Chapter 4 - Same Time Next New Year's

I hate my job.

Quitting my old job—a job that I loved—was not what I wanted to do. But circumstances forced my hand, and I had to find the quickest job that also paid enough to get on my feet again.

That’s how I came to work at a bank. It pays well, but it’s absolutely the most boring job I’ve ever had.

I was working at my dream job as a hospital administrator in the same hospital my ex-husband works at as a nurse. He’s still there. Now dating my ex-friend. How nice for them.

I know eventually I’ll be looking for another job in the medical field, but for now I need a complete change of scenery. A change of pace. A change of everything, to be honest.

And for the most part, it’s been a great change. As boring as this job is, it comes with really nice coworkers. The slower pace was really odd at first, especially coming from the hospital where most days brought non-stop chaos. But working at the bank has been helping my mind to reset.

I finish up with the client I’ve been working with for the last twenty minutes, waving goodbye and thanking them for the warm New Year’s wishes. I check my watch and stand up from my chair. “I’m taking my lunch,” I inform my coworkers.

Grabbing my jacket and purse, I make my way out of the bank and towards my car. I get inside quickly, turning the car on and blasting the heat, trying to chase away the freezing cold.

I reach into my coat pocket and pull my phone out. No new messages.

My frustration at even entertaining the thought of texting Leo—the stranger—again manifests in anxious foot-tapping and eye-rolling.

But is he still a stranger?

Yes. Yes he is. You don’t even know his last name, I think.

I put my phone on my lap and my hands around the steering wheel. I take a deep breath, looking around the parking lot and wondering if I should just go home to eat. I’m so sick of take-out.

I pick my phone up again. Still no messages.

“Screw it,” I mutter under my breath. I unlock my phone and open the text thread.

Joanna: What kind of food do you serve in your restaurant?

I press send, and I immediately want to throw my phone outside, drive away, and never look back. But before the self-sabotage can even start, my phone buzzes. My heart picks up speed as I quickly open the message.

Unknown: Italian! The best kind of food there is!

Unknown: Hey Jo :)

I shake my head as I smile.

Joanna: Hey Leo :)

My hands start sweating. I haven’t had to flirt with someone in a long time. A really long time. I married Greg when we were twenty-two and fresh out of college. We met in our sophomore year, and we just seemed to fit together. I thought I had found the person I was going to spend my life with. And I believed that up until about a year ago, but then he started to get weird and distant. Then, six months ago, all of that imploded when I caught him in our bed with Annie, our friend from work. More than his friend, I guess.

So original.

I still carry that betrayal with me—the humiliation and fury and shock—I replay it in my mind every single day.

My phone vibrates.

Unknown: Jo and Leo.

Unknown: I like it.

Unknown: It feels meant to be, don’t you think?

I laugh.

Joanna: You’re a huge flirt, you know that?

Unknown: Yes, I do.

Unknown: But I’d say that it goes both ways… yeah?

Unknown: I mean, am I making you blush as much as you’re making me blush?

And as if the universe is working to prove a point, my cheeks warm, and I bite down on the smile that I can’t seem to keep away. Before responding, I add his contact.

Joanna: I’m making you blush?

Leo: Like a freakin’ kid with a crush.

Joanna: There might be some pink on my face right now.

Leo: I knew it!

Leo: Look at us, a couple of flirts.

I laugh again.

I haven’t laughed this much in months. Clearing my throat, I look at my screen and try to steer the conversation towards safer ground.

Joanna: So Italian food?

Joanna: Are you Italian?

Leo: One hundred percent Italian. My grandparents immigrated to the States from Sicily when my dad was a baby.

Joanna: That’s incredible. I’m sure that was a hard transition.

Leo: It was. They left everything behind, didn’t even know where they would live when they got here.

Joanna: But it sounds like it eventually worked out?

Leo: It did. Took a long time, but they had a successful Italian deli. Still do. My dad runs it now. My grandfather passed away a few years ago, and my grandmother is still kickin. She’s going to outlive us all.

Joanna: I’m sorry for your loss.

Leo: Thanks, Jo. He was sick, so it’s bittersweet. Bitter for us who have to stay here without him, sweet for him that he’s no longer in pain.

Joanna: That’s a nice way of looking at it. Based on the few hours I’ve “known” you, I think I can say that if your grandmother is anything like you, she must be a hoot.

Leo: Just laughed out loud again, scared one of my waiters.

Leo: It’s funny, I often write “LOL” but I’m usually never laughing… or even smiling. This is the first time I can write it and have it be true.

Joanna: Wow, that’s a huge milestone for you, Leo.

Leo: You’re a bit of a smart ass, aren't you, ma’am?

I let out my own laugh that startles me.

Joanna: I’ve definitely heard that before. It’s one of my many intriguing qualities.

Leo: What are some of the others?

I pause, not sure how to keep the conversation going without unloading all of my baggage. But I don’t want to stop talking to him.

Joanna: Well, I’ve been known to make some people laugh out loud.

Leo: LOL

I smirk.

Leo: You’re funny, that’s definitely an intriguing quality. What do you do for work?

Leo: You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.

Leo: I promise I’m not a real creep.

Leo: I can give you my parents’ numbers. Even my brother’s. They can attest to my non-creepiness.

Joanna: I actually started a new job recently. I work at a bank.

Joanna: I feel like your family would be partial to you though, no?

Leo: A bank! That’s fancy!

Leo: And that’s true. They would probably try to spill embarrassing secrets. Yeah, on second thought, you need to meet me first before you start calling my family.

I stare at his words. Meet him. Just the thought of talking to him in person makes my chest feel tight and my stomach flip in circles. I decide to focus on the job topic.

Joanna: Not as fancy as it seems… kind of boring.

Leo: Do you have to count money all day?

Joanna: LOL

Joanna: (that means I just laughed out loud)

Leo: Did you scare anyone?

Joanna: Just myself. I’m on my lunch break, sitting in my car.

Leo: You scared yourself?

Joanna: I don’t usually laugh like this.

I send it before I realize how awkward that might have been to say. Am I making myself look as pathetic as I feel?

Leo: Is it weird that it makes me sad that you’re sitting in your car alone?

Leo: So you’re a funny person who doesn’t laugh often?

Leo: You’re a tough one to figure out.

Joanna: I don’t mind being alone. It’s comforting sometimes. Especially when I have to talk to people all day for work. My introverted self needs the alone time.

Leo: I understand that. Glad you can have this time then!

Joanna: Me too :)

Leo: I might ask something too forward… feel free to ignore.

Leo: Does the not laughing often have anything to do with the tough few weeks you’ve been having?

I take a deep breath. There’s no way I can dive into this never ending shit-show with him right now, or ever. The last thing anyone wants is to hear about other people’s personal problems.

Joanna: It’s a long story. Quite depressing too. But unfortunately I need to get back to work.

Leo: Unfortunately?

Joanna: Unfortunately.

I can’t suppress the small smile. Why does it feel like I have a closer connection with a complete stranger than I ever did with the man I spent over ten years of my life with?

Leo: I’ve been hiding in my office, so I should probably get back to my job as well… unfortunately.

Joanna: Unfortunately.

Leo: You’re making me blush again.

I shake my head and let out a breathy laugh.

Joanna: Get back to work, slacker.

Leo: You too! That money won’t count itself.

I chuckle and tuck my phone back into my pocket before I do something stupid like keep responding to him. Looking at the clock, I groan when I realize I do actually have to get back to work. I wasted my whole lunch break texting this stranger like a giddy teenager.

I sigh, reaching into my purse and pulling out a protein bar. This will have to do for now, even though I suddenly find myself craving Italian food.