Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(6)

It was the least of my concerns at the moment since she wouldn't beat me up in a public place. I hoped.

"What do you mean Jane told you?” I turned to a somber Jane. “How’d you know?”

She shrugged. “You were being secretive. I hacked into your email.”

“You—what the—how do you know how to hack into stuff? You’re a freaking lit major!”

Jane shrugged again. “One of my boyfriends was a hacker. I paid attention.”

“Well…aside from the fact that that is a huge invasion of privacy—“

“We could care less,” Lump interjected.

“—you’re right. I just… I don’t know. I need to start over. I need to move on. I am in a serious rut here, and it scares me.”

“Yeah, wake up wit an ugly lad and it changes yer perspective, alright,” Claire said as she nodded. “Well, while we're talkin’ about it, I’m headin’ on, too. Goin’ ta Australia.”

“What?” Flem shouted, ripping her eyes from the table to stare at Claire. “Since when?”

“Well, now, I figure that since Jess here is goin’, I might as well to. Always wanted to go.”

“But you can’t get back in,” Jane said reasonably.

“What does that mean, she can’t get back in?” Lump’s beautiful face took on a scowl as she swiveled her eye, away from mine. Finally.

“She was allowed three months with her work visa,” Jane explained. Claire had lost interest again. “She was supposed to go back. She didn’t, so now, if she leaves, she’ll get a ten-year-ban.”

“Ban from what?” Flem asked.

“Entering the States. You aren’t supposed to stay after the three months.”

“Yeah, but…don’t you have a bank account, Claire?” I asked.

She nodded. “Driver’s license, too. And I can still use my social security number. But I’m still illegal.” She shrugged, unconcerned.

“Well, then, you aren’t coming back?” Flem asked, aghast.

“Ah sure, I’ll just sneak out through Mexico.”

“If she doesn’t get a leaving passport stamp,” Jane explained, “she can reenter like she’d left on time. Usually.”

Everyone looked dumbfounded. Then immediately got over it. It was happened, so we might as well just embrace it.

“So, we’re breaking up. Officially,” Lump said, looking at me again. Her hostile look was covering the pain.

“I’m sad. Let’s get drunk,” Flem muttered.

“Just as long as I go home alone,” I retorted.

I got snickers.

Chapter Two

June had come and gone with a flurry of excitement. School was done, grades were posted, and I was given a green light for a job in Austin, Texas. Given that I wanted to move away from endless people and traffic, I compensated by renting a small cottage in Tartin Creek, Texas, which was about ten miles away from the office. When Flem heard, she’d given me a strange look, and asked how I would afford it.

“By working,” I’d answered like I thought she was dense. “I’ll be making three times the cost of rent. About.”

“Tartin Creek. You’re sure?”

“Flem, I am holding a beer, not my rental agreement. I can’t very well double check at the moment, but yeah, that’s what I remember.”

She’d shaken her head and muttered that I must be mistaken.

I wasn’t. It would be my new home!

It was the morning of the big move. I stood back and surveyed my ancient Honda stuffed to the limits with everything in my life. Butterflies ran amuck through my ribcage as I headed back in for my last farewell--Ami.

The girls, who I already missed even though I wasn't even outside city limits yet, gave me a huge send-off in style a few nights before, which I hardly remembered. My hangover still lingered.

I held out my keys for an uncharacteristically sad faced Ami.

“Well, this is it,” I said as I dropped the keys into her palm.

Ami nodded and looked down at her hand.

“Uh, well, hug?” I asked uncertainly, trying not to dig my hands in my pocket. We’d never been friends, but we had been roommates for an eternity. You get to know a person after a while.

“Jessica, listen,” Ami said miserably, still looking at the dull keys resting in her palm, “I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed living with you. I only wish you would’ve been home more so we could’ve hung out. You are a very special person, and even though we are in no way similar, I really feel close to you.”

Here she paused, having shocked me mute. A tear rolled down her cheek before she shrugged and continued, “I didn’t really need a roommate. I brought you in because I saw you looking for a room on the room board one day at school. I was intrigued. I wanted, and still want, to reach out and help you. My mom called it charity." Ami rolled her eyes at that apparently preposterous though. "That's why she agreed to you moving in. But I want you to know it wasn’t charity.”

Ami’s eyes were solemn and round. Feeling the expectation of the moment, but also the reminder of the absolute douche I’d always been to her, I was at a loss. I settled for, “Oh.”