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.

---