Chapter Twenty-Two
Mira
Tyler’s confession a week ago that he’d been engaged hit me hard. It’s what I expected when he left our hometown, but again, I wasn’t prepared to hear firsthand about him falling in love with someone else. Realistic or not, I dreamt it would be me he’d declare his undying love to one day. The knowledge that he was prepared to marry another cuts deep, and I’ve been covering the wound through long hours at work and avoiding him at home. Only my long hours at work haven’t been as good for my spirits as I thought they would be.
This past week at Blue has been a combination of jackassery (on my part) and stress. Hayden said I’d be her assistant in human resources as well as the assistant to the hospitality manager until they found a replacement. Well, Hayden and I have been so busy putting out human resources fires—as we’re both new and learning the ropes—that Hayden only recently sent out an advertisement for the hospitality position. To add to the pressure, Blue is preparing for a large music festival, which has resulted in a boatload of extra work for both of us. In short, I’m a one-woman band, performing two jobs when I don’t know how to do either properly.
After I graduated, I went straight from the Sallees’ home to living on my own and working hostess and floor jobs at a casino, no office work required. Among the Blue executives, I’m a beginner at everything. I’ve made so many mistakes that even my male coworkers have stopped leering and look at me with pity.
It’s a sad state of affairs when men stop ogling me like I’m a piece of meat. I mean, I never liked it, but damn.
I stare at the laminated instructions attached to the printer. I’m just changing out a black ink cartridge. Easy, right? I can totally do this.
Awesome. Now I’m giving myself positive affirmations over office equipment.
My therapist has me saying positive affirmations. Stuff like I am lovable, I am special, I am worthy of loyalty. Supposedly, if I say it enough, it sinks in, and this halo of doom I walk around with—that everyone and anyone will leave me—will dissipate and I won’t push people away with my negative vibe. My therapist is quick to state it’s not my fault that these things happen. I had bad luck in the parental department, with the exception of the Sallees, who’ve done their best to make up for what my biological parents lacked. But she says it can’t hurt to build a positive internal dialogue.
My therapist has some crazy theories, but I like her.
You know what? Positive affirmation or not, this office stuff is intimidating. Like this, for instance. Do not throw used toner cartridge into open flame, as this may cause the remaining toner to ignite. I mean, seriously, what is this—gunpowder?
Whatever. I can do this. I am capable. I am smart.
“Open toner replacement cover. Pull toner cartridge out of supply port,” I read aloud.
Done and done.
I walk to the supply cabinet and grab the box with the new black toner.
“Hey.”
My body jerks and I slap a hand to my chest, glaring at the handsome figure in the doorway. “Tyler! Don’t walk up on a girl like that.”
He steps into the room. “Why so tense? I’ve been standing here for the last minute watching you talk to yourself.”
Okay, embarrassing. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
His lips purse in thought. “Maybe, but this is more entertaining.”
“Changing printer cartridges is entertaining?”
“Watching you do it is.”
I glare at him. “You can leave now.”
“Nah, I think I’ll stay.” He crosses his arms, his mouth turned up in a grin.
Awesome. An audience. And Tyler of all people.
Whatever. It’s just a printer. So what if said printer comes up to my chest and resembles R2-D2? I’ve got this. I read the instructions.
I open the cartridge box and ignore Tyler in his hot security guard uniform, which has less to do with the uniform and more to do with Tyler’s amazing body filling out the tailored fabric.
Damn it. Now I’m thinking about how good he looked in his swim trunks.
I take a deep breath. No way am I going back to the instructions with Tyler staring over my shoulder. That would give him more ammunition to make fun of me. I remember what the instructions said. Mostly. How hard can it be? Something about removing the seal and shaking the cartridge while holding both ends, probably to get the toner to loosen up.
See? Common sense. I can do common sense.
