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I forced a smile as I stood and took my empty cup and plate to the counter.
The barista flashed another smile, which I barely saw before I turned and hurried out the door.
I was angry and humiliated. I shouldn't have told the barista I expected Chase to show up. He was probably having a good laugh behind my back.
I didn't look over my shoulder to see. I walked with as much dignity as I could muster until I was around the corner.
Then I sagged and cursed under my breath. I stopped and leaned against a wall for a moment to catch my breath.
Of all the people in the world who should have realised how fragile I was, Chase should have. Everything I went through, so did he. The pain, the hurt?—
I sucked in a breath and thought rationally for a moment.
I hadn't had a story about me and my love life hit the internet. For all I know, he and the team were in some kind of damage mode. What did people like that do when these things happened? Did they batten down the hatches, lock the doors and windows and wait out the storm? I hadn't read anything about him speaking to the press. As far as I knew, it was only Brandi who had.
I bit my lower lip. Did he think I'd do the same after we slept together? He should know I would never do that.
He didn't know Brandi was like that either, or they wouldn't have dated for so long.
A young kid stopped to stare at me before they hurried to catch up with their mother. I supposed I did look weird, standing beside a wall, looking as stressed out as I was.
I straightened up and headed back to work. I'd have to spend the rest of the day pretending nothing happened. I pushed Chase to the back of my mind and marched back in the side entrance used by Lacey's staff.
I walked past the publicist's department to see a handful of balloons, and staff with cake on paper plates. A sign read, 'Good luck in your new job.'
Curious, I stuck my head inside. "Who's leaving?"
"Grace is," said a man named Hank. "She got a new job."
"Oh?" I looked toward Grace, a cute brunette who always seemed to have cat hair somewhere on her. Kudos to her for being able to keep animals alive.
"Where are you going?"
Grace smiled. "I'm going to be a publicist for the Rapids. Can you believe it?"
My heart skipped at the mention of the team name. "Wow, that's amazing," I said as enthusiastically as I could. She'd have her work cut out for her there, that was for sure.
"Yeah, it helps to be best friends with the star quarterback's girlfriend," a woman named Trudy remarked. She didn't even try to contain her envy.
"You're friends with Bec?" I asked.
"Yeah," Grace said easily, "but that's not why I got the job." She eyed Trudy over her shoulder.
"Of course not," I said. "The Rapids would only hire the best." They could afford to.
"Exactly." Grace grinned. "Hard work and merit and that's all."
Trudy grunted and turned away.
There was always someone ready to spoil things for other people.
"Congratulations," I said nicely. "I'm sure they'll keep you busy over there."
"Without a doubt," she agreed. "But I'm looking forward to the challenge."
"Great." I gave her a smile and ducked back out of the room to leave them to their celebration.
I flopped down at my desk and opened the sandwich I didn't get to eat yesterday, but had shoved in a drawer instead. It was squashed, but more or less edible.
