Page 127 of Matchmaking On The Menu

I lean back against the diner window looking at the street. Mr. Davenport’s walker is parked outside the barber shop.

“I’m calling to tell you I’m not coming back,” I say.

Silence.

“What do you mean you’re not coming back?”

“I’m not coming back to LA.”

Another silence. Longer this time.

“Teddy…”

“I’m serious.”

He exhales sharply. “You’re walking away from contracts.”

“I know.”

“Campaigns.”

“I know.”

“You’ve got people waiting on you.”

I look back over my shoulder and catch Dannica laughing at something Luke says inside.

“I’ve spent years making work that looked impressive,” I say. “I think I finally started making work that actually means something.”

“Teddy…”

“I already started a new project.”

That gets his attention.

“What project?”

I glance back through the glass again. At Mildred. At the diner. At the town wrapped around itself in warmth and noise and history.

“People,” I say simply. “Real people. Real lives. The kind of work I should’ve been making all along.”

He’s quiet, then says softly, “You’re really staying?”

And the strange thing is, the answer doesn’t scare me anymore. “Yeah,” I say. “I found where I’m supposed to be.”

“You’re supposed to be in LA.”

“I’m not changing my mind.”

His tone changes immediately. I can practically feel the frost come down the line. “You’ll have hundreds of thousands to pay in breach of contract fees. Your name will be shit on everyone’s shoes. You’ll regret this.”

“The only thing I regret is not doing this sooner.”

When I hang up, I stand there for another second, letting the truth of it settle through me.

Then I go back inside.

The second Dannica looks up and sees me, my heart beats faster. I cross the diner without thinking too hard about it, slide one hand against her waist and kiss her.