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Clearly dismissed, I gather my things and mutter a ‘thank you’ on my way out, my heart hammering in my chest long after I’m back in my seat.
So, I finally get asked out by not one but two of my college crushes, and now my boss says I’m not allowed to touch them?
Chapter6
Arock settles in my stomach at 5:05 pm. I just turned my ringer back on my cellphone, and it pings as I’m walking to my car.
Elian: Hey beautiful, how was your day?
* * *
The message makes me smile, and then my joy immediately turns to dread. I’ve agonized over it all day, and I know it’s crazy for me to take even that long to consider it. Of course if I have to choose between my job and my age-old crush, I’m going to choose my career. This is literally the exact conversation I had with my mom last night. This opportunity with Kellerman is a huge break for a grad straight out of college, and I can’t blow it.
Sighing, I wait until I’m in my car before I reply.
Sloane: Long day. I’m tired, and I have to go home and babysit. Joy
Elian: That’s too bad! I was going to ask if you’d like to go out for drinks with me tonight
Sloane: Sorry, can’t. Duty calls. Plus I have to work in the morning
Elian: lol Don’t we all?
Sloane: I have no idea what your life is like, but for me it’s 9-5, M-F
Elian: I understand. Another time!
Sloane: Sounds good.
* * *
Itry not to encourage him too much, but I can’t bring myself to discourage him, not yet. Maybe I’ll pull the slow fade and just be always unavailable, replying too late, until he gives up.
In theory it’s a brilliant plan, but my gut churns with disappointment. It’s as if I rode a wave of happiness and excitement that buoyed me up to a pinnacle and then suddenly the water disappeared and I dropped back down to the rocky sea floor.
The altitude change is dizzying, and my heart seems to have dropped to my stomach.
I get home and relieve my mom from kid duty so she can head out on her late shift. Once the kids are fed and in bed, I take my shower then wait for dad to get home so I can say goodnight.
So it’s not until later that I check my phone and realize that both Elian and Sandro have been texting me all evening. Nothing too important; Elian is just describing the party he’s at and wishing I was with him. Sandro is apparently going through all of his saved memes and sending me his favorites; the text string is nothing but several dozen memes. I snort more than once as I read through them, and reply with a few of my favorites. For Elian, I thank him and say goodnight with a hope that I can do it another time.
Even though I know there’s no way that’ll ever happen.
* * *
The next day I’m less than enthused for work. Now that I know there’s nothing besides actual work to look forward to, I find it strangely depressing compared to my excitement of just a few days ago.
I finish up my new sketches for AJ and drop them on his desk before noon, and then contemplate if I want to take a run at my two-day-old leftovers or just go grab a sandwich from a nearby coffee shop.
Allowing the sad state of my finances to decide for me—I’m pretty broke until I get my first paycheck in two weeks—I nuke the pork chop while the rest of the office leaves for lunch, and settle in to eat at my desk after everyone has locked up and headed out.
It’s nice, quiet, with no one else here. I can listen to some music and play on my phone.
The one drawback to my leftover lunch is that the pork chop isn’t cut, and there’s nothing resembling a steak knife available in the break room. After doing my best to saw it with a plastic knife, I give up and spear the entire thing on my fork, tearing bites with my teeth like a cave woman while I scroll through my feed. What does it matter? There’s no one to witness me eating like a savage.
“Ahem.”
The voice startles me, and I nearly choke on the giant bite I’m chewing. Glancing up, I see Vincente Vargas standing before me in a neat black suit, hands in his pockets and an amused expression on his handsome face. Rebecca peers through the glass from the entrance, waving excitedly. She must have come back early and let him in.
