Page 9 of See You at the Sunset

“Just, give me thirty days, Mom. One month. And we’ll reassess. You can’t make me come. But I don’t want to be unreasonable either. So yeah, let’s meet halfway on this.” Surely her mom could appreciate Jia’s negotiation skills.

Her mom’s jaw ticked as she narrowed her eyes at her daughter. Jia held her breath.

“Thirty days, Jia.”

Jia saw her future play out in her head. Florida. Suburbs. Living with her parents until she was fifty. Dressing in Talbots like her mother. She shivered at the thought.

This would be her last shot. She wouldn’t be able to outnegotiate her lawyer mother after this. It was either find a joband get her life on track or lose the little autonomy she had to live it. One thing was for sure, Jia needed a plan. Her entire life depended on it.

“Jia, honey, we need to talk.”

The trauma from anyone coming at Jia sayingWe need to talkwas real. Only very bad things came from aWe need to talk.

We need to talk—we’re moving to Florida, leaving all your friends behind.High school will be miserable.

We need to talk—you need a new battery, air filter, and carburetor.It’ll cost a fortune.

We need to talk—I met someone else. It’s not you, it’s me.You’ll struggle to trust any man again.

We need to talk—you’re fired.

Jia sat up on her bed, pulling her threadbare Sailor Moon blanket with her, and looked into the eyes of her very best friend. Lizzy stood in the doorway looking... concerned. Was she worried Jia wouldn’t be able to make rent? Because Jia was worried. But she didn’t want to let that roll over on her friend.

Jia had been racking her brain on how to find a new job and stabilize her income.

Maybe she could start selling her clothes or something.

For someone who didn’t make a ton of money, Jia knew how to make use of what she had and find the best deals. Her most prized possessions weren’t fine jewelry or first edition books—they were pieces of clothing. Dior black wool slacks she’d found on consignment, a vintage Hermès silk scarf, and of course her Burberry trench coat bought at an estate sale of an heiress who passed away and her family who had no idea about the treasures that they were selling for a steal from her Upper East Side townhome. And don’t get her started on the shoes in her collection.

But she couldn’t part with any of it.

Jia was well-known for her particular sense of style.

The way Jia dressed impacted how she felt about herself and how she went about her day. And right now, she was wearing a ratty Hanes undershirt that had been left behind by some guy she’d hooked up with last St. Patrick’s Day—Sam? Scott? Steve?—and plaid pajama bottoms from when she was fifteen years old. Comfort clothing. Sad clothing. I’ve-given-up-for-now clothing.

Lizzy sat down, grabbed Jia’s hands, and squeezed.

Jia braced herself.

“Darcy has asked me to move in with him, and I have officially said yes.”

“Oh my god, Lizzy, that’s amazing!” Jia wrapped her arms around her best friend and sent her as much love as she could through the embrace. Look, you didn’t have an Elizabeth and a Darcy dating each other and not expect an HEA. C’mon. As if. “I’m so, so happy for you guys. One step closer to that dream wedding in Montauk. But if you two could take it a bit slower so I have time to save up some money for a gorgeous bridesmaid dress, that would be appreciated.”

She pulled back to see Lizzy with only a sixty-percent smile on her face.

“I don’t want to pressure you, but what are your plans?”

Jia closed her eyes. She didn’t have plans. She just had problems. She’d applied to some jobs she found online today. But she wasn’t hopeful.

“The super said there’s already someone looking for an apartment in this building,” Lizzy explained. “Do you want me to tell him it’s available? Or find someone to take over my room on the lease? Or...”

Or Jia could take over the lease herself? Not happening.

Or Jia could move out and look for a new place? In this market? Impossible.

Did Jia have any other options left?

“Darcy said he has a friend who may need a roommate for the summer. He could ask for you? Or maybe we can ask Jenny’s coworker who just bought that place with the extra bedroom?”