AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I haven’t seen Jada since Sunday in the park with the security guard asshole. And it pissed me off that he looked at me in a way that made me grind my teeth and make myself keep running so I wouldn’t tackle him to the ground for even sitting with her.
But it’s better this way.
It’s good that I’m not back until after eleven, too, because I don’t see her. She’s in her room and there’s no light coming from under her door.
Definitely better this way.
I shouldn’t have spent Thursday night in her bed, taken her to dinner Friday and then spent Friday night sleeping with her on the couch. On top of me. Clinging to me like I was her favorite blanket. Fuck sakes.
I definitely shouldn’t have offered to take her out Saturday. I should’ve kept my distance from the start. I should’ve slammed that laptop shut when I read that story she was writing and never mentioned it again. Or fired her immediately.
Something.
What did I do instead? The opposite of what I should’ve done.
I open the fridge and there’s my dinner. And tomorrow’s lunch.
She made my lunch today, too, I was sort of surprised to find it and when I opened it at my desk today, I felt like shit. Because it was fajitas. She knows I love her fajitas. I don’t fucking deserve fajitas. I deserve some stale bread with dry meat and no cheese or mayo.
I definitely didn’t deserve the sweet little note she tucked in.
Austin,
I hope everything is okay with you. I’m here if you want to talk. No pressure.
-Jada
She made me barbeque sauce slathered spareribs, baked beans, and roasted potato wedges for tonight. My stomach growls. It smells fucking delicious. I warm it up and take it to the bedroom to eat it so I don’t chance running into her.
It tastes even better than it smells, and I eat every bite.
My phone rings as I’m putting my dinner plate into the dishwasher and it’s a long string of numbers, like when I got the call from Meryl.
“Hello?”
“Austin Carmichael?” a male voice asks.
“Yes?”
“This is Nathaniel Valerio. I’m engaged to Meryl Salinas.”
Fuck.
“I wanna ask you about this job you offered her.”
“Ask away, man. It’s all above-board.”
“You doin’ this to try to get her back?”
I roll my eyes.
“She was never mine, man.”
He says nothing.
“I’m not tryin’ to cause problems with you and your girl, Nathaniel. When we met, she was single. What happened with us was between me and her and right after that, she quit her job and flew home. She left and we didn’t see each other again until my brother’s wedding and barely made eye contact until you were there throwin’ punches. I offered her another job because she worked for me before, she did a good job, she’s already trained, and the company can use her skills. She won’t report directly to me and if she ever needs to come to San Diego or anywhere else for her job, I will gladly let her expense you coming along if it makes you feel better. If there ever comes a time where I need to see her face to face, unless it’s a company function with other people, you can be there.”
“I trust her,” he says.
“Good for you.” I don’t mean to come across condescending, but I’m sure I do.
“I just don’t know you, and I know what I read about you in her journal, man. I’m sorry for how I came across when I met you. I went into a jealous rage.”
“No you’re not sorry for how you came across. Don’t blow smoke, Nathaniel, bud. You’re just sayin’ that because I’m about to become the boss of your future wife.”
He laughs a little nervously.
“I didn’t handle things right that day, either,” I admit. “I wasn’t even nice to her and I regret that. I guess I had a bruised ego that she took off. Hey, it’s your ring on her finger, not mine, so she’s obviously where she wants to be.”
“She says I acted like an ape. Gave me the ice queen treatment the rest of the trip and fuck, it would’ve been nice to enjoy that place with her.”
“Maybe I’d be the same. No hard feelings, man.”
“Thanks. She said you’re a good guy. I started listening to her and wanted to talk to you myself. See how I feel.”
“I’m not after your girl, Nathaniel.”
“Thanks. Not that I think you’d win or anything…”
There’s humor in his voice right now.
I snicker. “Have a good night.”
“You too, man,” he says and hangs up.
Ten minutes later I get an email from Meryl.
Thank you, Austin. I’ll take the job. Sorry for the delay. I’m signing my offer letter now and sending it to HR at head office. I look forward to working for Carmichael Consulting again. Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t disappoint you.
