Page 15 of In Every Lifetime
Sarah
Why did I always feel the need to pack enough underwear to last twice the length of any trip I was taking?
Weekend getaway? I would pack enough pairs for a week. A week-long trip? Fourteen pairs, minimum. Don't even get me started on socks. It wasn't that I planned on wearing three pairs a day, but I needed options, just in case. I was truly hopeless when it came to packing. I always had been, overpacking no matter the occasion.
My room was currently an explosion of clothes, my suitcase spilling with outfit options, and Jackie wasn’t helping as she tried on various clothing items, checking herself out in the mirror. She currently had one of my silk tank tops pulled over a college hoodie I was convinced belonged to Will, judging by the size.
“Where are you going anyway?” Jackie asked, pulling a denim skirt over her leggings.
“Montana,” I answered. It had been three weeks since I offered to go with Fai to meet his brother.
While we were both antsy to go, Fai quickly realized Gabriel hadn’t sent a callback number in his initial note. Fai wrote him a letter back agreeing to come out. It took another week to get a letter back giving us the address and dates to come. We were set to leave today, planning to make the drive in one stretch.
While flying would have been faster, Fai wanted an escape route in case things didn’t go well. He also wanted a way to get to a meeting while we were there if needed. Thus, driving was the best solution.
I checked the clock and swore under my breath. Fai would be here any minute, and my room currently resembled the aftermath of a hurricane.
Jackie pulled on a beanie over her blonde hair, which was tied into two braids. Her ensemble was getting more ridiculous by the minute. “Why are you going to Montana?”
“I told you,” I looked around, spotting the Carhartt jacket I had been searching for. It wasn’t the most fashion-forward choice, but it was warm and worn in, perfect for a small-town mountain adventure with my ex-husband. God, was this a questionable choice. “I have a work meeting.”
It was a lie, but I didn’t want to get into a conversation with Jackie about Fai and if my going with him was a stupid decision. She already didn’t like the box of his belongings I had in the back of my closet, filled with various clothing items, random books, a shoebox of memories and his old sobriety chips he would always give me. A week-long trip with him would make her flip her lid. It also wasn’t my news to share about his brother. She could tell me how much of an idiot I was being… when I got back.
I had told Will, wanting his feedback. He was oddly in support of this venture. Will and Fai hadn’t been close when I was married. In fact, the two despised each other. Now they were close friends, getting together frequently just to talk. I chose notto try to decipher the inner workings of a man's mind, well, outside of a professional context, of course.
I was upset that Will hadn’t shared the news of Fai’s sobriety with me. He hadn’t shared it with anyone, in fact. I wasn’t sure if Jackie knew. Will explained that, much like my feelings on Fai’s brother, his sobriety was his news to share.
Jackie glanced at my suitcase. “You forgot pajamas.”
“Shit.” I ran to my dresser and pulled out enough sets to last me a week. Fai and I planned to make the drive in one go, taking turns behind the wheel. Then it was a week in a small town in Montana, up in the mountains.
When Fai got the address, I searched it up online, and the town looked gorgeous but very remote. I was excited for the small reprieve. I had plans of being there to make the initial meeting between the brothers as easy as possible and would then slowly remove myself throughout the week. I had a few books packed away in my bag to help me pass the time. At the end of the week, we would make the same drive back and return to our regularly scheduled programming.
At least, that was the plan.
“What do you think?” Jackie asked, turning towards me, her arms raised as she showed off her outfit. She reminded me of a child playing dress-up in their mother’s clothes.
I tried to hold back a laugh and failed completely, breaking into a fit of giggles that pulled Jackie right along with me. She was a ball of sunshine, always making me smile. While she was as stubborn as a mule, she was one of the most loyal people I had ever met.
“The knee-high socks and heels really complete the look,” I managed through laughter, pulling clothes off of my bed and floor and throwing them into my closet, making them a later-me problem.
“Right?” Jackie mused humorously. “This is the next date-night fit.” She watched me with a bemused expression as I continued to throw clothes haphazardly into the closet. “What in the world are you doing?”
“My ride’s going to be here any minute, and I don’t want to come home to a complete disaster," I explained.
Jackie smiled and stepped out of the heels before grabbing each of my arms, forcing me to stop and look at her. “I’ll put all of this away. Half of it was my mess anyway. You zip up that suitcase and go wait for your ride.”
I sighed and wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you,” I whispered into her hair.
“What are friends for?” she asked rhetorically as she squeezed me once and let go. “Now go. I’ll see you in a week.”
I grabbed my duffle bag, zipped up my suitcase and pulled it behind me as I left my room and made my way into the living room where Will was waiting.
“You sure about this?” he asked quietly.
I nodded. “He needs the support, and I think I’m the only person who can go with him, for a multitude of reasons.” Will raised a brow in question. “Goldie needs to stay at the office, he’s burned bridges with most people in his life, and I think I can bring a level of comfort that others can’t.”
“He’s extremely lucky to have you going with him, but areyougoing to be okay going?” Will clarified. “Look, you’re both my friends, and I want nothing but the best for both of you.” He trailed off, running a hand across his jawline.
