“You want to rub being right in my face?” I asked, sitting up in bed.
“Not at all. I didn’t want to be right, and I don’t think I am right. What happened?”
I told her everything that happened. By the time I was done, her expression was even sadder as she held my hand. Though I didn’t shed any more tears, I couldn’t deny how disappointed I was over how things played out.
“And what makes it worse is Laya suspended me. She says I was handling personal affairs on the company’s expense account. I feel like the only reason she didn’t fire me was because I offered to pay the hotel, food, and gas bills. Plus, the article wasn’t written and published, so that saved me too.”
My head shook as I realized just how much I’d risked to be with Ali, and he didn’t even give me the decency of the benefit of the doubt.
“I hate this,” Jessica said, rubbing my hand with her thumb. “It seemed like he really liked you and he just . . . snapped. Understandably so. It wasn’t fair of him to accuse you of that and not hear you out though.”
“Yeah. I feel like we could’ve resolved the issue if he would’ve just taken the time to hear me out. I understand what he’s gone through, so I was more than willing to give him grace. I wish he would have done the same.”
“Have you heard from him?”
My head shook as I absently looked down at my phone. “No. I blocked him.” Picking up my phone, I was surprised to see I had an email from him. “Oh shit. He emailed me.”
“What does it say?”
I read the email aloud then tossed my phone back onto the bed, unsure how to feel. A piece of me was happy that he’d acknowledged he was wrong and reached out, but another part of me didn’t want to start a cycle of paying for his exes’ mistakes.
“Are you going to reply?” Jessica asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll let him apologize and have a conversation with him, but I don’t think it’ll go anywhere beyond that.”
Jessica chuckled. “Yeah, right. As much as you like that man, I’m pretty sure you’re going to give him a second chance.”
I smiled and decided not to respond either way. Stranger things had happened. For now, my heart was still bruised and too tender to consider giving Ali access to it again, but who knew if that would be the case in the future.
One Month Later
I should have known Jessica was up to no good when she randomly decided she wanted to take a road trip. Since I hadn’t started working again, I had nothing but free time. My suspension still wasn’t up, but I decided not to return to The Force. I felt like Laya just didn’t want to fire me, but it was going to happen eventually. During my time with Ali in Jasper Lane, I shared with him my goal of having my own multimedia company.
Being a journalist was supposed to be a steppingstone. I wanted my own magazine and eventually my own publishing company and streaming network. I thought back to how Ali and I talked about him writing a book under my company and how we’d shake the publishing world up as a power couple.
What a dream that was.
Jessica told me we were going to Rose Valley Hills, yet as we rode past theWelcome to Jasper Lanesign, I realized she was driving in the opposite direction. I looked over at her, and there was a smile on her face.
“Jessie?” I called, sitting up in my seat.
“Hmm?”
“Where are we going?”
“I fibbed a little. We’re not going to Rose Valley Hills. Well, I am. You’re not.”
“What?” I shrieked. “How does that even make sense? Where are you taking me?”
“Relax! I promise you’re going to love me for this.”
Growling, I folded my arms over my chest. “This better not be a set up. I haven’t talked to Ali in a month, and I don’t want to be bombarded.”
“Well, get ready, because I’m taking you to your man.”
“Jessica!” I yelled, pinching her thigh.
“Ow, girl! That shit hurt!” Her laugh made me chuckle as I groaned.
