AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Most of the employees left early on Fridays, an unspoken agreement we had since they worked their asses off all week.
"Someone has to work late," she said with humor, "but I'm actually glad I caught you when everyone else is gone."
"Why's that?"
"I wanted to talk to you about a delicate thing." She cleared her throat. "I got an email from Kelly yesterday."
I stilled completely. "What? Why would Kelly contact you?"
I hadn’t communicated with my ex since we signed the divorce papers.
"She wants us to release the rights to some of the pictures she had done while she was modeling for us. I could just forward it to legal, but I thought I'd run it by you first."
"Give her whatever she wants. I don't care. I’m surprised she didn’t bring it up in the divorce proceedings," I said.
"It's possible she didn't know she could do it, or maybe she forgot about it." She hesitated in the doorway.
"What is it, Charlene?"
"Maybe she just wants to get in touch with you."
"She wouldn't. Trust me."
"Oh, who knows? Maybe once she went out there in the big wild world, she realized what a moron she was for letting you slip away."
I started laughing.
Charlene smiled. "That's good. You're laughing again, boss. For a while there it looked like you forgot how."
"You know I like to keep it professional at the office."
"Yes, but there's a difference between that and looking like you're mourning or something. Although, I guess it would be fair to say you're mourning your marriage." She shrugged. "Anyway, that's all I had to say. I'm going."
"I'm coming too. I'm done with work."
"That's progress. You've got plans?"
"I do actually, yeah."
Her eyes widened. "Good for you. I'm not going to butt in, but I haven't seen this"—she pointed at my face—"in a long time, so whatever it is, I'm happy for you."
We hurried together to the elevator. I went down to the parking garage, stopping first at ground level for Charlene, who always rode in on her bike. I had no idea how some people biked year-round in Chicago—winters were brutal.
Kelly. I never wanted to hear her name again. I'd made that clear after the divorce. But I was determined to push her at the back of my mind. I'd promised Reese fun.
I'd been so focused on her and her ex that I'd never stopped to think about mine—about what would happen if my path ever crossed hers again. But that wasn't going to happen. Kelly and I had said everything there was to say, the parting, though messy, was agreed upon, and we were both relieved to be out of the marriage.
As I climbed inside my car, I was determined not to think of Kelly again. She was part of my past. My future was Kelly free, and I was only going to focus on Reese.
I went home and quickly packed a bag, then made a split-second decision to stop on the way, to buy her flowers.
"Hi. How can I help you?" the sales associate asked me when I stepped up to the counter.
"I want a bouquet. The biggest one you can make."
"Special occasion for you and the missus?"
I tensed. Why would she assume I was married? I didn't have a ring on my finger.
