I'll be there for you

 

"Are you insane?" Jonas screeched into the phone as soon as he got his brother's text about his move to Chicago.

"Quite possibly," Jake sighed back, thinking this was strange to hear such from a recluse who lived in their parents' basement. In fact, Jonas was his adopted brother, the blonde son his mother had always wanted. Although, seriously, they were all fascinated by his brain. He was a genius who was afraid of everything. "But it feels right." This much Jake knew.

"But...but what are you going to do?" His brother was his conscience most times whose usual mantra was, "Don't do that."

"Well, you tell me?" Jake sounded as if his brother were the fortune teller.

"You're not making that much, as it is." Jonas reminded him that Jake was barely getting by on twenty-five hours at the library. Jake did a side hustle at tutoring middle schoolers (at the library, no less, in English). "But you've been taking so many library classes. Don't you have a doctorate by now?"

Jake tensed at the thought. A degree, taking him nowhere, evidently. And now it would look bad to suddenly leave the library like this. They counted on him. It seemed everything was a tight squeeze these days when it came to making a living; no wonder everyone was on TikTok.

"I'll think of something." He winced, looking around Macy's cluttered apartment while she was in the shower. 

"Good luck."

Jake blew a breath, wishing he could call work, but it was late at night. Who knew he'd take the plunge this soon? Yet the timing felt right. Still, life was so unpredictable, and he hoped this worked out. Still, it worried him. Did anyone else dive off in the deep end without thinking?

He was a nervous wreck, thinking about how he was going to do this with Macy. After all, there was the courage to stay by her side. Still, was she ready to stay by his side? 

There was still the obstacle of public transportation to overcome. Yes, he wanted Macy to feel she could do anything. Even be the receptionist, she could be.

He tightened his fist, chin up. Yes, it was confidence. They both needed confidence to see this through. 

She came out of the bathroom with wet curls and wearing winter pajamas.

"Your turn." She smiled.

Jake nodded, playing up on his calmness. There was no turning back. "You pick the side of the bed you like best."

Decisions needed to be made. And sleep was an important one.