This is home.
I rush out of the office, not saying goodbye to anyone and jumping in a cab to pick up the tickets. The entire cab ride is spent staring out the window dazed and unable to grasp how big moving to London really is. I’m desperate to call Drew, run the thought past him given that he’s usually good at the whole advice thing. But things aren’t exactly back to normal despite what he may think.
The only person who will understand is Gigi. Honestly, she should charge by the hour for the number of times I’ve knocked on her door with what I deem as the biggest problem ever.
Although this time, it is pretty big and a short time later I’m walking through her door and discussing it with her.
“London.” Gigi follows with a whistle. “Wow, doll, that’s a great opportunity.”
“But all I know is here. My family and friends live here.”
I have to admit being away from my parents wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I love them, but my mom has a way of smothering me, probably because I’m her only daughter. Dad is even worse. The boys get away with everything. They always do. Not Zoey. She’s too fragile like a baby bird. If they could wrap me up in bubble wrap, I’m sure they would.
Gigi offers me some tea, another herbal concoction. It’s supposed to alleviate stress. A splash of vodka could also do that.
She dips the teabag in and out of the boiling water. “There are so many pros to living in London. I spent three years there back in the eighties.”
“Apart from the actual job? Like what?”
“Pro… the British men and their sexy accents.” She smiles.
“Con… the British men and their bad teeth.”
She finally removes the teabag taking a sip from the small cup. “Pro… all the architecture and things to see.”
“Con… it’s always cold and rainy. How will you deal with that?”
“Pro… the queen.”
“That’s a con,” I complain.
“Pro… you would be away from everything in your life that’s toxic. A fresh start, new friends, new life. A chance to reinvent yourself. This could be the beginning of a new life, Zoey. The life you keep telling me you envision yourself living.”
There’s no other con left on my list. Except one. Drew.
I’d be leaving him. Yet my heart and head aren’t sure if that’s a con. Drew and I, whatever happened or is happening, there’s no right answer to that riddle.
He’s my best friend. One I will be leaving behind. I really need to talk to him and contemplate calling him at work. But the rational side of me knows that this conversation has to be had in person.
I spend the next hour talking to Gigi and looking at her photos from her time in London. It’s late, and I decide to call it a night saying goodbye and thanking her for listening to me.
Exiting Gigi’s place, I close the door behind me and stop just shy of my apartment. My body freezes on the spot, and sick to my stomach I begin to shake while fueled with anger.
Standing in front of me is Callie.
My former best friend.
She gives me a warm smile, but all I can see is the image of her on all fours sucking on my boyfriend’s cock. Her jet-black hair scattered all over her back, as Jess pushes her deeper causing her to gag as he demands she take him all in.
“Zoey,” she calls, breaking me from the unpleasant memory.
I’m quick to ignore her presence and anxiously fumble for my keys.
“Please, Zoey. We need to talk. It’s important.”
I almost pull a muscle in my neck with how swiftly my body turns to face her. “Talk? What on earth would you have to say to me?”
“Please, Zoey. Can I come inside?” Her big brown eyes beg and plead, targeting the compassionate side of me that I strongly believe lays dormant when it comes to her.