AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Twenty-Five
Adrienne
I managed to avoid sleeping in my own apartment most nights this week, and when I was here, nothing bad happened. The stress at work yesterday must have carried over into my paranoia, though, because all night long I woke up at every little sound. Morning wasn’t much better. I went out for coffee, breakfast, and groceries, but then I had to come home to put it all away.
The note slipped under my door was scrawled on the in Sean’s familiar handwriting on the back of half a utility bill, and said Does your ‘boyfriend’ know how many places you sleep that aren’t here?
Oh, God. Bile rose in my throat and I almost emptied the contents of my stomach right there.
By the time afternoon rolled around, I was jumping at everything. I couldn’t get a hold of Graham. Or Luna. Or Cole. Dustin was with his nieces. Why didn’t I have more friends?
For the same reason I couldn’t sit still now—my ex-husband was an asshole.
I was probably being dumb, but I didn’t want to be alone.
There were dozens of other numbers in my phone, but most were people I’d alienated long ago. Phillip, though… He’d said he didn’t mind if I bothered him with things like this. I liked thinking about him anyway, but having him here to protect me was too tempting. Still, I was surprised that he said he’d come over—not because he’d ever given me any reason to do anything other than enjoy his company and drool over him, but he was more removed than Dustin, and probably wouldn’t be around much longer.
I understood why Dustin was mad at him, but I didn’t know Phillip well enough to feel that same sense of betrayal. And he was a million times better than Sean.
A text came through a short while after I called Phillip, saying he was here and heading up. Which made the knock a moment later more reassuring than startling. I checked the camera and peephole anyway, making sure they agreed with each other that it was Phillip on my landing.
I let him in with a grateful smile and locked the door behind him. “Thank you. Again. I just... I’m sorry to bother you on the weekend.”
“Don’t apologize. I meant it when I said you could call anytime. For anything, but especially this.”
“For now.”
“Don’t you start, please.”
“I’m not starting anything,” I said. “I’m clarifying. You’re leaving soon, right? You don’t need some random woman you knew for less than a month calling you once you’re gone.” I felt bad enough bothering him today, regardless of his assurances, I wasn’t calling him when we didn’t work together anymore.
A shadow passed over Phillip’s face, then vanished behind a kind but otherwise blank mask again. “I meant anytime.”
Sure.
This was awkward. How was it things had never been super uncomfortable with him until now? I gestured to the couch. “Do you want to sit? Something to drink? I have water and coffee.”
“I shouldn’t have more coffee today.” He did take a seat, though.
I took the spot next to him—there wasn’t really anywhere else to settle in the room. What now? I wanted to tell him not to quit his job, though I didn’t have a good reason for it beyond I like working with you. No, that wasn’t true. I liked him. I didn’t want him gone. I also wanted him to make things right with Dustin.
None of those things were my place to say. “Don’t quit. I like having you there. So does Dustin, that’s why he’s upset. Tell him you’re sorry, and stay. I probably don’t have any right to ask, but I’m doing it anyway.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re fine to ask, but I can’t.”
“Oh.” I didn’t try to hide my disappointment. “Why not? Why are you leaving? Are things bad at AcesPlayed? Do I need to be worried there’s something going on I don’t see?”
“That’s a lot of questions. There’s nothing bad at AcesPlayed that I’m aware of. A few assholes, but you’re all great at your jobs, and I expect will make this game into something epic.”
I flushed that he included me in the statement, but he didn’t answer the question I most wanted him to. “So then why?”
“It’s time for me to move on.”
That wasn’t right. Not because I disliked the answer—though I did—but it felt off. “You were with the same people for almost two decades. I realize Cord, Rinslet, and AcesPlayed are different companies, but they’re the same people. You just woke up one day and decided I’m done?”
Phillip leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. “No, but also yes. I love the art, but I love teaching and mentoring just as much, if not more. My chances to do that have evaporated here.”
You still have a lot to teach me. The words died in my throat. After Sean, I swore I’d never beg or demean myself or change to keep someone in my life. There it was, the one thing that kept me from blurting out the thoughts in my head. “I see.”
