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“Aus, thank you. You gave me exactly what I needed.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I was here. Can I leave today knowing you’ll at least be somewhat okay?”
I tug on the strings of the hood of his sweatshirt. “I’m not going to stop functioning. I told you I needed a day to wallow. That day was yesterday. I haven’t done anything wrong. I went into everything with an open heart and good intentions. I can only control myself, right?”
“That’s right. Damn. That’s so fucking adult of you, it’s nearly gross.”
“You know…” I pause, “Aaron said I’m getting a promotion.”
“What?” His voice cracks. “ I mean I know why I’m just hearing about this now. I wish I would have known sooner. I’m really proud of you.”
“He put it out there in the middle of all the shit at the event. I think he wanted everyone to know how much faith he had in me.”
“I liked that dude before. Now he’s my new best friend. You tell him that.”
I finally laugh for the first time since… “I will. Next time you’re in town. You can tell him yourself, you know?”
“I need to tell you that I’m also very proud of you for determining your own worth. You didn’t take Vince’s shit and you stood tall in the face of a tidal wave of bullshit with Rafael. You did it with grace and dignity. You didn’t accept less than you deserve.”
I want to say thank you. I do.
Austin doesn’t know how well Rafael treated me. He doesn’t know all the things we’ve shared, how he made me feel, and what he valued within me. I meant what I said to Rafael. I don’t regret any of our time together. I only regret it had to end.
My usual Monday morning weekly rundown meeting was pushed back an hour from its normal time. Aaron set up a meeting alone in my office to start the day. He’d sent me a couple of texts on Sunday, right after Austin left. I gave him a couple one word answers. I’m certain that’s why the principal’s office style meeting was called.
True to form, he was waiting for me behind my desk with a large coffee in my favorite mug, with the steam still rising from it. “Good morning to you too,” I tell him.
“I think this would be best served with one sugar and a closed door.”
I close my eyes, then the door, and take a deep breath. “Isn’t it a little early for this?”
“Yes, but I think you’ll want privacy. You never answered me when I asked how you were doing.”
“I did.”
“Okay, an emoji is not a response. I need words, please.”
I set my bag on the floor next to my office couch and sit back against the row of pillows while he hands me my mug. “I have a lot of words. Not many make sense together. You don’t need to worry; I’m not going to let my personal life affect my work. I’m sorry it did in the first place.”
“Apology not accepted. You have nothing to apologize for. You did what you should have, and so did I. However, what I did could have been construed as a direct threat.”
“God, no. Tell me you didn’t.”
“You didn’t see your face. I’ve never seen you like that and I didn’t respond in the most professional way.”
“Oh shit,” I sigh. “What did you do?”
“Basically? Well, I told him he needed to leave you alone. Also, if we weren’t at an event I would have decked him.”
The roller coaster effect begins its ride in my belly. “Aaron, I appreciate the thought, more than you know. I just don’t want anything weird hanging out there. I’m going to do my best to move forward.”
“I’m glad. I really am. We have another piece of the puzzle though. Skywriter offered Rafael their lead. He will be back here for that filming. I also got an email from Nicolette this morning, their afternoon. She wants us to be on point on the US side. I don’t need to tell you the position this puts us in.”
“You told her yes, didn’t you?”
Aaron loosely crosses his arms. “I wasn’t going to tell her anything until I spoke to you first.”
“Why? This is business. This will be a good next step and it’s the right one. Is that all you were worried about?”
