Last For Happiness

Chapter 5 - Explorations and Twists

I can't adjust to the time zone here in New York. The last time I checked the time on my phone, it was just after five in the morning. I tried for a while to get back to sleep, but it was pointless. My body was telling me that it was time to get up and I did just that.

I got up, made myself a cup of coffee, and sat on the couch in the living room taking in my new surroundings until I was finished drinking. After that, the rest of my morning was spent unpacking and getting ready to enjoy my first full day here.

I don't know for sure what I'll do today, but that's fine. I don't need to have a plan for every minute of the day. I'm on holiday and holidays are meant to be a time to relax and enjoy.

One thing I still can't get used to is the view from not only Jay's apartment, but from my suite. Since I opened the curtains and blinds on the double height floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, the view has been nothing short of impressive. It has nothing on the view from Jay's apartment, though.

That was something else.

"Good morning," Jay's chipper voices calls out as he enters the suite. "Where are you?"

I walk down the rest of the carpeted stairs and smile when I see him standing at the bottom. "I haven't run off, don't worry."

He smiles and walks off towards the kitchen.

"I should hope not considering you have a spare pass and key to my apartment," he reminds.

"Scared I'll sell it someone on the street for a hefty cost?" I grin, following him into the kitchen.

"You wouldn't do that. Mark, maybe. You, never."

"You know me that well, huh?" I raise a brow at him.

"Put it this way," he starts, "I'm not in the habit of giving the spare pass and key to my apartment to just anyone."

I nod.

I'm sure you're not.

"I got us some breakfast," he says, placing two takeaway cups and a paper bag on the breakfast table. "Nothing too special."

"And here I thought you liked me enough to have something served from the hotel." I reach for the largest takeaway cup as I sit down at the table. I know it's a coffee because Jay doesn't drink coffee first thing in the morning. He prefers a cup of tea in the mornings then a cup of coffee at lunch. "Clearly, I'm not that important to you."

"Less of that, you." He takes his black Nike cap off and sets it to the side on the table. "I went out of my way to buy us breakfast."

"And that is such a hard thing to do," I mock.

It's always nice being able to start the morning with a laugh. Working from home doesn't allow me the opportunity to do so. The only time I get to laugh and joke with someone in the mornings is if I need to be in the office for something. Other than that, it's if I'm meeting my friends or my brother first thing in the morning for something.

They always say that if you can't laugh about something, then you'd cry and that won't be happening. I cried enough when my mum and big brother left. Even at that, it was brief because I had to be strong for Eli and I didn't want my dad to say something to me. I don't think he would have acted any different than what he did after she left, but I dread to think of what he would have been like had he seen me as weak as I had been when neither he nor Eli was around.

The fact I can be so relaxed around someone like Jay is refreshing.

Soothing to the soul in some way.

It's almost like I needed someone like him in my life to make me see how great life can be compared to what I once thought life was. It's like he was the one I was internally crying out for to pull me out of the darkness and make me happy. I know I'm lucky to have him as one of my closest friends and I wouldn't change having him in my life for anyone or anything.