Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 122514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Then there was Reese.
I couldn’t tell any of them why I was let go. It was because of Reese, and if I told them, they’d just have to look at me to know things had gone past friendship.
They would know.
They couldn’t know.
I sat in my car, and I had no idea what to say to my friends.
I’d have to use Keith’s excuse: the board hadn’t approved my employment past the first two weeks. And in that case, the job was done. Whatever.
This was no big deal.
Right? I mean…
I came for a job, and it turned out that job was done. That was it. That was all.
I should’ve stayed and said goodbye in person. I’d left everyone, Reese too.
What do I do? How do I clean up this mess?
My phone buzzed. I tensed, but it wasn’t who I thought it’d be. I almost started laughing.
Unknown: I have some of your stuff. Went to drop it off at your job, but the chick at the front said you don’t work there any more. You got fired?
Of all the timing, now he texted me? Now?
I might still have been slightly hysterical, because I called him back.
“You got fired from that stank-ass place?” he said when he answered.
“Hi, Lucas. I’m fine. How are you?” I sighed. “You’re right. Normal, pleasant greetings are a waste of time. Get right down to business. Yes, they fired me the same day your grandpa dumped me, and yes, I just got fired from the new job. I’m sitting outside a hotel, not sure what the hell to do anymore.”
He was quiet for a moment. “You have enough for rent?”
“I have a small bit to cover a few months, but coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all.” I laughed, the sound so pitiful. “You take in homeless people? Because I don’t know if my mom’s going to let me stay at home rent-free this time. She wasn’t really up for it last time.”
“It’s not my house. You know that.”
Right. Of course. Why would he be decent?
The tears began. I mean, why even fight them? They were my old friends by now.
“Yeah, okay. You’re right.”
“Look. If Gramps didn’t own it—but you know he’s particular about who stays here and I—”
“So you have stuff of mine?”
“Oh. Yeah.” He sounded stiff. “Just a couple things. Like some old sweatshirts. A Forster shirt. I know you loved it. A couple mugs. Nothing big.”
“The same Reese Forster shirt your gramps was wearing when he propositioned me?”
“Uh…” His laugh was strangled. “I can’t promise he cleaned it.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sakes. Just donate it to Goodwill. Hell. Maybe I can get it there at the rate I’m going.”
“Uh…”
I heard someone call his name in the background, a female someone.
“Uh, I gotta go. You sure about donating? Tracy can drop it off at your place, if you’re going to be around.”
“Is that the new girlfriend?”
“Yeah. She’s…” His voice lowered, getting closer to the phone. “She’s not the one, you know.”
“Right. Not the one you cheated on me with. She’s even newer than that one.”
“She’s nice. Sweet.” He chuckled. “I think you’d like her even.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Sure. Maybe.”
“So, um, when will you be around?”
It was close to ten by now. The drive back would take four hours. “I’ll be there this evening. Anytime after six.”
“Okay. I’ll call you when she’s headed over.”
“Don’t call.” Never call again, in fact. “A text will do.”
And after hanging up with him, I texted Owen, Hadley, Grant, and Trent all the same message.
Me: Keith said the board didn’t have enough funds to pay me, so I packed up my stuff. I’m heading back to try to find a job. If you guys want, come and hang out! I love visitors. Sorry I didn’t stick around to say goodbye. Hope you understand.
And to Reese.
Me: I was fired. I got the feeling your coach didn’t want me around, so I’m heading back to my place. I need to look for a new job. Call later when you have time?
I didn’t expect immediate responses from anyone, so I turned the engine back on, tossed my phone to the seat beside me, and raised the volume on the radio.
It was going to be a painful drive back.
By that night, I’d come to two main conclusions.
I was the definition of a broke-ass bitch, and I’d been ambitious in thinking my friends would care about my most recent firing.
I had heard from no one. Not a one. My phone was silent the entire drive back, and through the entire evening since. The only text I got was when Luc-ass told me his new girlfriend was heading over with a box of my stuff.
I was ready to let loose, but when I opened the door, the sweetest petite little thing stood on the other side. Lucas was such a dick, because I knew that’d been his goal. He wanted to avoid me, and he knew I wouldn’t be able to tear into her.