“Okay.”
“But I do care about you, and you’re too fucking tempting, so I have to go now.”
“I am?”
“Annie. Come on.” I step back and motion to her pajamas. “You know that’s hot as shit.”
She looks down, then back up at me. “My pj’s?”
Fuck, she’s adorable. A little clueless, but I kind of like it. “Yes, but I bet you’ll be even hotter out of them. Are you still doing your orientation today?”
Her head moves in an affirmative.
“All right. Call me after and let me know how it goes.”
“Okay. What if I stop in for a drink to tell you?”
“Call me, babe. Then we’ll have breakfast tomorrow. You got Froot Loops?”
She crosses her arms over her chest as if she has a chill. “Is my name Annie Farrow?”
“It is.”But it won’t be much longer…
She’snotinterested.
Annie
Today started out great, with Ben showing up and kissing me. I thought it was going to stay great because it was the first day of what I was dubbing the start of my new life. But because I’m me, and nothing ever seems to go right, I shouldn’t be surprised it didn’t last long.
“I’m sorry, Annie.” My new boss Willa leans back in her chair. “I didn’t realize that you were let go from your other job, I thought you left on good terms. Unfortunately, I have to make a couple calls before I make my final decision. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”
She gets to her feet, so I do, too. “I understand.”
“Thank you for coming in today.”
I refuse to cry about this. It’s my fault—I can’t feel sorry for myself. It was too good to be true, I should have known. She follows me to the employee lounge where I get my purse, and I smile at her before I leave.
Thank God the air is cool when it hits my face. I suck in a jagged breath through my nose and push it out slowly the same way. I do it again as I make my way to the parking lot.
“It’s Annie, right?” I jolt at the voice from behind me and turn around to see a brown-haired man in a pair of pressed khakis and a shirt and tie. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Noah.The social worker here at Sunny Hill.” He lifts his employee badge up from his lanyard as proof.
“Oh. Hi. Yeah, I’m Annie.”
“Listen, I just wanted to let you know that I’m here if you need to talk.”
That’s not weird or anything. “Oh…thanks, I guess.” I continue heading toward my car, key fob in hand.
“I’m going to talk to Willa, don’t worry.” He follows me. “I’ll have you back here in no time.”
“I’m sorry.” I stop, then take a step back at how close he is. “Do I know you?”
“No, no. I talked to Beth, she’s the one who helped you get the job. She told me about your situation, so I know what’s going on with you.” He holds his hands up. “Occupational hazard, I guess.”
I grip the strap of my purse tighter. “My situation?”
“That you’ve been having a hard time lately. I’m assuming it has to do with that cut on your face.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I’m okay.” I unlock my car and get in, and when there’s a knock on my window, I lock the doors.
