She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched me with a bemused expression.
“What?” I stopped mid-rant. “What is that look for?”
“It’s just nice to see you so fired up—sopassionate,” she said in a suggestive tone I didn’t appreciate. “About something.”
“Well, he’s making a mockery of the program I busted my butt on,” I huffed.
“So, tell him.” She popped a chip in her mouth, and it crunched loudly when she chewed.
I jerked my head back. “What?”
“Yeah.” She leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. “Let him have it.”
“I can’t—I couldn’t…” The idea made my pulse race.
“Why not? It’s not like you have to send it. Just type out what you want to say. What you wish you could say but are too chicken.”
Her idea did have merit. And I needed a way to let off some steam. So, I wiped my hands on my napkin and picked up my phone.
“Dear Asshole,” I read aloud as I typed, anger infusing every stroke of the keys.
I would apologize for the profanity, but it seems deserved.
A few fun facts.
I pity you. Reading is one of the best escapes, one of the best ways to gain understanding about other people or places. You’re missing out.
You know nothing about me, and you know what they say about making assumptions…
Can’t say I’ve tried it—pussy. But hey, you are what you eat, right?
Sincerely,
Olivia
Alyssa laughed at my line about the pussy, though my cheeks flamed with heat when I said the word aloud.
I typed out my name and sat back with a satisfied sigh. “There.”
But when I heard a telltale whoosh of an email sending a second later, I bolted upright. “No! No. No. No.” I furiously tapped at the screen, trying to unsend the email, to take back the words I’d said. But it was too late.
The phone fell from my hands, and I hung my head. “This is bad. So, so bad.”
When I peeked up at Alyssa from beneath my chestnut hair, she didn’t look nearly as frazzled as I felt. In fact, if I wasn’t mistaken, she looked rather amused. “It’ll be okay.”
“No.” I navigated to the internet browser, searching for ways to unsend my email to no avail. I finally gave up and tossed my phone into my purse with a huff.
“It was totally unprofessional. I could get—” I gasped, the realization dawning on me. “I could get fired.”
“You’re not going to get fired, Olivia. Connor doesn’t know you work for Igloo Books. For all he knows, you’re just another random volunteer.”
“Yeah, but…” I covered my face with my hands and shook my head. “I was so incredibly rude.”
“Like he wasn’t?”
“And that’s supposed to justify my response?” I stood, dumping the rest of my sandwich in the trash. I didn’t care how amazing it was, I’d lost my appetite. “I never should have listened to you. ‘Just type out the email,’” I said in a poor attempt to mimic her sultry voice. “Just imagine what you’d say if you could.”
She wrapped up her sandwich and followed me to the door. “So you showed him you have a backbone, that you’re not going to take his shit. Good for you.”
