. . .
SIENNA
That night in Brock's bed, I could barely sleep. The old frame creaked softly under me, and the scent of him lingered on the pillows. I kept my eyes closed anyway.
Brock got up silently to go to the barn, and I pretended to be asleep. The wind rattled the windowpanes while I lay there, memorizing everything I was about to lose. I’d pack my bags, take the fall for everything, and give Avery what she wanted. It was the only way to protect everything he’d spent years fighting for.
But my boss beat me to it.
The email arrived at 7:14 a.m.
I'd mentally prepared for this after the dust settled in the driveway yesterday, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
From:Avery Ryan
To:Sienna Starling
CC:HR Department; Legal
Subject:Termination of Employment
Sienna,
Effective immediately, your employment with Gold Coast Media is terminated for cause. This decision follows confirmed reports of unprofessional conduct in direct violation of company policy and client contracts.
Because you are being terminated for cause, you are ineligible for severance or your end-of-contract bonus. Please return all company equipment to the Chicago office by October 15th.
Avery Ryan
I read it three times, sitting on the edge of the bed wrapped in Brock’s gray hoodie, the soft fabric still carrying his warm, familiar scent. She’d fired me by email instead of calling. Coward. At the very least, I’d earned that bonus.
I waited for the anger to hit. It didn’t. My brain was a hollow, buzzing void. I stared at the phone until the screen timed out and went black.
Mara’s tuition was due by the end of October. She was in the middle of midterms. Only three nights ago she’d sent me a photo of her study group huddled around a whiteboard covered in diagrams, her tired but determined smile glowing under the fluorescent lights.
Draining my savings could cover part of the bill, and calling Mom and Dad might help with the rest. Telling my sister wasn’t an option yet, not while she was surviving on four hours of sleep and pure caffeine. I set the phone face-down on the nightstand and stood up.
Cold seeped into my bare feet as I eased the bedroom door open and padded quietly down the hall. At the bottom of the stairs, Moose flicked one ear at my footsteps but stayed curled in his bed, his big body rising and falling with slow breaths.
I went upstairs to the guest room, staring at the half-empty suitcase still sitting open on the bed like an accusation. I shoved the rest of my things inside.
Jeans. Sweaters. My Kindle. The photo strip from the Douglas fair, its edges already starting to curl.
My hands shook too badly to fold anything properly, so I just pushed it all down.
I needed to get to Sheridan. Catch the first flight out.
But I couldn’t just disappear. Brock had already lost someone who walked away without fighting for him. The flat, hollow tone in his voice when he talked about his brother echoed in my head, making my chest ache.
I couldn’t be another person who left him with nothing but an empty room and unanswered questions.
I peeled off Brock’s hoodie, suddenly too warm, and tossed it onto the bed before zipping the suitcase shut. I stood there for a long moment, fingers lingering on the cool metal pull.
Then I pulled out my phone, vision blurry, and typed.
I need to see you now. Living room
His reply came immediately.
