I don’t have time to consider what I just did. I’ll have plenty of time to worry about that decision later. Right now, all I want to do is get as far away from this freaking place as fast as I can and never, ever come back.
I’m not sure what hurts worse, the fact that Penn could hate me so much that he would treat me with suchunprofessionalism. Or the fact that even as he was berating me, all I could think about was how badly I wish I could go back and do it all differently so that I could havemyPenn back.
If one thing has been made crystal clear to me, it’s thatmyPenn is gone and if the way he just spoke to me is any indication, I don’t think he’s ever coming back.
“London!” I vaguely hear my name, but I don’t turn to find out where it’s coming from. “Hey! Wait up.” Travis appears next to me, seemingly out of nowhere. “Where are you heading in such a hurry?”
“Away from here.” I swipe at another tear.
“Hey, whoa, whoa. What happened?” He steps in front of me, halting my steps, dipping to get a good look at my face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just need to get out of here.”
“Is it Penn? What did he do?”
“Let’s just say the donuts were not a good idea. He wasn’t appreciative in the least. In fact, it only pissed him off more. I can’t do this anymore, Trav.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He tugs me into his arms, and while he’s dressed in dirty coveralls and smells like fish, I let him.
Burying my face into his chest, I let out a gurgled sob, too upset to be any kind of embarrassed over my inability to hold in my emotions.
“You want me to go in there and kick his ass?”
“No.” I sniff, pulling away after a long moment.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” I shake my head gently. “Only one of us needs to get fired today.”
“He fired you?” He runs a hand through his dirty-blond locks.
“Well, technically, I quit. And then he fired me.” I let out a humorless laugh.
“Curious how he’s going to explain that to your father.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll make it all my fault.” I swipe at my damp tears. “And maybe it is.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t let him win.”
“Look around, Trav, he already has.” I wave my arms, gesturing around us.
“I’ve worked with Penn for a long time, and I’ve never known him to act so irrationally.”
“Good to know that I can bring out the worst in him.”
“I’m just saying, a man doesn’t typically get that worked up by a woman unless he has feelings for her.”
“Trust me, the only feeling that man has toward me is hatred.”
“Or maybe that’s just what he wants you to think.”
“I don’t think it matters much at this point.” I blow out a hard breath.
“Want to test that theory?”
“Huh?” My forehead furrows in confusion.
Before I have time to react, Trav takes my face in his hands and, without warning, presses his lips to mine. My first reaction is to push him away, not because I’m offended that he’s kissing me, per se, but because I’m surprised that he is. I mean, I barely know the guy.
