Page 111 of The Puck Bunny

“But I have one tiny little problem with your plan.” Billie Mae tips her drink my way.

I cock my head; I know what she’s going to say. “Go on and say it.”

“What if Quinn is the one and you’re throwing him away?”

“I’m not throwing him away forever. I’ll get him back.”

“Then why bother throwing him away at all?”

“I need to know he’s the right one and I won’t know until I can stand on my own and act like a grown-up.” I pause and my belly flips around so much I’m afraid I’m going to lose my cookies, but I take a deep breath and go for it, say the scary thing. “And I want to know that I’m the right one for him. I want him to want me enough to wait for me, to come for me when I’m ready.”

“Wow. A real, honest-to-goodness epiphany.” She hugs me. “You’re taking a big chance. You’re a braver woman than I am. But then, you were always the courageous one.”

“I was?”

She nods. “I know you’ll stand up and be everything and have everything you want. You’re too good not to.”

Her words calm the tremor in my heart because I’m oddly certain and determined about what I need to do, yet, it’s still scary as heck and hard as crap.

* * *

Monday morning when I get to work, I leave my coat on, tap out my letter of resignation, then print it. Emptying my desk and drawer of all my personal crap, I stuff it in a bag and stop at Billie Mae’s cubicle.

She stands. “Are you sure I can’t talk you out of this?” She hugs me, not waiting for the answer because she already knows it.

Margaret gives me a questioning look as I walk past her. She’s wearing the pink version of the Brawlers knit cap today.

“Cute hat,” I say and I mean it. “Good-bye Margaret. I won’t be coming back.”

“Why not?”

“I’m quitting.”

Her eyes go wide—and then she surprises the crap out of me by giving me a big hug.

I hug her back and try to keep my eyes from leaking.

“You’ll do well out there,” she says, jutting her chin toward the window as if the outside world is outer space.

My belly rolls, agreeing with her assessment—about the outer space.

Billie Mae comes over and throws an arm around Margaret. “It’s just you and me now, Margaret.”

But Billie Mae winks at me and I escape from the cubicles to head down the hall straight to the office of the Brawlers Corporation V.P. of Public Relations.

Delaney’s office.

CHAPTER 34

QUINN

I meet Sara at my front door as her Uber ride drives away before she has a chance to knock. “Delaney told me you quit today.”

“Well, that takes the wind out of my sails. Or the sting out of my bee or …” She looks down and flaps a hand. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so flip about something so big and important.”

My “But” sinks because I know she wouldn’t be this upset if this was her only news. Plus, she’s been semi-ghosting me since dinner at my mom’s with uncharacteristic minimalist responses to my texts and unanswered calls.

“I have a feeling your resignation isn’t the only thing you have to tell me about today.”