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“Hey boss, all good. Here are the updates.” She passed a folder over to me. “Just so you know, Cassie’s out today. Not feeling well.”
I looked up then and put down what I was working on. “Really?” I asked, and then I shut my mouth, not wanting to give anything away.
“Yeah, really. It’s no worries. Her research partner is still catching up on what she and Dave did, and her other work can wait. I’ll take care of any urgent things today for her, and however long she needs me too.”
Stevie smiled at me, and I smiled back. “Thanks, Stevie. That’s great. Let her know I hope she feels better.”
Fuck, this is all my fault.
“Will do!” Stevie said cheerfully, and then she bounced out the door.
When she was gone, I leaned back in my chair and spun around, staring out at the city below from my window. I had come so far, and yet the old life was pulling me back and throwing things in my face. Jason had returned, my ex-wife was sick and needing pity, and her old friend was suddenly in my life as well.
I was letting a new woman into my world, and it brought up the old pain about Melissa and how she’d left so suddenly, so angrily, leaving me and Camilla as if we’d meant nothing in the world to her. Had I fallen for the same kind of person again? A person that wouldn’t listen to apologies or explanations? A person who would leave at the first sign of difficulty?
My fingers itched to hold a cigarette again. Cigarettes used to hold my world together, make every difficult moment possible to get through. But as I took a clear breath, I knew it was for the best that I’d given them up. Given up most things.
After a few more minutes of self-pity, I turned around and buried myself in work. Hours later, the day was gotten through, and I stood to go, glad that Camilla hadn’t come into the lab that day. It was hard enough trying to get through work without also having to put up a front about being happy when I wasn’t.
As I walked out to the parking lot, I wondered if I should call Cassie again. I didn’t want to be the weird stalker, and with all my poor marriage experience, I couldn’t really trust myself. What was the right move?
“Oh hi, good-looking.” I looked up to see Sandy walking towards me in the parking lot as if she was on her way in, dressed in a red dress and black heels.
Her dark hair was straightened, and she had created cat eyes with dark eyeliner. Her lips were a bright red, and she smiled at me with perfect, white teeth. Everything about her screamed ‘money’. Normally, I would have been all over it, wanting this kind of woman because it had become so much like a habit.
“Sandy, what are you doing here?” I paused, my keys in my hand, wishing to have seen anyone else but her.
Is someone up there against me?
My bad luck was really getting worse.
“Thought I’d try again today.” She winked. “Gotta give a girl credit for trying, you know?”
“Right.” I rubbed the back of my neck. Geez, she was making this awkward. “Sorry, but I’m on my way out.” I pointed to the car.
I was used to persistent women, but this was more than I had experienced before. I guess I knew where Cassie got her stubbornness from.
Sandy put her hands on her hips, and even though she was still smiling, I could see a glint of anger in her eyes. “You know, I’m not just anyone, you know. I’ve been out with tons of guys richer and more successful than you.”
“Ok…good for you, then,” I said with a bright smile, walking to my car.
“But you sure you want to miss out on this chance?” Sandy asked with a hopeful tone.
I spun around. “Look, Sandy, I’m not interested. There’s somebody else, and so I think it would be better if you just left.”
Her cheeks flushed with fury. “Oh, I see. So, you flirt with me, and then you just suddenly spring it on me that there’s someone else?”
I frowned, so confused. “I’m sorry, what the hell are you talking about? You’ve come to me, accosted me at my workplace twice.” I held up two fingers. “So, it’s me asking you to leave because I am already taken.”
Lie, but whatever.
I turned around to unlock my car door.
“Is it my daughter?” she asked.
I froze. “None of your business,” I said without turning around, opening the car door.
“Because she’ll never date you. She can never commit to anyone or anything.”
