It didn’t help that I could sense that Mike wasn’t as thrilled with my return as I expected him to be. My department appeared to have gotten along swimmingly while I was away. They were acting as if I had crashed their party by simply returning to my job.
My phone rang. I rolled my eyes when I saw the name that appeared on the screen.
“Did Mom tell you to call?” I asked without bothering with the formality of a ‘Hello.’
“She said she’s worried about you,” replied Frankie.
“I promise I’m fine.” The word ‘fine’ had started to sound strange to my ears after saying it so many times.
“Fine isn’t thriving.”
“Why do I have to thrive?”
“Um, because you deserve to.”
I sighed deeply and shrugged my shoulder up to the phone, keeping it in place against my cheek while I removed my hand.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Bullshit. You can’t always do this when you’re upset. You try to brush it under the rug to avoid talking about it, but it’s written all over your actions. I know this is about Giles.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, but nothing came out. Instead, tears pricked my eyes.
“I really liked him.”
“I know,” Frankie said. “And it’s okay to feel sad about it.”
I hesitated before dropping my bombshell on her. “I-I was planning to stay there.”
“Likestay there, stay there?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I called it.”
“I know. My serial monogamy tried to strike again.”
“I’m sorry, Mattie. I know how much you liked him.”
“I miss him,” I whispered.
“Maybe there’s still hope for you two.”
“I don’t see how.”
ChapterTwenty-Eight
“One medium lattewith almond milk for Mattie.”
I looked up from my phone and smiled my thanks at the barista who handed me my drink. Caffeine was a crutch I had been leaning on a lot since I returned. All of my natural perkiness had dissipated, and I was forced to drink copious amounts of coffee to try to mimic being positive at work.
I limped toward the exit. I had graduated from my cast to a walking boot and one crutch. I still wasn’t the most mobile, but it was a lot easier to get around on my own.
I didn’t even take notice when a tall figure stopped directly in front of me.
