I first stepped off it in Paris
for my birthday.
 

“Take a few deep breaths, Morgan, and let’s get this over with. We’ll take the time to mourn the loss of these things later, they’re only possessions. The quicker we can pack this stuff up, the quicker we’re out of here. The faster Sienna is out of our lives for good.” 

See? She’s so smart.

“We can make it even faster by tossing things in the boxes, hangers and all. Sort through it all once it’s back in Alabama,” I say. 

“Oh? This isn’t going over to the apartment Julian has leased for you?” 

Taking a few moments to form my answer, I stay silent before finally blurting out, “No. Last night I changed my mind. You’re the first to know. It’s actually the first time I’ve given voice to the words. I’m coming back to Alabama and not going to Columbia. I’m taking a semester off and will start classes in the winter. At a place nearby.” 

“Does a certain fisherman have to do with this change of heart?”
Only everything.
 

“Yes. He has something to do with it. But not everything. He’s going to be in my future no matter what. As a friend, a boyfriend, husband, lover, whatever. He’ll be there. He’s come to mean the world to me in only seventeen days. What seemed impossible has been proven possible to me. He’s shown me I can love and be loved. That the world isn’t out to get me. Not everyone is evil. But he’s also shown me how to stand on my own. I hope you’re okay with my decision and I can continue to stay with you while going to school.” Glancing at her while tossing a few dresses into a box, I add in, “On weekends only, of course.” 

“Harrison would be lucky to be in your life. He’s a good man. You’re a wonderful young lady. Of course you can live with me, Morgan. You can stay as long as you like. Have you decided on where you want to go to school?” 

“Yes, actually I have. I’ve researched everything I need to do in order to apply to the University of Alabama and what would’ve been needed in order for me to have transferred. Although, now, I won’t be needing to do that. Last night, I asked if Harrison would take me to their campus to check it all out. He doesn’t know I’ve been thinking about not coming back to New York. Speaking of which, I should call Julian before he goes to bed for the night. Will you excuse me for a moment?” 

Before she answers, I grab my cell and hurry out of my closet, hoping I can catch Julian. It’s nearly eleven at night in Paris, hopefully he’s not sleeping. Not wanting him to be out of the money he sent for my rent already, I’m praying he’ll only be out a cancellation fee. 

“Hello?” he answers gruffly with sleep dripping from his voice. Shit. 

“Hey, Julian. Sorry to call so late. But I called as soon as I could.” Not quite the truth but it was as soon as I mentioned it to someone else.

“It’s okay. It was a long day at the office and I passed out early tonight. What’s can I do for you tonight, beautiful?” 

“Please don’t be mad, but could you call and cancel my lease on the apartment in New York?” Biting my lower lip, waiting for his answer, I start to pace my old bedroom. 

“May I ask why?”
Shit, he sounds mad. Is he mad?
 

“I’ve decided I’m not going to Columbia this fall. I’ve only recently changed my mind. New York is too toxic for me. I wish to stay in Alabama and attend a university there starting in January.” 

“Oh, well, okay. Don’t worry about it, Morgan. I’ll call the young lady and take care of the issue. For the record, I agree about that city and think you’re making the right decision. Is there anything else?” 

Phew, he isn’t mad. Bullet dodged there. 

“No. Not at the moment. Aunt Savannah and I are here packing up all my clothes and I told her my decision and remembered I needed to call you and inform you. I’ll call you tomorrow. At a more decent hour. Goodnight … Dad.” 

It’s the first time I’ve called him Dad. Surprisingly, it came out easier than I thought it would. 

“Good … Goodnight, beautiful girl,” he says while hanging up. 

Were those tears I heard in his voice?

Walking back into my closet, I see my aunt has almost everything tossed into boxes. Good thing we rented an SUV instead of a car. Guess it’ll come in handy. This also appears like it’ll cost a mini fortune to ship back to Alabama. I didn’t think of that over when I was changing my mind about staying here. I sure am costing the loved ones in my life a lot of money lately. 

“Should we drop these off at a shipping place tonight or in the morning?” Aunt Savannah asks. 

“It doesn’t matter to me. If we do it tonight, we could order room service and go to sleep. That way we could shop and sightsee all day tomorrow. Maybe we could get a massage? Or see a Broadway show? I’m game for whatever you want to do.” 

“Yes to all of that.” 

Laughing, I walk over to her, hug her, and together, we finish packing up my clothes. Packing up my past life for my future. 

Aunt Savannah is going to kill me yet. Well, let me clarify. Her shopping habits are going to kill me. The woman can shop till she drops. Literally. I’m not saying I don’t love shopping, I do. But her type of shopping is insane. Mine? Not so much. 

My feet have never hurt so badly and I’ve danced the night away in six-inch stilettos before. And lived to do it again the next night. I’m not so sure I could walk one more block in flats at the moment. Pretty sure I have blisters on top of my blisters. My feet are aching in places I didn’t know they could ache. 

I’m about to pass out from exhaustion when she mentions taking a break in Starbucks.
God bless you, Starbucks.
Do you think they’d care if I took my Converse off and massaged my feet? Probably.
Assholes
. 

Making it two feet inside the door, I collapse into the first chair I see, not caring that there’s a man already occupying it. Oops. “Hey, watch it, lady! Find your own chair,” he all but shouts in my ear. Add my ear to parts that ache on my body now. 

“Shit. I’m sorry. My mistake.” Mostly. Scrambling to get out of his lap, I manage to make it into the chair next to him. My aunt is laughing the whole time.
The bitch.
It’s her fault I’m so tired. 

“What would you like, Morgan? I’ll go order while you sit here and relax.” Why thank you. Maybe you’re not such a bitch after all. Devil shopper is more like it. 

“Venti Mocha Frap, extra whip, chocolate sprinkles. Two cake pops as well, please. I don’t care what kind. And I’ll be here dead when you return.” Or as close to it as I can be. Don’t pay me any mind. 

“You’ll pipe back up after the treat and our massage,” she says while walking away. 

Massage? She booked one? Yes! That will work. She’s not a bitch or a devil shopper. She’s an angel. 

When she comes back over with our order, Mr. Uptight who I sat on has left, so she sits down next to me. He must’ve thought I was too rude to stay and work by. He’s currently occupying the table across the shop. 

Handing me my caffeinated bliss she asks, “So have you spoken to Harrison today?” 

“Yes, I called him a while ago. You were in dressing room twenty-nine or fifty, who's keeping count?” I reply sarcastically. 

“Morgan, we’ve only been to maybe ten stores. Your count is way off, my dear. Anyway, how is he doing today? Did you tell him your news?” 

“Um. No, I didn’t. I’ll tell him once I see him tomorrow. It’s more of a face to face conversation. We face the big things head on. He knows pretty much all of my secrets, and I’m okay with that.”
Please don’t ask what they are. You know most of them already, but not the horrible ones. Maybe someday I’ll tell you. Today is not the day.
 

She must see the pleading in my eyes and quickly changes the subject. “Our massages are booked for an hour from now, so finish up your treat and we’ll head back to the hotel. We have dinner plans to keep and a show to see.” 

How did I end up with the best aunt in the world? And how can she be so different from her own twin? It’s an answer I’m sure I’ll never know. 

I’ve never wanted to run through airport security as much as I do at the moment. Red is on the other side. Her plane is taxiing, and soon she’ll be in my arms. She cannot be in them fast enough. She sent me a text as soon as she was able to safely turn her phone on. 

Fuck, I’ve missed her. 

When she left, it was like the other half of my soul left. How could a person have changed me so much in only seventeen fucking days? 

No clue, but she has. At first, it was a challenge I threw out there. Should’ve known fate had other plans in mind for us. Challenging her to love me before she boarded that plane was kind of a joke, right? If you had asked me the day I said it, my answer would’ve been yes. The day after, it would’ve been no. My mind changed that quickly. Loving her was
that
easy. 

She has changed me for the better. She makes me want to be everything I can possibly be. She makes me want things again. Things I haven’t wanted since before my parents died. 

She makes me believe in love. 

Before her, I was happy enjoying the uncomplicated relationships with women like the Jess’s of the world. If I was given that option again, I’d never settle for it. Not after knowing what love feels like. If Red chooses to leave me and not spend her life
with
me, I know that I’ll never settle for less than love. 

Having felt what it feels like to love and be loved, I know only hooking up will never be a thing I’ll settle for again. It’s all or nothing for me from here on out. No more feeling empty. Used.

My phone dings with another text alert, and I see it’s from Red. She’s telling me which baggage claim to meet them at. Not giving a shit about airport rules, I run to meet her. No one knows how much I’ve missed my woman. As long as I don’t run into anyone, I don’t see why it matters. I’m not hurting anyone by running. 

Entering baggage claim, I see her before she sees me. The sun from the nearby windows hits her hair just right, making it appear like liquid fire. She’s so damn beautiful. When she sees me, it’s like time stops.