Forked Roads Back

91 - TESSA

TWO WEEKS LATER

I, ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT regret the decision to go out last night. My head is pounding, my mouth tastes like carpet and I am beyond thirsty, I feel like I might die.

I hadn't been out in ages. I hadn't been out like this in ages, which I think is why I went as crazy as I did. But now, as I hear something buzzing next to my head, I still regret my decision.

"Go away," I mumble into my pillow as the buzzing persists.

Opening one eye, I see it's my phone on the bedside table making the god-awful noise. I groan, wondering who the hell would be calling me so early in the morning.

But then my eyes fly back open again, realising it could only be one person.

Quickly sitting up in bed, pinching my cheeks, I grab the phone before it rings out, putting on my best 'I am definitely not drunk' voice as I answer.

"Heyyy!" Oh Jesus. I smack my forehead.

Jamie chuckles before greeting me. "Morning babe. Listen I know it's early there... and I'm sorry for waking you up."

Straight into it? Okay. Something must be bothering him.

"It's okay," I tell him, propping myself up against the headboard. I pull the duvet up to my chest as a cold chill settles over me and sigh. "I was basically awake to pee anyway. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine. I just..." He's having trouble getting his words out, which means it's not all okay.

"Jamie." I say it flatly because I'm tired, I'm really hungover, and I can't be bothered for him to beat around the bush.

"Okay, okay." He sighs. "I've been asked to stay a few extra weeks."

I can't help but feel a little relieved that it wasn't anything worse than that if I'm being honest, but I worry a little bit that the relief might be about something else.

Jamie had already extended once, and in those two weeks, I'd gone down to The Hamptons with everybody, staying with one of Archie's college friends, as well as seeing New York City from a local's point of view. These last two weeks had been great, but if he's extending again, he had to understand that things would be different here now. 

The difference is that Charlotte is leaving in a couple of days, and then Millie and Greg are heading back off to continue their West Coast trip. I couldn't push in on their trip any more than I already had, which left two choices.

One: go home and be utterly bored for the next however many weeks it takes Jamie to come home.

Or two: stay in New York... just me and Archie.

"Are you... Will you be going home?" he asks, his voice hopeful.

I frown. I could, and I would love to spend time with Dad again, but I would be bored. He works all day, and even though I have applications and job stuff I should be sorting, the thought of being on my own most of the day is depressing. Having spent the last two weeks surrounded by my favourite people, being on my own will take some getting used to.

"I'm not sure. Dad's working, and things are still weird with Mum, so I would be on my own."

It wasn't a yes, and it wasn't a no.

He sighs. "Do you want to come out here? My manager has said it's okay. Because I'll be here for a while lon-"

"A while longer?" I cut in. "How long is a while longer?"

He sighs again, taking his time in answering me. "Two months."

Two months? I groan inwardly.

"Baby?" he asks and I realise he had said something.