Besides, she had no right thinking about him.He was married to Nadia.Anything Felicity had shared with Justin was buried in the past.
She reached for her phone like she did every morning.But she no longer had to check for messages from her boss because she no longer had one.Old habits die hard.
These days she checked to see if she had any responses to the jobs she’d applied to.When she didn’t find any action on her outstanding applications, she did a quick search to find out if there were any new jobs to apply for.
There was one.It was for an assistant editor position.Her heart leaped into her throat.Was this the one?She tamped down her excitement.It was a long shot.
And then she had a worrisome thought.What if it was her former employer looking for someone to fill her position?Her gaze moved over the screen, but the employer wasn’t listed, just a temp agency.
Oh well.Nothing ventured, nothing gained.She applied.It was one more chance for her to find a job by Christmas.Once she’d completed the requested information, she pressed “apply.”And then the waiting began…again.
Before she put down her phone, she noticed that she had a couple of text messages.She opened them and found they were from Melissa, her closest friend at the office—um, at her former employer.
Melissa:How are you?Do you want to go out and grab some food?
Melissa:It’s OK if you don’t.Just let me know you’re okay.
Felicity checked the time stamp.The messages had come in late the night before.She must have been asleep.
Felicity:Sorry.I must have been asleep when you messaged.
Felicity:I’m in Vermont for the holidays.
As she set aside her phone, not expecting to hear back for a while, her phone dinged.She grabbed it again and was surprised to see a response.
Melissa:But you’ll be back soon.Right?
Felicity:Why?
Melissa:Rumor has it that Tanner is drowning.His good looks only got him so far.
Felicity read the message a couple of times.Hope bloomed in her chest.Just as quickly, she tamped it down.He hadn’t even had the position for two weeks yet.Tanner would figure things out.
Felicity:He’ll get it together.
Melissa:I don’t think so.They’re going to beg you to come back.
Hope once again fluttered in her chest.Felicity started to type an optimistic message, and then hit the back button until it was erased.
She’d gotten her hopes up when she was competing for the promotion.While Tanner was going out after work to have drinks with friends, she’d stayed behind to work for a couple of more hours.She was always in early, while Tanner meandered in on time.She worked to keep a clean desk, while his desk was constantly messy.
She’d thought she was doing all of the right things.And it still wasn’t enough.Tanner was charming and was always on hand with their boss’s favorite latte.If Felicity had known how important coffee deliveries were, she would have worked less and bought coffee three times a day.
She couldn’t help but think that Tanner would charm himself out of whatever trouble he found himself in.It worked in the past.She couldn’t see why it wouldn’t work in the future.He would just flash those pearly whites, and some charming words would flow off his tongue.Then all would be right in his world once more.
Felicity:He’s going to be fine.
Melissa:We’ll find a way to get you back here.They never should have let you go.
It did her good to know someone felt that way.She did miss Melissa and her job.Although, she didn’t miss all of the overtime.Maybe Melissa was right.Maybe Tanner wouldn’t work out.Maybe her boss, uh, his boss would realize his charms didn’t get the work done.
Glancing at the time, she realized she couldn’t linger in bed any longer.She refused to be late on her first day of work.It didn’t matter that it was just a temporary gig.The professional in her said she had to be timely.
Felicity:I have to go.Talk later.
Melissa:I’ll keep you updated.
Felicity wished that she wouldn’t.She didn’t want to start hoping for something that wasn’t going to happen.She just had to put it out of her mind.
