“I’ll buy some chocolate for the whole office," I say with a small chuckle.
Her laugh is soft as I hear her snap the container closed. Each click of the lid a bullet in my ears. “I am proud of you, and I love you.”
“Thank you. I love you, too.”
She hangs up, and I look up at the ceiling. Mom and Dad will understand, I think, and I have my accounting degree to fall back on. I’ve been doing some of the team's taxes for the last few years, so I could start a firm or apply to one if I do get fired.
I could have them write it up as a retirement instead.
The thought rips through me, and I’m fairly certain I’ve stopped breathing. Retiring now? Thatseems like the worst-case scenario.
Even worse than children.
Shit. I think I must’ve ruined my life.Stupid impulse control.
I’m still spiralling when the door slams open a few hours later and a bag is thrown to the ground. Cupboards slam in the kitchen and my stomach turns inward on itself. She’s going to murder me.
Wincing, I leave my bed and softly walk out into the hallway where I can clearly see Brynn slamming the fridge close, a beer in her hand. Shockingly, Winnie is sitting quietly at the kitchen counter, watching Brynn take her anger out on the bottle opener.
“Hey,” I say softly.
Brynn’s shoulders tighten as she slowly turns to me. “Hey?” she asks incredulously.“Hey?”
Winnie gives a soft wave with a smirk. She looks me up and down knowingly, as if I’ve been branded with “Girl Kisser” or “Newly Bisexual” or something along those lines on my forehead.
“Yeah…”
“You are just going to say ‘Hey’ after disappearing from practice? After Lawson reamed you out and then Eloise came back telling us that you had an emergency?” she snaps. Her usual warm brown eyesare flinty. “I thought you were dying and instead you’re saying ‘Hey?’”
Her tone is getting more shrill as we stand there.
“Look, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I was dealing with a lot and—”
“What could you be dealing with that is affecting you so much you had to leave? Did one of your parents die? A sibling go into a coma?”
“No, I—”
“Did you get a cancer diagnosis?”
“Well, I—”
She laughs. “Oh, I’m not done. You have no idea what shit has been broiling in my head, because why am I hearing about your issues from Eloise of all people, who last I recall, you didn’t even like?”
“Well, there’s something you haven’t been privy to recently,” I say, playing with the hem of my shirt.
Winnie snorts. “I’ll say.”
Brynn and I both glare at her before she raises an eyebrow. “It’s been a very quick turn around, you see.”
“Spit it out, Taylor,” she growls.
“I think I’m bi, and I masturbated to porn last night and kissed Eloise today in the locker room, and it was really, really good.”
“Yes!” Winnie hisses. “Was the porn good? Did you look at him or her or was it just women?”
I’m sure my cheeks are a firetruck red. Brynnlooks like she’s been slapped, mouth slightly agape. Her eyes are wide, and I’m watching the words being processed through her brain.
“You kissed her?”
