Page 39 of The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss
She’d coached me. She’d grounded me. She’d cajoled me.
She was a woman I wanted more of in my life.
I hadn’t thought that about another person in a long time, maybe years.
The train back to my apartment was mostly deserted, so I found a quiet corner and sat. Just as I did, my phone buzzed.
Most people got excited when someone contacted them.
Not me. I worried that I’d forgotten something or that I’d messed something up. So when I felt the buzz, my chest tightened.
I always tried to temper myself before I looked at a message. It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. No one I knew would call this late, and anyone who sent a text would know I wouldn’t answer until morning, unless it was an actual emergency.
Then I remembered Aunt Mei and eagerly pulled my phone out.
The hope of seeing my aunt and uncle in their leather riding gear posing in front of a large ball of twine or a giant potato faded when I saw Marissa’s name.
I usually delayed answering her texts but felt like I shouldn’t while she was in the hospital. She was scheduled for surgery in the morning.
Marissa:Where are you?
Why did the simple question feel like an interrogation?
Peter:On my way home.
Marissa:From where?
Again, it felt like an attack. I decided to ignore her inquiry and ask her about surgery.
Peter:What time is your surgery?
Marissa:They postponed it until Wednesday. The swelling is still too bad.
At least she sounded like herself and not a drunken sorority member.
Peter:Glad they’re taking care of you.
The train slowed, but I still had four stops to go.
Marissa:Why didn’t you come visit me today?
I was under orders not to tell anyone about the changes in the retreat until we officially announced it in the morning, and that included Marissa. I couldn’t tell her what I’d been doing, or she would send question after question until I either gave in or had to stop answering her. I decided to keep it simple.
Peter:I’m doing your work and mine.
Marissa:LOL!!!!!!
That was a lot of exclamation points. Maybe she was still on the pain killers.
Marissa:My parents want to see you.
The train slowed and stopped again. A bunch of people got on, including a gaggle of older women who looked like they’d been at a sporting event; I stood and offered my seat so they could sit together.
I got a lot of smiles and ogling but kept looking at my phone until they grew bored.
Marissa:Will you come see me tomorrow?
I mentally shuffled through my schedule. Jessica and I were going to be neck-deep in retreat management, not to mention the three high-profile clients I had meetings with in the afternoon. Going across town to the hospital would suck up at least two hours of my day, but Marissa was a friend, and her parents had been kind to me after my mother had died.
