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It was one thing to let Chris help me for a day or two, but I couldn’t stay there. Our feelings for each other aside, the optics were so bad. Mike’s ex living with his best friend? I didn’t want everyone getting mad at Chris, which is why I had to get back to work. I needed to figure out where I was going and how I was going to afford to get there.

Lexi set her coffeepot down. “Girl, did something happen?” she whispered. “I thought you were at the cabin.”

“I’ll call you later,” I said. “I can’t talk about it here. Are there any shifts I can pick up? Is the schedule posted yet?”

I wasn’t on the schedule until after the new year because I requested it off for the cabin, but I was desperate now. I would do anything. Doubles, no days off. And I was going to take as many graze box orders as I could. I needed to save, I needed a safety net.

Lexi nodded over her shoulder. “Donna’s working on it. She’s in the office. Big surprise.” She rolled her eyes.

Usually Janessa made the schedule. But maybe she was off for the holidays?

I came around the counter and made my way to the back.

When I got to the office, I knocked on the doorframe. “Hi,” I said, popping my head in.

My boss stared at me, emotionless.

I had never met a colder person in my life. Mike was a lot of things, but he was warm and friendly and I couldn’t imagine that he got any of that from his mom.

“I was wondering if you need any shifts picked up?” I asked. “I’m back early.”

“Yeah, I know why you’re back. And just in time, too, because we’ve got a new menu.” She leaned over and took something out of the printer and handed it to me. “We start immediately.”

I looked over the new specials.

Peanut butter pancakes, banana walnut french toast, spinach feta frittata with pine nuts—

“What is this?” I asked, lowering the paper.

“What do you mean?” She cocked her head.

I don’t know how long I was frozen there. “I can’t serve this. I can’t use the kitchen if we’re making this. I can’t eat here…”

“Awwwwww.” She put out her bottom lip.

My heart started pounding.

“Is this… Are you… are you firing me?” I asked.

“Of course not. You could get unemployment if I fired you without cause, and we wouldn’t want that. But it sounds like you might need to quit if you can’t complete the job duties.”

I stared at her.

“Donna, I’ve worked here almost two years…” I breathed. “I’m a good employee—”

“I don’t really give a shit. This needs to be a safe place for my son. I don’t really care if it’s a safe place for you.”

I felt a lump rise in my throat. I spun and ran out.

Lexi caught me coming around the corner. “Did she get you on the—”

I shoved the new menu in her hand and left before I gave Donna the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

43

CHRIS

When i woke up, she was gone. She left me a note by the coffee maker telling me she didn’t want to wake me and she went to get her stuff. I showered, placed a delivery order for the creamer she liked, and food for the fridge. Put fresh towels in the guest bathroom and set the book I’d wanted her to read on her bed. I was putting the groceries away when my phone rang. It was her.