California Sunshine Read online

  Chapter 1

  I grabbed my coffee cup and looked at the calendar. I couldn't help but smile, today marked seven months since I caught Lance cheating on me. I smiled, taking a sip from my mug. I could smile now, six months ago I couldn't. Now I was proud of where I had made it to, and who I am. I'm no longer the girl that needed somebody. Sure I still get lonely from time to time, who wouldn't after being in a relationship for three years? But now? Now I could come and go as I please, not answering to anyone. I could spend my money on myself and not answer questions as to where it was going. Although he never did tell me where his money was going, of course, that question was answered the night I found him in bed with Janet. Our bed.

  I looked at the clock on the stove and noticed that I still had an hour before I had to leave to go to work. I set down and opened my laptop, quickly signed onto Facebook and began scrolling. Of course, it was the same thing, pictures of friends kids, couples looking oh so in love. I quickly tired of scrolling through the monotony. Just as I was going to log out my computer dinged with a message. I looked down and saw that it was Ashley.

  "I need to talk to you." I cocked an eyebrow, my heart beating furiously in my chest. I never liked hearing those words. Whether they were read or spoken out loud.

  "Okay?" I quickly typed and hit enter with a little more oomph than I had meant to. I cringed and gently patted my keyboard and muttered a quick apology.

  "Michael and I want you to come to Cali. We'll pay for the plane ticket, you can stay with us. You need a vacation."

  I knew why she insisted I needed a vacation, but she was wrong. I needed to work, I needed to carry on. "I need a vacation huh? You do know I'm fine right?"

  "I know every morning you wake up with the same routine. Coffee, calendar, Facebook, work. Lather, rinse, repeat. Be spontaneous."

  "Remember what spontaneity got me seven months ago?" I asked.

  "Yeah I do know what it got you, it got you the truth. And, you just confirmed what I already knew. I'll send you the ticket. Love you! Have a great day at work, call me tonight." And just like that the green dot beside her name disappeared and I was left sitting there feeling like a child that had gotten caught telling a white lie. If anyone knew me, it would be Ashley, and sometimes I think she knew me better than I know myself.

  I quickly logged off, shut my laptop, shoved it into my bag and headed for the door. As soon as I walked out my front door I was congratulating myself on wearing a tank top. It was already hot and muggy, and it was just going to get worse.

  I slung my bag into the front seat and hurriedly turned the a/c on. As I sat there letting my car get cool, I began to think about what Ashley had said. "I know every morning you wake up with the same routine." She was right and part of me hated her for it. Then again, there was a part of me that absolutely adored her for seeing the parts of me that I always kept hidden. She knew I constantly lied about how I was feeling, why should I tell the truth? Most of the time when somebody asked how you were doing it's not because they actually cared, it was more of a formality. I shrugged as I looked in my rear-view mirror so that I could back out of my driveway and that's when I really noticed someone else's face staring back at me. I also knew that Ashley was right about the vacation.

  I hadn't been at work more than a couple of hours when Alicia came in. "Hey Joanna, there's someone here to see ya."

  "Man or women? Name?" I asked, looking up from my computer screen.

  "Man, his name is David," She replied.

  "I'm assumin' he probably wants me to listen to his demo." I groaned standing and following her to the door.

  "I'm not sure. He said that he had an appointment with ya later today, but wanted to come by earlier." She whispered before going back to her desk.

  As soon as I spotted the antsy guy I recognized him and everything came back. "David! Hello, how are ya?" I asked as I shook his hand and led him back to my office. I pointed to a chair and he took a seat once I was sitting.

  "I'm fine ma'am. Sorry for droppin' in unannounced, but I wasn't gonna be able to make my appointment this afternoon." He replied, looking worried and like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

  "That's fine David. A phone call would've been appreciated, but by the look on your face somethin's wrong. Ya can tell me or not, that's up to you, but do ya have your demo?" I asked. I hadn't meant to come across so angry and standoffish but I had to get down to it. I couldn't sit around all day trying to conduct small talk.

  "Yes ma'am I do. Here ya go." He handed me a CD and set back down. "Well, my wife's havin' our first baby. She's in the hospital right now."

  I looked at him in shock and couldn't help but to smile. "David, get your butt to that hospital. I'll call you in a few days to let you know. Go see this miracle and spend time with your wife, she's gonna need you."

  He nodded furiously and almost ran out of my office. I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I began to listen to his demo.

  I had just packed my things up to leave for the night when my cell began to ring. I sighed, put on a smile and answered. "Hey Ash."

  "Hey, so I ordered your plane ticket. You leave the seventh, you'll be back home by the twenty-first--"

  I cut her off. "Wait, what? Two weeks? Ashley, I cain't do that. I've got work--"

  "Not for two weeks you don't. I called Richard, 'cause if we're being honest he told me you needed outta there."

  "Really, really?! You called my boss?! Ugh! Fine, if it'll get you off my damn back, fine! I'll go. What's the weather like there?" I asked.

  "Hot. So bring shorts and I'll take you shoppin' for a bathin' suit. But bring a sweater, the nights can get a little chilly."

  I had to smile, "You suck, and I wanna hate you, but I just cain't." I replied.

  Ashley laughed, "You'll never hate me. We've been friends for twenty-two years, so suck it up buttercup. You're stuck with me."

  I laughed, "I wouldn't exactly say stuck, but I get it. Hold on I'm gonna put you on speaker, I'm goin' home." I quickly sat my phone in its holder and turned the speaker on. "Can ya hear me?" I asked as my stereo came blaring on. I spun the volume dial and it died down.

  "Damn, you were jammin' weren't ya. Yeah I can hear ya. Mike's excited to see ya, he says hi." She said.

  I smiled, "Hi Mike. So I'm sure you have a whole slew of stuff planned for us. My question is, am I gonna be hangin' out alone while ya'll work?"

  "No ma'am. I'm off for the first week you'll be here. Then after that yeah, you'll probably be on your own." She replied and for a second I thought I could hear a hint of something else, but I shrugged it off.

  We had talked for a while before we hung up and I took a shower. I was sitting Indian style in bed, tablet laying in front of me. I was trying to concentrate on reading, but I couldn't. I was too interested to know what all there would be to do in Los Angeles. I took a sip of my water and kept scrolling when I spotted it. The Griffith Observatory. I knew I had to go, and I knew I had to have Ashley take me. She loved stars just as much as I do, definitely not more, but just as much. I smiled to myself as thought about seeing her and Mike. It had been at least a year since I got to hang out with them, and I always missed being with them, around them, like crazy.

  I shut my tablet off, sat it on my side table and laid down in bed. My mind was racing a mile a minute, nights always ended up like this. I sighed, staring at the ceiling fan watching it make its rounds. Over, and over again. Around and around. I curled up on my side, still sleep didn't come. Finally, I threw the blankets off and grabbed my tablet once more. I brought my e-mail up and spotted the one that had my ticket. I smiled and realized that I was more excited than I wanted to let on. I quickly googled how long the flight would be and was pleasant
ly surprised when it said only three hours and fifty minutes. I would be flying from Nashville International to LAX. I'd be staying with Ashley and Michael in their house, a house I'd never seen other than in pictures and video. It was a gorgeous place, Ashley had said that it was a three bedroom, something they had planned for when they began to have children. I rolled my eyes and giggled, "Children." I thought. I wasn't sure I ever wanted any, and after what had happened between Lance and me, I wasn't even sure I ever wanted to get married. That's when I spotted it, the red dress I wore to go out with Lance on Valentines. I smiled sadly, but it was a mixture of missing him, and a sadness I couldn't quite wrap my head around.

  I closed the closet doors and found my way in the dark to the kitchen. I turned on the light which seemed uncharacteristically bright tonight. I squinted and rummaged through the fridge until I found what I was looking for. I pulled out a bottle of Angel's Envy Bourbon. I sat a shot glass down on the counter and poured. I tossed it back, letting the warmth of the amber liquid warm my less than warm soul. I sat the bottle back in the fridge because I knew if I didn't stop now I would find myself on the floor, too drunk to make it through the day. I double checked the doors, they were locked, so I made my way back down the hallway. Back to bed, I go. Staring at the ceiling for the millionth night. I thought as I climbed back into bed.

  Chapter 2

  Today was the day! I was so excited to be leaving for California, I still hadn't told Ashley, though by now I'm pretty sure she knew I was excited. That girl could sense excitement across the world. It was like her superpower. I grabbed my boarding pass that I had printed off, double checked my carry on bag and grabbed my suitcase. I locked the doors and walked next door to Mr. and Mrs. David's house. They were like parents I had adopted when I had moved in. They were the first ones to welcome me to the neighborhood, and they were there when I had breakdowns the first couple of months. Maryann had invited me over for dinner so many times that I lost count after a few months. Of course I had them over for dinner as well, I loved to cook and always made way to much.

  I rang the doorbell and waited patiently. I was staring out across the street, up into the sky when I heard the front door open. I quickly turned to see a bright, smiling Maryann.

  "Hey, sweetie." She said, opening the door so that I could come inside.

  I smiled in return, "Hi."

  She hugged me and when she pulled away she looked at me curiously, "You're not leavin' us are ya?"

  I laughed, "No ma'am, I'm goin' to California to visit some friends. I was actually gonna see if y'all could keep an eye on my house for me."

  "Oh honey, that's great! Of course we will, you're spare key still in the same spot?" she asked.

  I nodded, "Yes ma'am. I'll be gone for about two weeks, thank you so much!"

  "You know it ain't no problem. You just be careful, call me when you touch down please?"

  I smiled, hugging her again. "Yes ma'am. Thank you again, but I better get goin' if I'm gonna make that plane."

  She almost pushed me towards the door after that. "You better not miss that plane 'cause of me." And with that, I was out the door and in the cab before I could think twice.

  I settled into my seat on the plane and watched as other passengers began to board. Just then a guy sat down next to me. I smiled politely and he nodded his head. Once I turned towards the window I rolled my eyes and thought: Great. This should be an interesting four hours. Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned to see who had tapped me I was kind of surprised to see that he was looking at me.

  "Sorry. I just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Ben, I didn't mean to nod at you like that."

  I smiled once again, "It's fine. My name's Joanna, most people just call me Jo, though."

  "Nice to meet you, Joanna. So what takes you to California?"

  "Friends. And you?" I asked.

  "It's where I live. So were you born here?"

  I shook my head. "No, I was born in Arkansas. I moved here with my best friend, who I'm goin' to see when I was eighteen."

  "Arkansas huh? Which one do you like better?"

  I smiled, thinking for a few minutes. "Well, that's kind of a tough question. Arkansas is home. Nashville is my new home. But I think Arkansas would win."

  "Why?" he asked.

  "Why? 'Cause there wasn't so much stupid stuff. I had more fun. But what about you? Why'd you come here?" He was starting to irritate me and I was trying my hardest to keep my emotions in check.

  "Visit my girlfriend," He replied, sounding cross.

  I cocked an eyebrow and looked at him, "You sound less than happy about that."

  "She was cheating."

  With those three words that seemed so big, my heart ached for him. "I'm sorry to hear that."

  "Don't be. She tried telling me distance would be an issue. I didn't want to hear it, though."

  "That's bullshit. Excuse my language, but nobody deserves to be cheated on. Ugh, what's wrong with people nowadays? Cain't be faithful even if their lives depended on it!" I could feel the rage swirling inside.

  "I take it it's happened to you?"

  I nodded, "Yeah, the night before Valentine's. I caught him in our bed with a mutual friend. Apparently it had been goin' on for a while. At least six months." I whispered, looking out the window.

  "What a scumbag. I'm sorry to hear that. You'll find somebody, and what he did will never matter again."

  I looked at him quickly, "Same for you. It's been seven months, I'm healin' and you will too. It hurts, but before you know it you'll be able to look at certain things and not feel like breakin' down."

  "You've made it there already?"

  I smiled, "Not yet, but every day I get closer." I replied, putting my headphones on and getting comfy.

  Ben and I stepped off the plane together and walked to baggage claims.

  "It was nice talking to someone like you. While you're here we should hang out, get to know each other better," he said as I spotted my suitcases.

  I smiled politely. "No thanks. I'm sorry, I'm here to see my friends who I ain't seen in like forever.I hope you understand."

  "Jo!" I heard my name being called. Ben and I both turned and that's when I saw Ashley. Her skin had been kissed by the sun and her hair was perfectly golden.

  "Ash!" I exclaimed as I wrapped my arms around her.

  She quickly sized Ben up and cocked an eyebrow at me. I smiled, "Ash, this is Ben. Met him on the flight, he lives here. Ben this is Ashley," I turned back towards Ashley. "we ready?"

  She nodded, grabbed one of my suitcases and began walking towards the exit.

  "It was nice meetin' you." I quickly said to Ben and took off so that I could catch up to Ashley who had left me behind.

  "So how was your flight?"

  I giggled, "Yeah, I hear your tone. It was fine, talkin' about cheatin' ex's. He was in Nashville to see his girlfriend...then he caught her cheatin' too. It was like fate, but I turned him down. I ain't ready for all that yet."

  "When are you gonna be ready?"

  I shrugged, "I don't know. Why does it matter? I'd much rather be single for a while. I cain't just get over Lance cheatin' on me. Ash, the day before Valentine's? In our bed, I would've never known otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I found out, but it doesn't stop it from hurtin'."

  "I know it doesn't stop it from hurtin', but come on, it's been seven months." She replied, pulling into a driveway of a house that looked like it should have been in a magazine.

  I looked at her, my brows furrowed in the middle. "This is where y'all live? And yeah it's been seven months. If I were to meet somebody tomorrow that my soul felt connected to I'd consider it, but it would have to go slow. You better be showin' me around, y'all have a pool right?"

  She laughed, "Duh I'm gonna show you around. Come on, let's get your stuff to your room and we can do whatever you want."

  I grabbed my suitcase out of the trunk, "I just want some down time with you. I've missed
my sister from another mister." I winked at her as she shut the trunk and led me inside.

  After I got settled into the room I'd be occupying for the next two weeks, Ashley took me on the tour. We finished in the kitchen and her setting wine on the island. I looked at her and scrunched my nose.

  "Oh come on Jo! It's just wine!"

  I nodded, taking the glass from her. "Yeah I know that. I hate wine and you know that! What has California done to you?"

  She laughed, "Shut up and drink it. Sip it, you'll be fine."

  I took a small sip and cringed. "Don't ask me to do this again."

  "I won't if you're gonna cry about it," She replied, rolling her eyes as she turned towards the fridge.

  "You still eat the same stuff right?" I asked, hiding a smile behind my wine glass.

  Ashley quickly turned and faced me, but once she spotted the smile playing on my lips she laughed. "Of course, I do. I do enjoy good sushi now, though. I'll take ya tomorrow."

  I bit my bottom lip, "Sushi sounds amazin'. What are we eatin' tonight?"

  "Spaghetti."

  "That's it?" I asked rather concerned.

  "Nooo. A garden salad also."

  "Dressin'?" I asked both eyebrows raised, knowing exactly what she would say.

  "I know you better than that. You're a country girl, but you've always been a healthy eater. Which in some weird way it rubbed off on me and Mike."

  I laughed, "Mike, eatin' healthy? You're kiddin' me?"

  "No, she's not kidding you." I heard his voice behind me. I jumped almost spilling my wine.

  "You scared me! How'd I not hear you come in?" I asked as I wrapped him in a hug.

  "I'm just stealth like that. How was your flight?" he asked, walking over to Ashley and kissing her.

  "It was good," I replied.

  "Yeah, she met somebody," Ashley said, a shit-eating grin on her face.

  "No, I didn't. Not like that. His name is Ben, we talked. It's not like I'm smitten or somethin'."