Chapter 36

A week later, things felt... normal? Good, so good. I'd been living so long just trying to get through another day, that now it was like I was really living, for real.

Sandrina was a true gift to JumpFit. Things were fine before, with Finn. But Sandrina had motivation like I'd never seen before. I mean, she was a decade older than me. She cared more about that place after a month than I had in two years. It was like a breath of fresh air, having her around. I was the supervisor on my shifts, I made the schedules and I delegated the work. And it was nice having someone there who was on top of her game. 

"We should make some awesome playlists to play while we clean," she suggested, pushing a broom across the floor near the desk. "I'll start it. You can add whatever you want," she went on, when I didn't reply. I nodded in her direction. "I saw on the schedule that you're off next weekend and Jack will be working. Something fun going on?" She leaned her elbows on the desk now, looking at me curiously.

"Oh, yeah. My brother's going to be in town," I said, leaving it at that. "Sorry in advance about working with Jack."

Sandrina smiled. "He does seem like a party pooper. But I get it, he's the boss."

"Yeah, he is."

Two middle aged woman came in, so I looked over to greet them. It was quiet for a Saturday, but I didn't mind. I'd been out late the night before, walking on the beach with Carson. It was chilly, but I'd wanted to stay all night with him. We ended up finally getting back into his car at 1A.M., blasting the heat and making out to warm out bodies.

Now, I yawned, remembering how little sleep I'd gotten. With two hours until I was off, I needed coffee.

"I'm just going to run out for a coffee," I told Sandrina, reaching down for my wallet. "You want anything?"

She shook her head, smiling. "I'm good. Take your time."

In the food court, I waited in line at the cafe, behind a young lady with two kids. One was just a toddler, holding the lady's hand. The other was maybe four or five, older than Rylee. She smiled at me, then asked her mom for a donut. The mall was busy and loud, very different from the gym. The fluorescent lights gave me a headache, even after just a few minutes. When it was my turn to order, I paid and got my coffee relatively quickly. The first sip was like heaven, and as I headed back towards the gym, I pulled out my phone.

Two new texts from Carson, one from Kaden.

Omg, I got the apartment!

Arden, I got it!

Kaden: Girl, text Carson back. He's been blowing up my phone.

I quickly sent a message back to Carson. Wow, that's amazing. I'll call you when I'm off.

Stuffing my phone back into my pocket, I pushed the door to JumpFit open again. The coffee got me through the rest of my shift, and when I left, I went straight to Kaden's mom's house to pick up Rylee. It was early evening, but I'd promised to take her for the night, since Kaden worked late. The early February air was cool, but I tucked my hands into my sweater pockets as I went up towards the house.

"Aunty!" Rylee yelled, running down the steps of the porch towards me, before I even got to the door. "I sleep at your house!"

She was in pajamas, a pink and white plaid one-piece with a zipper up the front. Her hair was down on her shoulders and her smile lit up her whole face.

"Yeah! Let's go," I told her, waving to Kaden's mom, who was in the doorway now.

"She's been waiting for more than an hour, at the door," the woman called down, smiling at me. "Have a good night, you two."

"Thanks!" I called back, scooping Rylee up, along with her little back pack she had with her.

"So, because there was an open unit and I applied last week, I can move in next weekend," Carson explained over the phone, a while later.

I'd called him as soon as Rylee had finished her snack and I tucked her into bed.

"Wow, that's fast," I said to him, before realizing what next weekend was. "Shit, we have to be at the big barbecue next Saturday."

Carson hesitated. "Right. I know. I was thinking, it's not like I have much stuff. So I can get the keys and move what I do have in before the party?"

"Okay. I have to be here all day, but..."

"I'll be there. You tell me what time, and I'll be there," he interrupted.

I sighed, already missing him. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since we'd been together. It was a strange thing, being in this real relationship with him. He was mine, but I felt like I might lose him again at any moment. "I can't believe you'll have your own apartment."

"Finally. I can't wait for you to be with me, there," he said, his voice serious.

"You'll need a bed, first," I teased him, laying back on my bed.

"Yeah, that's true." He was quiet for a second. "So, can I see you tonight?"

That was how it was now. We barely went a day without hanging out. It was assumed that our free time would be spent together, and that was exactly how I wanted it. He came to the house when we both had the day off. We took care of Rylee together, sometimes. We went on dates, and we cuddled under blankets and watched movies. Somehow, in just a few weeks, our relationship had escalated to a place I'd always hoped I would get, someday.

I didn't have any anxiety about the upcoming family get together, which was amazing in itself. I think it was because I was in such a good place, that I didn't need to stress about what my brothers would think. Dalton and Dylan both knew about Carson and I, now. Dylan - who was already with a different girl, since Christmas - had called me to talk about it after Dalton told him. When it came to Michael, I was learning to not really care at all.

On Thursday, two days before the Big Day, work dragged on. I couldn't wait to be finished so I could be off for the weekend. I was excited about a whole weekend off, and even for the barbecue. The family time. Showing off Carson. All of the above.

I was almost of out there. I had fifteen minutes left and then I was heading to the shop to see Carson. I should have left, and had the whole weekend to not even think about JumpFit or the mall. I was so close to being free from all of it. But then the door dinged and when I looked up, there was Finn. 

At first, I didn't even react. It seemed normal, seeing him. I even smiled in his direction. But then it hit me. I hadn't seen him in weeks. He'd worked his last few shifts on different days than me, and then he was gone. Off the schedule, away from JumpFit, out of my life.