How could he fix it?
Bewildered, he returned to his workstation and opened a file in Photoshop that he’d been working on. He tried to focus on blending the images he was manipulating, but his mind kept wandering back to Mackenzie.
She’d looked ... hurt. And for some reason, he felt guilty. Talkingthe matter out face-to-face would be no problem—for him. For Mackenzie, though? Well, nothing indicated she’d appreciate a direct confrontation of the issue. In fact, everything pointed to the opposite. So how would he get to the bottom of the problem? How could he find out if Mackenzie was upset with him and then learn from that mistake and make it right?
The icon at the bottom corner of his monitor caught his attention. Every work computer had an in-office messaging system. He clicked on the app, then Mackenzie’s name. He thought for a moment about how to phrase what he wanted to say.
Hi. I can’t help but feel like there’s something I need to apologize for. If I made you uncomfortable when we were talking, I’m sorry.
He pressed send, then looked up. His workspace was positioned behind Mackenzie’s and at an angle. He could see the moment she read his message. Her back tensed, and she chewed on her nail. After a moment, she started typing. Three dots appeared in the message box on his screen.
You didn’t make me uncomfortable.
He felt better than he probably should.
I’m glad. But I did do something, didn’t I? Please tell me so I can learn to do better in the future.
The ellipses returned. Vanished. Started again. Stopped. What was so bad that she had such a hard time saying it?
It’s nothing.
Jeremy’s fingers danced on the keyboard.
It’s not nothing. Especially if I hurt your feelings.
You’re not going to let this go, are you?
I don’t think I can. Or should.
Fine. But it’s not a big deal.
Don’t downplay my stupidity.
He hoped his self-deprecation put her at ease. A little joke to cut any tension she might be feeling.
Like I said, no big deal, but I overheard you and Lincoln talking about me after the MedHealth pitch.
With clarity, the exchange came flooding back. How he’d mentioned he felt sorry for her because of her visible social discomfort. He winced, sliding down in his chair.
Sitting back up, he pecked at the keys. She’d let him off the hook, but he didn’t deserve to be. He deserved to be flogged. Caned. He’d give her a candy cane to hit him with a dozen times. Not really a penance, but it would probably make her laugh. He hated that instead of a smile and a lighter heart, he’d added to her burdens and made her feel worse about herself.
That’s a very big deal, and I can’t apologize enough. Mackenzie, I am truly sorry.
It’s okay.
No, it’s not. What can I do to make it up to you? And don’t you dare say it’s fine or that it’s okay again.
The apology is enough. Thank you.
I’ll think of a way to make amends. Watch and see.
15
Coming up with a way to even the score with Mackenzie and make amends for the things he and Lincoln had said was harder than Jeremy expected. He’d ended up texting his partner in crime for ideas for punishment equaling the charges against them. Lincoln hadn’t been much help, but Jill all too gleefully came up with a plan that she said was poetic justice. A maniacal laugh might have been thrown in, making his brow break out in a cold sweat.
But Jill was right. He and Lincoln had embarrassed Mackenzie further, adding insult to injury. It was only right that they taste the sourness of embarrassment as well. And Jill’s idea to perform a dance set toThe Nutcrackerballet in front of all of his coworkers would do just that.
Jeremy glanced at the clock on his vehicle’s dashboard. For the first time since school started, he was ten minutes early for work. Of course it had to happen on the day he willingly (sort of) planned to make a fool of himself. Although being a little late wouldn’t have postponed anything. Except maybe the two hours of anticipatory dread he had in front of him. He couldn’t marchup there and get the whole thing over with because he had to wait for Jill to show up with costumes for him and Lincoln to wear.
