On the flip side, I’d done the prudent thing and moved my severance into a high-yield savings account like any good corporate lackey would.
I missed Cosmo, so I opened our text thread. The most recent message was from the other day when he’d sent a selfie while lounging at some hot springs on a rainy day in a town he was staying in.
Amos: Hope things are going well out in Oregon. We should catch up soon.
Almost immediately, my phone vibrated with a video call from him.
“Hey, man. You texted at the perfect time. I just got back to the B&B and was going to shower before tracking down some dinner. I went skiing on a mountain outside of Portland with some guys I met in town. Mount Hood is absolutely gorgeous.”
“Yeah? That sounds fun. Send me pics. Wait, are those dolls behind you?”
Cosmo laughed and flipped to the back camera. A cluster of dusty and most definitely haunted dolls sat groupe on a dresser.
“So, I’m staying in a town called Dahlia Springs. Dahlias are flowers, I guess? You’ll never guess what this B&B is called. Dollia Springs Bed and Breakfast. Doll-ia. Get it?”
I groaned. “Small towns love their puns.”
A creak came through the speaker as Cosmo must’ve settled into a chair. “I gotta say, I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying Oregon and Dahlia Springs. I bet it’s amazing in the summer with all the outdoor activities.” A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “I’ve never gone kayaking before, but I bet I’ll love it.” He lit up—always wearing his emotions on his face.
We kept chatting about what he loved about Dahlia Springs. The more he talked about enjoying small-town life, the more certain I became that he wouldn’t be returning to Boston. I supposed a part of me expected we’d end up back there—maybe even get a place together to save money while looking for new jobs. Cosmo was the kind of guy who got big ideas as fast as they fizzled, and I’d figured his move to Oregon would probably be temporary. But I could see on his face that this was different. He’d found his home.
“It sounds like you’ve found a great place.”
“I really have. How are things going back in Mapleville?”
“Maplewood. It’s going good.” Better than I had expected, which still surprised me.
“I bet you’re itching to get back to the city though. Have you been looking for a new place? Sucks your landlord decided to sell the condo you were renting. How’s the job hunt going?”
I glanced away. “Fine.”
Cosmo snorted. “That sounded about as convincing as the time you told our boss you were excited about the six-hour layover in Amsterdam because it was ‘long enough to get work done and not too long that you would be distracted by sightseeing.’”
I groaned. “I really said that, didn’t I?”
“You sure did. Epic ass-kissing, but not the fun kind.”
The memory made me laugh, but sobering reality chased it away, and I blew out a harsh breath. “Fine. I haven’t really been looking.” I waited for Cosmo to tell me to get my ass in gear, but his expression held understanding.
“How come?”
That was the million-dollar question.
“What if I’m miserable at the next job too? I’ve created enough PowerPoint presentations and reports to last a lifetime. When I was in my early twenties, all I cared about was the biggest salary I could get. I had no idea how soul-sucking it all would be.”
Cosmo nodded with a grim expression. “What are you doing now? “
“Helping out at my family’s diner. One of the college student part-timers quit early in the school year, so I’ve been covering their shifts and some extra. My older sibling, Sage, is taking the restaurant over whenever my parents decide to retire.” I moved the phone to my other hand and stretched out on the length of the couch.
“Your whole family works there? Oh, I’m remembering now. Your mom’s the head cook, right?”
“Yeah, and Dad is a server but also runs the business side. Sage has been doing that too.”
“It’s got to be nice spending time with your family. I know you didn’t get the chance to do much of that when we worked together. Have you reconnected with your high school friends? Wait, what was that look for?”
My eyebrows shot up. “What look?”
A smile spread across Cosmo’s face. “Thatlook. Who is he?”
