Page 56 of Always a Chance
The perfect working conditions.
Sliding my headphones on, I got to work on the transcriptions.
An hour later, my phone rang again. This time, Barrett’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hey.” I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous talking to him. He’d be happy for me that I re-connected with Johnny. We’d always said we would end our relationship when one of us met someone else. It didn’t make it any easier. Through my years in New York, he was my rock. I just wanted to keep him in my life.
“Hi, girly.” He sounded chipper. “How’s that small town of yours?”
“Good.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“You know I can read what you’re not saying, right? What’s wrong?”
I turned in my rolling chair, trying to find the words. “Barrett, do you ever wonder if we can escape our pasts?”
“Ah, I see. This is about the guy, the one you left behind.”
“Are you going to be upset if I say yes?”
“No.” He said it quickly. “Here’s what I think. If it’s something that needs escaping, you can always find a way. But some things aren’t meant to stay behind. They stick with us, shape who we become, and eventually follow us to the grave.”
“Morbid.”
“Truth.”
I smiled. “I wish you were here.” I missed him. He could always make the worst days feel like not such a big deal.
“Miss you too. And to elaborate on my earlier answer, if it’s about the guy, don’t let him go a second time without knowing for sure.”
“Knowing what?”
He was quiet for a moment. “If he’s a part of your past that deserves a role in your future.”
“Cheesy.” I smiled.
“Again, truth.” He laughed. “Look, Tal, whatever happens with you and him, we’re good, okay? You’ll never be rid of my wicked awesome friendship.”
And just like that, everything felt okay again. I was tired of losing friends.
26
JOHNNY
The ideas didn’t stop. They weren’t for the book the publisher currently wanted, but something new entirely. And for once, that didn’t stress me out.
I dug my feet into the sand at the edge of my towel and stared out at the horizon. My pencil tapped against my notebook. One-two. One-two. One-two.
Beside me, my surfboard rested on the ground, its bright yellow and blue colors reflecting the sun. After yesterday’s rainstorm, today was clear. The waves rolled to the shore in perfect formation, the kind of surfing day I longed for.
Yet, I had no desire to get out there, to forget real life while I flew high above the world. Not now. Not when there was so much to remember.
This romance story was going to be epic. I could feel it in my bones. It would make my publisher forget about the coming article revealing my identity. They’d forget I was ever late on a single deadline.
It was the one I wanted to be remembered for. Not as Trinity. Just Johnny Kelly.
My hand ached as I scribbled down another piece of dialogue, another romantic gesture. I was so engrossed in writing I didn’t see anyone walk toward me until they blocked the sun.
Shielding my eyes, I looked up at Nate and Jamie. Both wore severe expressions on their faces, their eyes flicking from the surfboard to the notebook.
