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“Sorry, I missed that. Who’s calling?” she asked, still distracted by the paper that had fallen everywhere.

“Hazel? It’s Kelly.” The voice was bright, professional. “Kelly Johnson from Cloud. How are you?”

Cloud. Hazel had completely forgotten about the job at Cloud. The call suddenly felt illicit. She quickly peered out the window. It didn’t look like Sam had returned from dropping the second load at the gallery. His truck wasn’t parked in the usual spot. Kelly was probably calling to tell her she hadn’t been successful, so she kept the phone on speaker as she bent down to pick up the last piece of paper.

“Hi Kelly,” Hazel replied as she straightened and organised the copies into a neat stack. “I’m doing well. How are you?”

“Wonderful. I’ll get straight to the point. We’d love to offer you the Brand Manager position at our Melbourne office. You know, the one on Collins Street? We think you’d be a tremendous fit to lead our team. This is a fantastic opportunity. After all, everyone wants to work at Cloud,” Kelly practically sang.

Hazel was still, her mouth open. She knew people who would kill for this job. And they wanted her? Getting a role like this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. If she turned this down, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. Right?

“That’s, wow. Thank you. I’m honoured,” Hazel heard herself say.

“You should be. We don’t extend offers lightly,” Kelly said, her tone somewhat clipped. “I’ll be in touch later in the week to finalise the details, but I wanted to make the call personally. We’re very excited to have you joining the team.”

“Thanks,” Hazel managed.

Kelly hung up. Hazel stared blankly at the space in front of her. She needed to sit down. She fumbled for the stool that was close by and collapsed into it. Her heart was pounding in her chest. A wave of nausea rolled over her.

Three months ago, she wouldn’t have felt anything other than pure elation. Once in a lifetime. She’d spent years working for this kind of chance.

But now, like the tides, her mind was moving. She was just getting started here, putting down roots. She wasn’t the same person who’d applied for that job. Hazel wasn’t sure she wanted it. Not anymore.

She felt so overwhelmed by the thought of having another decision to make. She couldn’t immediately say no to this. She had to think it over, be sure of her choice.

Tonight belonged to Molly. Checking the time, Hazel realised she needed to start getting ready. Unsteady as she stood up, Hazel’s mouth had gone very dry. She needed water, and she needed to regain her composure before Sam got back. She put her phone in her pocket, grabbed the documents and headed downstairs.

Sam stood at the bottom of the stairs to the studio. He was dumbstruck. His feet felt like they were concreted into the ground. He knew he needed to move. He couldn’t be here, not when his whole world had just exploded. Heading slowly down the stairs, the shock vibrated through his body. Bailey sat obediently by the door and wagged his tail as Sam passed him. Stuck in his own tilted reality, Sam didn’t even notice him.

The shock began to subside, and Sam felt the anger inside him beginning to rise. He stalked down the front steps over to his truck. He had never felt so angry. Kicking his front tyre with all the force he could muster, he didn’t even wince at the pain.

Looking up, he saw Hazel coming down the steps towards him. Her smile faltered as she saw his lips curl into a growl.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyebrows knitted together, face pale.

“I can’t believe it. You’re leaving? You told me you were staying. Here. With me.” Sam gritted his teeth, his emerald eyes cold and dark.

“What? How did you,” Hazel trailed off as she realised what he must have heard. “I don’t know if I’m even taking the job. I don’t think I will.”

“Oh, come on, Hazel. It sounded pretty set in stone to me. They can’t wait for you to start,” he spat sarcastically.

“Sam, that isn’t how it is,” Hazel pleaded.

“Seems pretty clear to me that that is how it is, Hazel. You went behind my back. I thought we had something. I thought we were building something.”

“We are Sam, we are building something. I just wanted to keep my options open.” Hazel grimaced as if she immediately regretted what she’d just said.

“Keep your options open? Dammit Hazel. You were my only option. I loved you. I saw my future with you. I wanted to marry you,” Sam scoffed as he turned towards his truck. Humiliation washed over him as he realised what he’d just confessed.

“What?” Hazel stood, her mouth hanging open.

Sam yanked the door of his truck open with a force he didn’t know he possessed. He’d never been so angry before. He turned the key and the engine started with a snarl. Sam pressed his foot on the accelerator and drove away. He’d never felt this much before, never been so consumed by bitter, angry emotions. Sam could only follow his instincts, and his body was telling him to go.

Dust danced in the air where Sam’s truck had just been. Hazel sank to the ground, hot, fat tears cascading down her cheeks. She sobbed silently, uncontrollably. How had it all gone so horribly wrong?

On the verandah, Bailey’s ears pricked up. He could sense Hazel’s need, and he raced to her side. He leapt across the front lawn and crawled into her lap. Hazel managed a small smile between the tears, grateful for her little friend. She buried her head in his fur. They sat together, Hazel weeping into his little body as the glaring sun set in the west.

The only thing Hazel could focus on was the fact that he’d spoken in past tense. Did he not love her anymore? Did he no longer want any of those things with her because she’d answered a phone call and he got the wrong idea? If that was his version of love, then she wasn’t sure she wanted it. But that made her cry even harder.