10. Emma

My hands shake as I place the box down on the side table in my flat and kick off my shoes. Did I really do this?

"The answer to that is yes, you did, you fucking plant pot."

Groaning, I drop my bag and amble into the kitchen for wine but realise it's only afternoon, and that would be a bit lush of me. So, I grab a bottle of water instead, looking around, wondering where to start. Everything in this flat has to fit in my car. My Mini Cooper car, as stated in the title, is… mini. So, essentials only. I don't need to pack up my plates and forks and such. I can buy new ones and use paper ones in the meantime if things don't get off the ground right away. Mum has sent me a couple of houses to look at, all of which look cute and up my street. Maybe I'd better start there. I need somewhere to live pretty quickly, so she also sent me short-term, last-minute holiday lets, which is where I need to start. They're ten-a-penny in the Highlands, so I have my pick. Mum sent five she thinks I'd find suitable. I text her a quick ‘thanks' or we'd be here all fucking day.

Bring up the email on my phone, I cross over to my bag and grab my laptop to set about booking myself in for tomorrow with a view to my arriving early the following day. I've decided to travel in the early hours to avoid as much of the South's traffic as possible. The holiday lets Mum picked out range from cosy to quirky, each with its own charm. One's a tiny cottage, and another's a sleek, modern flat overlooking some breathtaking scenery. But the cottage sounds perfect.

I quickly click through the booking process, securing it for the next month. Short-term rental sorted.

Now, to get packing up.

Heading into the short hallway that leads to the bedroom, I open the storage cupboard and reach up to drag out the flattened boxes I used when I moved in all those years ago. Hunting around for the packing tape, I find it and start making up a few boxes. I can't get carried away, but if I make the seats flat in the back, I should be able to fit in two suitcases with my clothes and three or four boxes.

Hopefully.

I set to work, filling the boxes, being brutal. I have no idea what Dad is going to do with this place, but I need to take whatever I deem worthy of the travel. I suppose I'll have to come back to clear it out completely in time, but today isn't that day. It's just a methodical exercise of sorting through my life and deciding what comes with me into this new chapter.

Clothes, check. Photos and memories, double check. Knick-knacks from random holidays... maybe not necessary right now. I toss a few things aside that don't make the cut and neatly pack the rest.

Hours pass, and before I know it, the room echoes with emptiness except for the essentials I've chosen. My stomach growls, reminding me I've neglected to eat. Heading to the kitchen, I pull out the vino—finally—and dive into the freezer for the lone mac and cheese ready meal, I know is lurking in there. Shoving it in the microwave, I set the time and crack open the wine. Pouring a generous glass, I potter around the living room, grabbing a few more items to pack neatly into the boxes, and it suddenly hits me. They're full. Everything that I can take with me in one trip is packed and everything else will either be dumped or will have to wait for me to come back for it. Tomorrow, I'm planning a quiet day here, no phone calls, no texts, no social media. Just a simple day, soaking up the last of the London vibe, but tonight I want to see my friends and say goodbye properly. Before I can even pick up the phone to arrange a night out, the doorbell chimes, and I cross over, checking through the peephole.

It's Anna and a couple of our other mates we hang out with, Jenn and Ellie. I'm not a massive social butterfly, but I'm going to miss them, especially Anna, whom I'm the closest to. She's holding a bottle of something that looks far too fancy for a weeknight.

"Surprise!" she sings, waving the bottle at me when I open the door, brushing past me into the flat. "We're here for a goodbye party before you head off to the great unknown."

I laugh and let them in, following them to the living room. "I was just thinking about calling everyone for a night out."

"Well, consider this an advance party," Jenn says, eyeing my packed boxes. "Wow, you've been busy. I can't believe you're leaving so soon."

"Yeah," I say, grabbing some glasses from the kitchen. "I figured why the fuck not."

"Why the fuck not indeed," Ellie says, sitting down. "So, tell me more about this hockey team you're taking over. Any hot players?"

I giggle. "A few."

Anna pops the cork on the fancy bottle and pours us all generous servings, raising her glass. "Cheers to new adventures and hot hockey players!"

We all clink glasses and take a sip. My shoulders relax a bit more with each gulp of wine. There's something comforting about being surrounded by friends who have been there through thick and thin.

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Jenn asks, leaning back on the sofa.

I take another sip before replying. "Nothing too crazy. Just a chill night in, I think. Maybe order some takeaway and watch a movie?" The mac and cheese is a forgotten memory now.

Ellie grins. "You had me at takeaway."

After deciding on Chinese, we order online and sit back to wait its arrival. We spend the time chatting and laughing, reminiscing about the wild nights we'd had in London. It's bittersweet; I'm excited for what's ahead but sad to leave this chapter behind.

"So you and Carrick are dun-zo?" Anna asks as Jenn raises her eyebrow.

"Yeah, he wants to talk but what's the point. I'm not that cut up about it after the initial shock and I'm leaving so…"

"You guys broke up? Was it because you're moving?" Ellie asks.

"Nah. He decided us not dating other people including him dating other people."

"Oh," Jenn says. "Sorry, hun. Guys are douches."

"Totally. But onwards and upwards."

"And maybe you can find a nice, good looking ice hockey man to have a fling with. You know, get back on the horse and all that," Ellie snickers.

I giggle as well. "Not from the Warriors. That would be extremely unprofessional."

"So, another team then," she shrugs. "There is more than one way to get your leg over."

Bursting out laughing, I nod. "True. There are plenty of teams to have a crack at." But it still doesn't sit right with me. People will talk and I don't want to drag the team into a scandal when they need to be focusing on winning again. Even I know that much. But I keep that thought to myself and just laugh along with them.

The doorbell rings, and our Chinese food has arrived. We dive in without hesitation, the smell of sweet and sour chicken, chow mein, and ribs filling the air. It's a perfect accompaniment to our wine-fuelled gossip session.