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It hits me that I’ve come to rely on her more than I realize as I sip the much-needed caffeine infused liquid. Having her around was comfortable in the best sense of the word.
As I finish up my cup of java, it’s getting close to decision time. Liv still hasn’t arrived or messaged.
“Well, it looks like I’m taking you. Can you grab your backpack?”
Elijah sighs. I know he misses Liv, but he grabs his stuff and meets me at the front door.
I don’t know why I didn’t park in the garage this morning, but I didn’t. Probably jet lag.
As I open the door for Elijah, we see Liv standing there.
“Liv!”
Elijah jumps into her arms, and she catches him, quickly setting him on his feet so she doesn’t topple over. When he lets go, Liv stands back up, and we lock eyes.
Happy is the last word I’d use to describe how she looks.
“I didn’t know if you’d make it.” I try to keep my voice even.
“I can’t stay. I…” She looks down at Elijah and then back up at me. “I need to collect last week’s check.”
My stomach drops like I’ve been punched in the gut.
“Um, Elijah, can you wait in the car for a second?” I click the unlock button on my key fob.
He meets my eyes, and I can barely stand the sadness spreading across his sweet face.
“Okay.”
Elijah walks to the car, and I watch him pull out his Switch from his bag. Looking back at Liv, I swallow hard.
I don’t want to do this.
“Let’s chat inside if you wouldn’t mind.”
Liv clenches her jaw but steps inside as I hold the door open for her. She doesn’t move far into the house, and I step around to the other side of her to speak face-to-face.
“You’re quitting?”
My voice quakes ever so slightly, but I can’t keep the disappointment from tainting it.
“Yes. I need to go. I’m going to take another job abroad.”
The fact that she’s not only leaving me but the entire damn country burns in my stomach, and I have to try and speak around the tension in my throat.
“Why? I thought it was going okay. Elijah loves you. He’s wanted nothing more than to talk to you about the trip.”
“Elijah is a great kid. It has nothing to do with him. I just need to go.”
Liv’s face is a controlled, emotionless mask. Whatever she’s feeling or thinking, she’s buttoning it down so not even a crack breaks through.
“What is it then? I…” I break our stare to look at the floor, shaking my head. “I’ve been respectful of your wishes. At least, I thought I had.”
When I look back up at her, Liv is staring off to the side.
“It’s not that. Please, I just need to go. And in order to get a plane ticket and a new apartment, I need my last paycheck.”
“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on? Did you meet someone? Did your dad say something?”
