{ v a c a n t }

      Her record label were starting to lose patients with her. Every day that passed without any new material was another day they bombarded her with questions, suggestions, and ultimatums Parker wasn’t sure she could handle much more of. “Yeah, yeah, it’s me,” the brunette called in response to her husband’s question. Her keys abandoned by the door along with her purse and shoes. She thought abandoning her quaint home studio for the luxury of professional one in Los Angeles would have helped stimulate her mind and get her out of her writer’s block but even that hadn’t worked. All Parker got for her trouble was an annoyed sound technician and a missed ferry ride home. “I went into the city today and lost track of time.” She continued to explain during her short trek to their bedroom in the dark. Her only source of guidance the moonlight streaming in through their large glass windows. “I missed the ferry and had to track down someone with a boat willing to give me a ride home. Did I wake you?”

Just a year prior and Jonah would’ve already known all this. In fact, he probably would’ve gone with the woman to the city, convincing her to spend a night away from their little home in some done up a hotel where they could watch the lights and order room service. But just like many other aspects of their lives, much had changed, and Jonah found himself hardly surprised that he’d remained ignorant of his wife’s whereabouts all day. However, it didn’t stop that familiar immersing sentiment from edging its way into his chest. “Sounds like quite an eventful day.” Reaching over, he flipped the switch of the light on his nightstand, blinking away the drowsiness as his eyes adjusted to the illumination. “Did you get any writing done?” Pulling back the covers, he stood, stretching his arms above his head before taking a few casual steps towards his wife. “And naw, I was already awake just waiting for you.” Reaching out, he offered the brunette his hand. “Come here.”

With only one eye open, Jonah peered into the darkness, the sounds of the front door lock echoing around him. “Parker, you home?” Rolling onto his side, he glanced warily towards the alarm flashing its neon lights. It was just past two in the morning, what the hell was his wife doing out this late. It sent a questioning shiver down his spine as he moved to sit up, clearing his throat again. “Babe?”

“No, no, Jonah, you look good!” Lizzie laughed, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she complimented the man. “What — not used to dressing up?” 

“Hardly.” He says with a shake of his head. “Parker insisted we match, but without her by my side, I sorta feel like a grade-A chump.” With a sigh, he glanced over the other. “You look beautiful though, I love the dress.”

       “Bro, I matched with my sister. On purpose. I hardly think I’m in any place to judge.” He shrugged and gave another sweep at the other’s appearance as he lifted the glass of wine to his lips. “Though, kudos to your wife. She looks like knows what she’s doing,” he added and took a sip.

Lifting a shoulder to shrug, Jonah nodded. “Yeah, it’s painfully relatable.” He adds with a chuckle. “And she really does, the woman knows what she likes.” Though sometimes, he wasn’t completely sure if that included himself. “Your outfit isn’t half bad either.”

There was a long pause as silence filled the room. It had been a while since Jonah had really considered his own happiness, weighing it against the factors of his life. But here he was faced with the question, and the man wasn’t sure how to answer. Maybe because the honest answer was the one that alarmed him the most. But he’d promised not to lie, and so instead he merely nodded and spoke two words. “You’re right.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” Shaking his head, Jonah sighed, allowing his gaze to move upwards towards the ceiling. “I’m an overthinker, what can I say?”

Parker: That depends on what you're planning to cook.

Parker: If it includes brussels sprouts of any kind then I'm inclined to say no.

Parker: That was a bad joke, I'm kidding, yeah, of course we can do dinner tonight. What time are you done with work? Would you like a sous chef? Or should I grab some wine on my way home? I wanna be helpful.

JC: You in the kitchen, I like the idea of that.

JC: Pretty sure there is a barefoot joke in there somewhere I could make, but I won't.

Lourdes: new phone who dis?

Lourdes: I'm kidding, I didn't get a new phone lol

Lourdes: oh tell me about it. work's been kicking my butt too and my boss is being such a control freak. but what can you do, amiright?

Lourdes: I hope you're looking after yourself too JC

JC: The long hours keep me sane, I promise.

Maybe Lourdes knew she was playing a dangerous game, trying to talk to him in public. Maybe she was feeling ballsy in this half empty space, where no one would have cared if it was just the two of them. But the way he pulled his hand away, and his excuses, just seemed so cold. For a moment, she wondered if perhaps she had done something wrong. “….how is Parker? I’ve been texting her, but I haven’t had the chance to go see her yet. And work…right, right.” Her heart felt heavy and she immediately straightened, knees turning to the bar as her gaze surveyed the bottles on glass shelves. “Hmm? No, I actually had a date and he had to bail, so here we are. A shame really, he was soooo cute. I think he’s a beat cop? So hot.” Lourdes didn’t know what she was trying to achieve by trying to get under Jonah’s skin, but there was something to be said about hurting someone who hurt you and she was never one to skip out on an opportunity like that. 

It seemed wrong, dirty almost that Lourdes would so easily ask about his wife. But she knew Parker, was her younger sister’s best friend and had every right int he world. It was all so complicated, and yet plain as day as the male cleared his throat, taking note of the hurt in her expression. “Hey--” His response was whispered, as he watched her movements, so stiff and disconnected. It left him feeling distant, which was a sentiment he’d grown to be all too familiar with as of late. So acting against his better judgment, he reached out, his fingers ghosting along her shoulder and down her arm. A simple expression of deeper regard he had for the woman beside him, though her next words twisted his core. “Don’t act like that.” It wasn’t often that Jonah was reminded of the age difference between them, but every so often she said something that would shake him. “It’s just, it’s hard.” And wrong. “But I’ve missed you.” And he had, more than he’d like to admit, considering some days, it rivaled his pining of Parker. “I know that doesn’t help much, but I’ve been thinking...” It was that upon hearing this information, his first thought had gone to Lourdes and not his own wife. But somewhere, deep down, he knew Parker never would’ve wanted to come anyways, which is why he spoke these next words. “I have a police thing down in San Diego this weekend, it’s a two-day thing, and I was wondering if you might want to come with me.” Pausing, he met her gaze. “We could have a day, and no one would know us.” Maybe he was just so lonely, his better judgment had retired, but JC couldn't help but offer the other a small smile. “It might be fun.”

“Vodka cranberry, please,” she rattled off to the bartender before facing Jonah. “Thanks.” Frankie spun slightly in her stool, sitting up more straightly. “You know, when I imagined men buying me drinks at the bar tonight, you weren’t exactly who I had in mind,” she attempts her joke, not feeling much like laughing, but doing so anyway. At Jonah’s suggestive expression, Frankie let a genuine smile brighten her features. “Yes, two very special someones. Lizzie and Lourdes. You remember them, right? They’ve been my best friends for forever.” She tore at the napkin in front of her a little bit while she waited for her drink. “What about you? What brought you here tonight? Just catching a drink after work or something?” 

Chuckling softly, he rolled his eyes though his posture relaxed slightly. At least Frankie felt comfortable enough to joke around him, it made their interactions easier and less tense. As if each were walking around on eggshells. “As a professional older brother, I’d like to very expressively say, better me than someone else.” Though at her next comment, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise. Lourdes. Oh yes, he remembered the woman very well though he did nothing to showcase that. “I believe so, they were at the wedding right?” The wedding to his wife, and Frankie’s very own sister. The thought alone was enough to rattle his cage. “If you’d like, I can keep you company till they arrive.” Though he probably should just leave before she appeared, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it counted as running away.