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Feeling a spark of hope, Maisie asked, “What about Mr. Taite?”
“Sadly, no. Though he wasn’t shy about throwing his favorite nephew under the bus to satisfy HR. Or, at least, that’s what I heard.”
“I cheered when security walked Nate out, but I secretly hoped Mr. Taite would get kicked right in his tots. Word has it, though, it’s only a matter of time before he retires.” Cheryl made a gleeful sound that was almost a cackle.
“When that happens, I’d love to make sure he gets his just desserts. Erik’s been teaching me how to use a slingshot.” Donna mimed pulling back a slingshot and letting it go.
“Right in the tots,” Cheryl said, laughing again.
Maisie couldn’t help smiling a little, even though she still felt terrible. She’d missed the camaraderie of her office friends and that feeling of knowing people were on your side. “If I asked really nicely, do you think I could get my old job back?”
“I don’t know why you’d want it,” Donna said firmly. “I think you should start looking into that internship requirement, for real. For the way you described it, what you did for Drew’s ranch was way more involved than most internships I’ve ever heard of.”
“That’s true,” Cheryl added. “A friend of mine interned for a basketball team when she was in college, and her duties mostly involved shooting T-shirts into the crowd.”
“A T-shirt gun?” A sort of maniacal look passed over Donna’s features. “That might be more effective than a slingshot. Does she still have it?”
“I’ll text to find out.” Cheryl reached for her phone.
“Hold on there, you two,” Maisie broke in. “Let’s not do anything that puts anyone in jail. I have enough going on just trying to get over my recent shame—”
“You havenothingto be ashamed of,” Donna said. “It’s that wife of yours who should be begging you for forgiveness. You worked so hard on that marketing plan for her ranch, and she treated you terribly.”
“I wasn’t exactly honest with her about my experience, though.” As much as Maisie wished she could be angry with Drew and write her off completely, it was a bigger struggle than she’d realized it would be.
“Who the fuck cares? Compared to her not telling you the truth about the land—that’s who we should use the T-shirt gun on,” Cheryl said.
“You’re right about that.” Donna’s enthusiasm for the plan was obvious. “But, Maisie, you shouldn’t let an internship scare you. The entire marketing team has been falling apart since you left.”
“It has?” Maisie’s spirits brightened a little. At least, it might not be impossible to get her old job back.
“Yes. And Drew’s a fucking moron for not putting your plans into action. I mean, I spend more time watching Bird Island at work than I actually work.” Donna laughed in the way that made Maisie think the statement wasn’t an exaggeration. “I even bought two coffee mugs with Wilbur’s face on them. One for here and one for work.”
“You did?”
“Damn straight. That little guy is marketing gold, and if Drew can’t see how good she had it with you on her team, well, she’s an even bigger nincompoop than I had her pegged for.” Donna crossed her arms, looking ready to fight anyone who would say otherwise.
“You really think I can do an internship?” Maisie asked, although it was less because she was seriously considering the idea and more to get her friends off Drew. The more they talked about her, the more it ripped away tiny pieces of Maisie’s heart.
“In your sleep but I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t simply phone it in. You need to start believing in yourself as much as we do.” Donna put a hand on each of Maisie’s shoulders, not an easy feat considering they were sitting side by side, and said, “You got this. You can do anything you put your heart into.”
“I agree. Now, I want to hear you say it,” Cheryl prodded.
“I can do it?” Maisie flinched at the way her words became a question.
Cheryl cupped her ear. “Louder. I can’t hear you.”
“I can do it,” Maisie said, louder this time and as a statement. She felt a zing of exhilaration, still small but definitely there.
“That’s our girl!” Donna clapped her hands together. “Now, say Drew Campbell is a stupid head, and if I ever see her again I will hit her with a T-shirt gun.”
“Let’s not get crazy.” Maisie held up her hands. She was laughing along with her friends, but there was a hollow quality to it.
The truth was, right then and there, Maisie did believe she could do whatever she put her mind to, even facing the dreaded internship if it meant finally fulfilling her promise to her father. But the one person she most wanted to share the news with was the one person she’d never speak to again.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Checkingthe address on her phone one more time, Drew affixed her hat before knocking on the apartment door. The sound reverberated through her entire body. Maybe this was a bad idea, showing up to talk to Maisie unannounced. If she was even here.
