“I’m hanging up now,” I say as the automatic doors part for me.
“Erin, wait,” Brodie calls out, his tone changing from playful to serious.
I pause and step to the side, so I’m out of the way of people, who are getting their passes out to scan past the barriers.
“I want you to know that he’s the type of guy that means what he says. So, if he says you’re the one for him, then you’re it. He won’t hurt you, Erin. And when you’re ready to let him prove that to you, he won’t let you down.”
I close my eyes, letting his words sink in. “I know,” I whisper.
“Give him a chance, baby sister. He’s one of the good ones. I know it,” Bella assures. “Listen, we have to go, we’re viewing a building—call me later?”
“Yeah, I will. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Erin. Us against the world.”
“Us against the world,” I echo back before I hang up.
I blow out a shaky breath and walk over to the barriers, swiping my pass.
I take a minute to collect my thoughts as the elevator hums upward, each passing floor tightening the knot in my stomach as I think about Ink and Print’s polite rejection email still sitting in my inbox.
Loved your ideas.
Someone else who fits better.
Thanks for your time.
When I step out of the elevator, the first thing I notice is Wess’s office, construction tape across the doorway. Someone’s drilling inside.
At least he’s gone.
Before I stepped out to grab a coffee, I overheard a few secretaries gossiping about how Wess came in this morning and was fired. A few people found the courage to come forward during his suspension and a decision was made to finally let him go.
Thank God.
I drag my heels to the fancy glass office on Angela’s side of the floor. The one that’s usually reserved for important meetingsand people. It’s a room I have no business being in, until the call from HR came through at 9 a.m., asking me to be there.
“We received a letter this morning and your presence is required at twelve. Please don’t be late.”
That was all that was said. I’d already heard about Wess, so I knew it wasn’t about that. I’ve been in a tailspin since the morning, wondering what would happen at noon.
It’s 11:58 a.m., when my sweaty hand pushes on the door to the conference room. I sit down and pull myself in close to the glass table, staring at the empty chairs in front of me and wonder if this is where people are sent to get fired.
As I wait, my brain backtracks to Chase’s birthday. The whole night consumes me. Us dancing,The Mighty Ducks,cake, and candles.
His wish.
He blew out the candles, cut two slices of cake, and faced the TV as if he hadn’t just told me he really wanted to lay one on me.
And me?
I said nothing. Did nothing. My tongue glued itself to the roof of my mouth. Calling myself a coward doesn’t even begin to cover my lack of bravery in that moment.
After everything that Chase has gone through, the last thing I want to do is add more pain to his life.
Over the last couple months, aside from the odd flirtatious comment every now and then that sends tingles up my spine, Chase hasn’t crossed any lines.
He’s been polite, sweet, and nothing but the perfect gentleman. But his confession about wanting to kiss me? It has me on high alert again, questioning why my mother’s voice inside my head hasn’t used the moment as her opportunity to strike.
