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Jo paled, shaking her head vehemently. “Never mind. Work is fine.” She still seemed uncomfortable talking about babies with Liam but he wasn’t mad now. He was teasing her, pulling her into the curve of his arm. She gave him a grumpy look but seemed to soften in his embrace, a relaxed smile playing on her lips. She eyed me curiously.
“So you played that game at the convention. Do you play anything else?”
When I shrugged nonchalantly, James snorted. “She had every gaming system known to man. I’m pretty sure her game collection alone could fill Liam’s office.”
Liam regarded him. “Had?”
I tensed, uneasiness spreading through me. I hadn’t gotten the whole picture from James about the damage to my place. I didn’t totally want to know. It hurt to think about. Especially the stuff that I can’t get back, like things I got in Japan.
“Whoever they were, they had no interest in stealing or selling anything. It’s like they took a crowbar and just smashed the hell out of everything. I think most of the games are fine, though maybe not the cases. But I’m going to have to replace all of her systems and her computer.”
I scowled. “I don’t need you to pay for them. I can afford to do it myself.”
Jo nodded knowingly. “I know how you feel. Liam paid off my tuition without even discussing it with me. I’m still trying to explain to him how wrong that was.”
James cuddled me closer, kissing my forehead. “I’m not saying you can’t, baby, I just want to help. If I had dealt with the asshole properly, he wouldn’t be after you right now.”
I still wasn’t convinced it was Kyle who did it, but until we had evidence proving otherwise, everyone else seemed to accept it as fact. He is the one person who currently has an issue with me, other than my boss. Though, I don’t know how either of them would figure out where I live, I don’t exactly share that information.
I shrugged. “If you want to help, you can bring me to the store after work tomorrow so I can pick up some stuff. I think if I have to spend another night watching anime on my phone, I’m going to throw it at you. My arm gets tired when I have to do that.”
Liam chuckled. “You’re talking about how he has nothing in his room, right?” When I nodded, he shot a look at James. “I’ve been telling him for ages to take some time off and find a hobby or something. He never listens to me.”
I glanced up, watching James roll his eyes. “I will when you do.”
Jo’s eyes lit up. “Hey, that’s a great idea! We can force them both to go on vacation and then we’ll finally get to do something fun!”
I pursed my lips. “I think just getting them to go on vacation alone would be hard. Getting them to go together might be impossible. Who would hold the fort while they were gone? Jaime?”
They both snorted derisively. “No.”
They said it at the same time and Jo and I snickered. Jaime just happened to walk through the door right afterwards, looking confused as Jo and I laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
* * *
After dinner,I finally worked up the nerve to check my phone. A few messages from my parents, one from Nikki, and over thirty from work. I grimaced. Pulling up my voicemail, I listened to Mr. Doolittle scream on the other end of the phone, demanding I get into work. I skipped a few, trying to see if he’d calm down. Instead, he only seemed to work himself up. The more he called, the angrier his messages seemed to get until the last one.
“Elizabeth, this is your final warning. If you do not show up to work in the next hour, you will be dismissed from your position. There are plenty of people who would kill for your job. Choose your next steps wisely.”
I checked the time on that message. It was sent to me around two p.m. It was after seven now. I whimpered, dropping my head onto the bed. James had brought me upstairs to get some more rest. He was going to help me shower but got called out to do something so I figured checking my messages was the smart thing to do while I waited for him. Now, I wished I had waited until tomorrow and just showed up at work. He might change his mind if I’m there, but I doubt it, doctor’s note or not.
I buried my head under my arms, trying to figure out my next move. I had enough savings for a little while but that meant getting new gaming systems was officially low priority until I got a new job. That was depressing but maybe I could grab some of my manga from home, if they didn’t destroy them. It was better than nothing.
I was still running through different options in my head when I felt the bed dip, James laying next to me, petting my hair.
“That bad, huh?”
I let out a groan but didn’t move otherwise. I hate job hunting. I’m already awkward, adding stress and high stakes to the situation only makes it worse.
* * *
The next day,James joined me at work. I tried telling him more than once I didn’t need a babysitter but I was secretly grateful that he was coming along. I knew Mr. Doolittle would make today difficult. I chewed on the edge of my thumbnail as we watched the numbers on the elevator rise.
“Nervous?”
I nodded. “He never outright said I was fired but I kind of doubt he’ll change his mind. I don’t like confrontation either.” It gives me intense anxiety. I’m usually the first person to let things go, I never send food back at a restaurant, and I always moved out of the way if someone was going to bump into me.
