California Sunshine (2 page)

              I laughed, "No ma'am, I'm goin' to California to visit some friends. I was actually gonna see if y'all could keep an eye on my house for me."

              "Oh honey, that's great! Of course we will, you're spare key still in the same spot?" she asked.

              I nodded, "Yes ma'am. I'll be gone for about two weeks, thank you so much!"

              "You know it ain't no problem. You just be careful, call me when you touch down please?"

              I smiled, hugging her again. "Yes ma'am. Thank you again, but I better get goin' if I'm gonna make that plane."

              She almost pushed me towards the door after that. "You better not miss that plane 'cause of me." And with that, I was out the door and in the cab before I could think twice.

              I settled into my seat on the plane and watched as other passengers began to board. Just then a guy sat down next to me. I smiled politely and he nodded his head. Once I turned towards the window I rolled my eyes and thought: Great. This should be an interesting four hours. Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned to see who had tapped me I was kind of surprised to see that he was looking at me.

              "Sorry. I just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Ben, I didn't mean to nod at you like that."

              I smiled once again, "It's fine. My name's Joanna, most people just call me Jo, though."

              "Nice to meet you, Joanna. So what takes you to California?"

              "Friends. And you?" I asked.

              "It's where I live. So were you born here?"

              I shook my head. "No, I was born in Arkansas. I moved here with my best friend, who I'm goin' to see when I was eighteen."

              "Arkansas huh? Which one do you like better?"

              I smiled, thinking for a few minutes. "Well, that's kind of a tough question. Arkansas is home. Nashville is my new home. But I think Arkansas would win."

              "Why?" he asked.

              "Why? 'Cause there wasn't so much stupid stuff. I had more fun. But what about you? Why'd you come here?" He was starting to irritate me and I was trying my hardest to keep my emotions in check.

              "Visit my girlfriend," He replied, sounding cross.

              I cocked an eyebrow and looked at him, "You sound less than happy about that."

              "She was cheating."

              With those three words that seemed so big, my heart ached for him. "I'm sorry to hear that."

              "Don't be. She tried telling me distance would be an issue. I didn't want to hear it, though."

              "That's bullshit. Excuse my language, but nobody deserves to be cheated on. Ugh, what's wrong with people nowadays? Cain't be faithful even if their lives depended on it!" I could feel the rage swirling inside.

              "I take it it's happened to you?"

              I nodded, "Yeah, the night before Valentine's. I caught him in our bed with a mutual friend. Apparently it had been goin' on for a while. At least six months." I whispered, looking out the window.

              "What a scumbag. I'm sorry to hear that. You'll find somebody, and what he did will never matter again."

              I looked at him quickly, "Same for you. It's been seven months, I'm healin' and you will too. It hurts, but before you know it you'll be able to look at certain things and not feel like breakin' down."

              "You've made it there already?"

              I smiled, "Not yet, but every day I get closer." I replied, putting my headphones on and getting comfy.

              Ben and I stepped off the plane together and walked to baggage claims.

              "It was nice talking to someone like you. While you're here we should hang out, get to know each other better," he said as I spotted my suitcases.

              I smiled politely. "No thanks. I'm sorry, I'm here to see my friends who I ain't seen in like forever.I hope you understand."

              "Jo!" I heard my name being called. Ben and I both turned and that's when I saw Ashley. Her skin had been kissed by the sun and her hair was perfectly golden.

              "Ash!" I exclaimed as I wrapped my arms around her.

              She quickly sized Ben up and cocked an eyebrow at me. I smiled, "Ash, this is Ben. Met him on the flight, he lives here. Ben this is Ashley," I turned back towards Ashley. "we ready?"

              She nodded, grabbed one of my suitcases and began walking towards the exit.

              "It was nice meetin' you." I quickly said to Ben and took off so that I could catch up to Ashley who had left me behind.

              "So how was your flight?"

              I giggled, "Yeah, I hear your tone. It was fine, talkin' about cheatin' ex's. He was in Nashville to see his girlfriend...then he caught her cheatin' too. It was like fate, but I turned him down. I ain't ready for all that yet."

              "When are you gonna be ready?"

              I shrugged, "I don't know. Why does it matter? I'd much rather be single for a while. I cain't just get over Lance cheatin' on me. Ash, the day before Valentine's? In our bed, I would've never known otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I found out, but it doesn't stop it from hurtin'."

              "I know it doesn't stop it from hurtin', but come on, it's been seven months." She replied, pulling into a driveway of a house that looked like it should have been in a magazine.

              I looked at her, my brows furrowed in the middle. "This is where y'all live? And yeah it's been seven months. If I were to meet somebody tomorrow that my soul felt connected to I'd consider it, but it would have to go slow. You better be showin' me around, y'all have a pool right?"

              She laughed, "Duh I'm gonna show you around. Come on, let's get your stuff to your room and we can do whatever you want."

              I grabbed my suitcase out of the trunk, "I just want some down time with you. I've missed my sister from another mister." I winked at her as she shut the trunk and led me inside.

              After I got settled into the room I'd be occupying for the next two weeks, Ashley took me on the tour. We finished in the kitchen and her setting wine on the island. I looked at her and scrunched my nose.

              "Oh come on Jo! It's just wine!"

              I nodded, taking the glass from her. "Yeah I know that. I hate wine and you know that! What has California done to you?"

              She laughed, "Shut up and drink it. Sip it, you'll be fine."

              I took a small sip and cringed. "Don't ask me to do this again."

              "I won't if you're gonna cry about it," She replied, rolling her eyes as she turned towards the fridge.

              "You still eat the same stuff right?" I asked, hiding a smile behind my wine glass.

              Ashley quickly turned and faced me, but once she spotted the smile playing on my lips she laughed. "Of course, I do. I do enjoy good sushi now, though. I'll take ya tomorrow."

              I bit my bottom lip, "Sushi sounds amazin'. What are we eatin' tonight?"

              "Spaghetti."

              "That's it?" I asked rather concerned.

              "Nooo. A garden salad also."

              "Dressin'?" I asked both eyebrows raised, knowing exactly what she would say.

              "I know you better than that. You're a country girl, but you've always been a healthy eater. Which in some weird way it rubbed off on me and Mike."

              I laughed, "Mike, eatin' healthy? You're kiddin' me?"

              "No, she's not kidding you." I heard his voice behind me. I jumped almost spilling my wine.

              "You scared me! How'd I not hear you come in?" I asked as I wrapped him in a hug.

              "I'm just stealth like that. How was your flight?" he asked, walking over to Ashley and kissing her.

              "It was good," I replied.

              "Yeah, she met somebody," Ashley said, a shit-eating grin on her face.

              "No, I didn't. Not like that. His name is Ben, we talked. It's not like I'm smitten or somethin'."

              "Ash, baby, don't give her hell." Ashley laughed and nodded, stirring the noodles, but I knew I was in for a very long two weeks. "So has she talked to you about going out Friday night? We're going to the Greystone Manor. I think you'll love it." He said pouring himself a glass of wine and that's when I realized that they were like an old married couple.

              I giggled. "Sounds good. You know I like a good bar or club."

              "Oh, we know." They both said in unison.

              My eyes flew up. "What's that supposed to mean?" I felt a little hurt, but wouldn't give into those feelings until I knew for sure what they had meant.

              Mike laughed, "No, no, not like that. You light up when you're having fun, though. Happy looks good on you." He nudged me gently and I smiled, looking back down at my wine. Thinking about the last time, I'd really been happy. It has been a while, I'll admit that. But I'm happy now, happy being completely free. It's lonely, but it's peaceful. No fighting, no wondering, no worrying. I was pulled out of my thoughts by the doorbell.

I quickly looked at Ashley who was moving around the kitchen and then at Michael who stood slowly and made his way to answer the door. When he returned there was a couple following him and all of a sudden my anxiety took hold. I'm not good with a lot of people, and especially with people I've never met before. Ashley should have warned me.

              Ashley rounded the island and hugged each of them. "Laney! Matt! Glad y'all could make it. This is Joanna, everybody calls her Jo, though. Jo, Laney and Matt. Matt works with Mike, Laney is a first-grade teacher."

              I smiled, "Nice to meet y'all."

              "Finally! I get to meet the notorious Joanna!" Laney exclaimed smiling widely and I looked at Ashley out of the corner of my eye.

              "Notorious huh? Well, I hope she only told you the true stories." I replied, standing. I walked around the island and sat my empty glass in the sink.

              "What happened to sipping?" Ashley whispered.

              "New people. Got anything else that ain't wine?" I whispered back.

              "Not 'til after supper. You'll be fine."

              "What are you two over there whispering about?" Mike asked and I so badly wanted to glare at him.

              "Nothin'." I said, probably a little too quickly, but that was the fun part of anxiety. It was going to shine a magnifying glass on your insecurities and let those shine like a motherfucker.

              "Y'all ready to eat?" Ashley asked, saving me from the bus that I had just thrown myself under.

              "Of course. I brought dessert. Hope everyone likes cheesecake." Laney said, halfheartedly smiling at me.

              Mike took the dish from her and sat it in the fridge. "None of us are picky."

              I felt very, very out of place. And of course, my brain was in overdrive, yelling at me for making such an amateur mistake.

Chapter 3