“I loved talking to you yesterday,” Meghan said. “And the team all really enjoyed your samples. You’re the perfect writer for us, and I can’t wait to see the stories you come up with!”
“Thank you so much,” I said. “I really appreciate this opportunity.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Meghan said. “So, I’ll send over your first assignment later today. We’ll need it emailed to our editors by next Monday at the latest, okay?”
“Perfect,” I said without hesitation.
“Great,” Meghan said. “Talk later.”
“Thanks again!”
We hung up, and I felt lighter than air. Not only did I get the job, but by the end of the day, I’d have my first assignment. Words couldn’t describe how happy I was.
Changing course, I headed back to my house. I suddenly had no desire to take a walk around town or grab a cup of coffee at the café. I just wanted to get home and wait for my assignment to come through. My fingers were practically itching to start typing.
On the way back, I called Andrea to tell her the good news.
She squealed into the phone. “You got it?”
“I freaking got it!” I screamed, not caring that there were other people on the street. “I can’t believe it!”
“I’m on my way,” Andrea said.
“What?” I blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“We have to celebrate!” Andrea said. “And I have the day off. So, I’m coming to town. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Andrea didn’t wait for my response. She just hung up and left me shaking my head in disbelief. Of course, Andrea was going to drive to Ennis. Why wouldn’t she?
She pulled into my driveway just over an hour later. I grinned as I threw open the door and greeted her with a hug.
“I brought sustenance,” Andrea said, holding up a bottle of champagne.
“Should we really be day drinking?” I asked skeptically. “We’re not in college anymore.”
“It’s not day drinking if it’s a celebration,” Andrea said,
her tone serious. “Now, where are your glasses?”
I led the way to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses from my top cabinet. We settled on the couch, sipping our champagne and catching up.
I told Andrea all about the job and how excited I was. I thought about mentioning Michael, but I wasn’t sure how well she would take that news. After all, I moved to Ennis to get over my last relationship. Did I really want to admit that I’d already started another one? If that’s even what it was.
Luckily, the subject never came up. After I finished telling Andrea all about the new job, she grew quiet and introspective, two things Andrea was not.
“What’s up with you?” I asked, nudging her leg with my foot. “Drunk already?”
“No.” She shook her head and sighed. “There’s something I should really tell you.”
“Okay.” I sat up straighter. “What is it?”
“I ran into Joshua the other day,” Andrea said. She spoke quickly, spitting the words out before she could change her mind. “At that Starbucks by the hospital. I was there for… Well, it doesn’t really matter. I stopped in to grab some coffee and, boom, there he was.”
“Did you talk to him?” I asked.
Andrea nodded. “He asked about you.”
My stomach did a flip, but it was weaker than I expected. Hearing Joshua’s name used to send me into a spiraling depression. I hated thinking about him. Talking about him had felt like a unique form of torture. Now, it didn’t seem to bother me as much.