“You can’t just leave me hanging like this, Jack. You’re just going through a lot right now. You’re not thinking straight.”
“No. I think for the first time in my life, I am actually thinking clearly.”
I marched out of his office and jumped for joy as I looked at the office I was about to pack up. I poked my head out of my opened door.
“Tina?”
“Yeah?” she responded, pulling the headphone out of her right ear.
“Can you get me a few boxes?”
“Sure?” A confused look met my elated grin as she walked past me to go to the storage room.
It didn’t take long for me to pack up my few personal belongings, which all fit into one file box. Freedom seeped into my veins as Tina watched in dread.
“You’re really leaving?” she choked out.
“On to bigger and better things,” I boomed.
“Like what?” she asked, tapping her foot nervously.
“I honestly have no earthly idea. I have a lot of savings and it’s time to start living and stop just existing.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to leave me here with Paul all alone,” Tina complained.
“Just don’t be alone with him in the copy room and you’ll do fine.”
“What?” She furrowed her brow.
“Just trust me.”
She jumped up, wrapping her dainty arms around my neck.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“You have my number. Maybe we can go out for drinks sometime and I can hear some of your dating war stories.”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter 4
Kelly
“No, Barry. You’re just going to have to find someone else. I’m too swamped right now.”
My former boss slumped in the chair across the table from me. “You know I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t desperate. I really need your help.”
“I should have known when you invited me here that it wasn’t just a social call.” I sipped my mimosa as the server delivered my eggs benedict with extra hollandaise sauce on the side.
“My usual pastry teacher is on her damn honeymoon so I’m stuck without someone for the next two weeks. You’re the best in town and the students could really learn from your expertise. It’ll be like old times.” Barry was playing the nostalgia card well—bringing me to the restaurant we used to run together, trying to remind me how much fun I’d had working with him at the Washburne Culinary Institute years before.
“I just don’t think I can swing it this time, and didn’t you know she’d be out? People usually plan their honeymoon way in advance.”
“I forgot like usual. You know how great I am at keeping up with my calendar.”
I thought for a moment and decided to give in. “Fine, but you owe me big for bailing you out of this mess.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Barry exclaimed as he smacked the end of the table.