“Six four, actually,” I corrected her.
“Oh, gotcha. Looking for straight women between thirty and forty-five for long-term and short-term dating. Description…hmmmm. Humorous, good-hearted guy. Looking for friends and will see if it becomes a relationship. I ultimately want to be with my best friend, however corny that may sound.” She looked up and smiled. “Okay, you’re all set.”
“You’re good at this.”
She shrugged her shoulders and popped up quickly. “Comes with practice and reading too many awful profiles that make my skin want to crawl. If I read one more profile about how a guy lives with his three cats in his mom’s basement and loves World of Warcraft, I might shoot myself.”
“That bad, huh?”
“You’d be surprised how many losers are out there.”
“Nerds need love too.”
“My rack is too expensive to waste on some momma’s boy who still sleeps on Star Wars sheets.”
“I feel like there’s a story there,” I muttered as an email from my boss popped up.
“No, just a loser ex I wish I could forget.”
“Thanks for your help, Tina.”
“This was fun. Good luck.”
“I think I’m going to need it.”
Thankful for a distraction from my boss’s email, I started scrolling through potential matches. Five swipes to the left landed me on a familiar face. Skye’s Botox-addled features sneered at me with newly injected, bright red lips. Curiosity got the better of me. I tapped on her profile to scroll through pictures of my ex-wife sunbathing on a beach and drinking champagne in a hotel bed amidst stupid selfies with weird animal ear filters. I fought the bile building in the back of my throat as I read her profile.
Fun-loving woman looking for my next adventure. Newly liberated and ready to mingle. I am a goddess and I am finally doing me for the first time in my life. Can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best. If you can’t deal with a strong, independent woman, keep moving. I am not here to be your mommy or maid. I expect to be pampered like the princess I am.
After takinga screenshot of the retched profile, I blocked her.
What happened to Brock?
I hated that I cared, and I hated that she was on the prowl for other hearts to crush.
Not my problem anymore.
Setting my phone down, I finally opened the email from my boss.
My office. Now.
Shoving away from my desk,I stretched out my tired back. Making my way down the short hallway, I tried to put my game face on.
“You wanted to see me, Paul?” I asked as the slime ball hung up his call.
“Jack, perfect timing. I have a project that needs to be done by Monday morning and it has your name all over it.”
“It’s Friday. I’d have to work all weekend.” I wasn’t one to turn down a project, and Paul wasn’t shy about taking advantage of my dedication.
“You’re the only one in the office who doesn’t have a family to abandon while burning the midnight oil at his desk.”
Before I knew what was coming out of my mouth, I spit out, “I quit.”
We both remained frozen as the shock of the words that were staining the air settled in.
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t stutter. I said I quit. Find another golden boy to fuck over on a Friday. I’m done bailing you out in tight spots.”