Another rock came barreling at me. I let go of the wall to fall back and try to avoid it but it still cracked me right on the side of the head. I barely had time to register the pain before my back hit the hard ground, only partially covered by the mat since I’d fallen so far backward.
“Shit, Oliver. Are you okay?”
I went to give Giles a thumbs-up, but black dots rimmed my vision and I couldn’t quite get the signal from my brain to my hand.
The last thing I saw was his face hovering over mine before everything went dark.
TWENTY-NINE
Frankie
My heart skitteredin my chest as my sweaty palm held tightly onto my phone.
“I want to thank you for your patience and your persistence once again. We know our hiring process is rigid, but that’s why we only hire the best of the best. I really think we found that in you, Frankie.”
I held my breath, wishing he would spit out the words already.
“Which is why we’re thrilled to extend you an offer for the position of Director of Marketing.”
Silently, I pumped my fist in the air. “That’s amazing news,” I said as relief rushed through my veins and I paced the lobby of the lodge. I had been about to leave Marie’s and head straight for the comfort of my bed when I’d gotten the call.
The alert of another incoming call sounded. I pulled my phone away to see Mattie’s name flashing across the screen. I sent it to voicemail and put the phone back to my ear.
“I know it’s soon, but we’d really like you to start at the beginning of next week.”
Everything inside of me sank. That was the original timeframe they’d given me, but I thought with how long they’d taken to make a decision, maybe they’d push it back a week or two.
“Next week,” I repeated.
“We can push it if you really can’t make that work, but we already have trainings in place for other new hires and it would be the best logistically.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed back the anxiety that swelled in my chest.
“Next week is fine. I’m excited to start.”
My phone buzzed again and I pressed the send to voicemail button without looking at the caller.
“Great. I know you don’t live in New York currently, but we can set you up in a hotel for a couple of weeks while you find something more permanent. It’ll all be in the official offer letter from HR. But you can call me directly if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Neil. I’m so excited to join the team.”
As he went over salary, benefits, and what I could expect for my first week, I tried my hardest to focus on what should be the best news I’d received in a long time. Despite my best efforts, my mind kept glazing over. The triumphant feeling of finally landing the job that had once seemed so elusive had already begun to fade.
“That’s everything. Once again, we’re thrilled to have you on the team.”
“Me too,” I said as brightly as possible.
“We’ll see you soon.”
We said our goodbyes and I hung up the call.
Next week?
I could hardly believe it.
Next week at this time, I’d be in New York, likely sitting in a cubicle watching some HR training video and looking at spreadsheets. Maybe I’d pass by a window at lunch, see the warm weather outside, and just be forced to imagine what the sun’s rays might feel like while being trapped in some heavily air-conditioned office.
It hit me like a ton of bricks how much I’d taken the past couple of months for granted. At first, I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling of failure. Then I was consumed by job hunting. Even now that I had started enjoying myself more, it still felt fake—like a summer vacation destined to end too soon. It made it difficult to be one hundred percent present.
