AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 5
Ember
Sometime during the night, I had woken up on the couch to an odd smell and realized it was my spoiled dinner. I tossed the food in the trash and collapsed in bed. I woke up before my alarm went off with a banging headache and wearing yesterday’s clothes. Somehow, I managed to get dressed and out the door early enough that I could walk slowly and still get to work on time.
Mr. Nickers was in an odd, good mood this morning, and I think he even felt a little bit sorry for me when he saw me limping into the store—or maybe it was the shiner I had from hitting myself in the face last night.
Who the hell breaks her nose with Chinese takeout? Me, that’s who.
“Mr. Nickers,” I said as I entered his office, “I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. I hope that’s not a problem.”
Mr. Nickers leaned his big frame back in his chair. “That’s fine. You look like you could use a doctor today. What time is your appointment?”
“It’s at one, sir.”
“Why don’t you just take the rest of the day off?”
My eyebrows shot up, “Sir? Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s probably better that you aren’t around during our busy time; you might scare off the customers.”
So that’s why he didn’t want me here—figures.
“Who clocked you?” he asked as he chewed on his cigar end. “I’m not keen on men beating up their women.”
“It wasn’t a man, Mr. Nickers. I hit myself in the face.”
Mr. Nickers let out a loud belly laugh, and his stomach jiggled. “You did that to yourself? You’re a mess.”
“Yeah, I am,” I commented back.
“Well, go do what you have to at your desk, and then take the afternoon off,” he leaned up to his desk, “and you know what? Just this time, I’ll even pay you for the hours you’re missing.”
Holy cow! He was in a really good mood. “Thank you, sir.” I backed out of his office carefully before he could change his mind.
Adam showed up on time today and had a spring in his step. He had just been about to give me the lowdown when a customer came in, and he went to help her.
I left the store at twelve-thirty and made it to my doctor on time. Since I was inside, I had taken my sunglasses off, and everyone from the receptionist to the two-year-old sitting in his mother’s lap had stared at me like I had a disease.
Jesus, people, it’s a fucking black eye!
Somehow, I kept my calm until they called my name, and I went back to the exam room.
“What happened to your eye, Ember?” the nurse asked me as I sat on the exam table.
“I got hit with a pork fried rice container.”
She stared at me, both eyebrows up. “Did someone do that to you?”
“No,” I shook my head, “I just told you, I hit myself in the face.”
She cocked her head and studied me, “Are you in an abusive relationship? Because you’re safe here, you can tell us, and we can get you help.”
I glared at the nurse, “I did this to myself, along with the two broken toes I have. No one did this to me.”
She looked surprised, “You have two broken toes, too? Did someone stomp on your foot?”
I ground my teeth, “I stubbed them rushing to get ready for work.”
