Page 7 of Five Years

“Can I get you a drink?” Ariana asked.

“Sure. I’ll take a glass of the Ventoux Blanc, please.” It was the same white wine she had the last time she visited The Whitby; she remembered it fondly.

“Good choice,” the barman smiled.

“This place, it looks...” Leah eyed the room.

“Exactly the same?” Ariana finished.

“Yes, literally. It feels like forever ago that I...we...were last here, but it also sort of feels like—” Leah stopped herself.

“Like yesterday,” Ariana acknowledged.

Leah nodded.

She anticipated the situation being awkward.

What were they supposed to say?

Rehashing the past was a terrible idea. She had every intention of steering the conversation to lighter subjects: the weather, the news, maybe a new favourite movie. She tried to play it cool, but inside, she was visibly shaking with adrenaline.

“So, what are you doing in New York? Business or pleasure?” Ariana asked.

“I actually live here now.”

“Since when?” Ariana’s eyes widened; the revelation took her by surprise.

“Since about four weeks ago,” Leah countered.

“I never saw you as a New Yorker,” Ariana said.

“I guess things change.” Leah took a seat, taking the weight off her feet that she’d uncomfortably thrust into a pair of high heels one size too small. She toyed with the cardboard placemat that would soon hold her glass of wine.

“How are you finding it?”

“I’m still adjusting. I try not to get myself killed on a daily basis by oncoming traffic or a disgruntled cyclist, and it’s taken me four weeks to find the perfect juice press smoothie.”

“Four weeks isn’t bad. It took me two months to find the perfect spot, and another month after that to find the perfect oat milk latte. Thankfully, a work colleague helped me budget, because it turned out all the ‘small’ purchases I made on a daily basis weren’t as insignificant as I thought. Have you ever had daily Sweetgreen salads for a whole month?”

Leah shook her head. “A lot?”

“I almost had to take a loan out to pay off my credit card bill,” Ariana laughed. “I spent a fifth of my salary that month on salads...a fifth!” she proclaimed. “I barely made rent.”

“You never were great at budgeting,” Leah teased.

Leah was embarrassed at the way she so casually taunted Ariana. Internally, she was yellingyou have zero chill,but on the outside, she portrayed a picture of composure.

“Why were you at the fundraiser?” Leah asked.

“The firm I work for sponsored the event.”

“Who knew being a financial advisor had so many social perks,” Leah bantered.

“Well, it doesn’t normally, but I got promoted to Lead Advisor last year.”

“Congratulations!” Leah enthused. “What’s next? Partner?”

“I guess Managing Director would be the next natural step, then Partner—but I don’t know.” Ariana shrugged.