Gabriella

My weekend sucks.

First, there’s an accident on the freeway, and I don’t make it to Park Slope till two. Then, I’ve to drive across the block eighteen occasions, on the lookout for a road parking spot. Clearly, I don’t discover one, so I park in an underground lot, paying {the teenager} on the entrance sixty bucks for the privilege. Ah, New York. Then once more, parking in London is hell too.

After I lastly get into my condominium, it’s stiflingly scorching. My window air-conditioner makes sputtering noises however refuses to chill the room. I open my fridge for a welcome blast of chilly air, and naturally, my milk has gone unhealthy.

It’s just like the universe is giving me an indication.

No, it isn’t, I inform myself firmly. I take a lukewarm bathe, change right into a tank-top and shorts and head to the bodega for milk, eggs, and bread. That completed, I textual content the Thursday Night time Ingesting Membership. I’m on the town, I inform them. Anybody have plans for the night?

It seems that everybody is busy. Piper has to work. Daniel, Sebastian, and Bailey are within the Hamptons for the weekend. Katie is driving her youngsters to a soccer event, and Wendy is working late. Sorry, Gabby, she writes. I’d like to seize a drink, however my consumer load is insane. See you on Monday?

Positive, I reply, including a smile emoji to the message.

It isn’t like I don’t have issues to do. If I wished to do chores, I’ve loads of laundry to do. If I wished to speak to folks, I might name my mother. And if I selected leisure over laundry—who wouldn’t?—that is New York Metropolis; there are actually a zillion issues to do. I might catch the F practice into Manhattan. Take a look at the Met, perhaps even trek uptown to the Cloisters to take a look at the tapestries. If I don’t really feel like braving the subway, there’s certain to be a bunch of issues occurring close to Prospect Park. The final time I walked by the Grand Military Plaza, there was a brand new brewery opening up. It’s an ideal day to take a seat on a patio, learn a guide, and drink a pint of ice-cold beer.

However I can’t appear to summon up any enthusiasm. I really feel hole and anchorless, disconnected from the world, and although I can hear all my neighbors by the paper-thin partitions, I really feel very, very alone.

I gointo work on Monday. Paul appears stunned to see me there. “Is one thing the issue?”

“Nicky doesn’t want me in Atlantic Metropolis till Wednesday,” I reply. “I assumed I’d come into the workplace. It’s simpler to work from my desk than from a lodge room.”

“Oh, okay.” He shuffles his ft. “About that… You’ve been away many of the week, so that you in all probability haven’t heard the rumors.”

I snap to consideration. “Layoff rumors?”

He frowns. “No, why? What have you ever heard?”

God, we’re all a paranoid bunch. “I’ve heard nothing,” I say reassuringly. “What rumor ought to I’ve heard?”

“We’re downsizing down the Manhattan workplace,” he replies. “It’s a cost-control transfer. Head Workplace ran the numbers. Hire in Manhattan is pricey, much more so than London. They need virtually everybody to go to a distant work mannequin.”

“Working from residence?” If I stretch my arms, I can contact each partitions in my studio condominium. I’ll lose my thoughts if I’m cooped up there all day. I can’t work from a espresso store both—I’m on the cellphone loads.

“Positive.” He takes in my expression. “You’re not excited?”

Not likely. Soccer—or soccer, because the People name it—is a boy’s membership. It’s arduous sufficient for me to make inroads at work. If I’m caught at residence, everybody will neglect about me.

My profession at Karpis is already going nowhere. Now it seems like I’ve been shunted into the quick lane to failure.

I’m not silly sufficient to say any of that to Paul. He didn’t make the choice; that was completed by the London workplace. “I’m simply stunned, that’s all.”

I wasn’t lyingto Paul. Nicky has an interview on Wednesday, and I have to be there to make sure that everybody sticks to the script. However till then, I’m free to set my very own schedule.

I’ve spent most of my weekend eager about Carter and Dominic. Mooning over them, if I’m being sincere. A thousand occasions, I’ve reached for my cellphone, however I haven’t heard from both of them. They haven’t texted; they haven’t known as. A number of occasions, I’ve wished to name them myself, however I held off. It’s simply intercourse, I’ve advised myself sternly. Don’t get hooked up.

Besides that the final two days have confirmed one thing I’d suspected Friday night time. It’s already too late for that.

I’ve to move again to Atlantic Metropolis ultimately, however I’m nonetheless reeling from that realization, and so, on Monday night, I head to Piper’s restaurant for this week’s Thursday Night time Ingesting Pack adventures.

Bailey isn’t there—she’s nonetheless within the Hamptons. Katie isn’t there both; she has a chilly. Miki at all times attends nearly, however as we speak, she has to work late. It’s simply Wendy, Piper, and me at Aladdin’s Lamp.

Piper units a plateful of scorching appetizers in entrance of us and opens a bottle of Syrah. “Put that on my tab,” I inform her. “And invoice us for the meals too.”

“In fact not.”

I give her a pointed look. “Your restaurant isn’t creating wealth, your lease is expiring quickly, and your landlord may elevate the hire. Take our cash, Piper.”

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