Page 97 of Accidentally Amy

“Fuckme,” I croaked, turning off the phone and setting it back on the nightstand. I rolled over and let the tears of disappointment fall, mourning the relationship we’d barely even begun. I knew it was coming all day, but that didn’t soften the blow.

I took a deep, jagged breath. I’d respond because I wasn’t a jerk, but not tonight and probably not before work in the morning.

If he could ignore me for hours, I could do the same.

Only, when my alarm went off at six, he’d sent three more texts.

Two a.m.:Please call me first thing in the morning.

Four fifteen a.m.:I’m already up, so you can call whenever.

Five thirty a.m.:It’s important, Iz.

Wow. I felt theIzin the very core of my heart. He’d ignored me all day yesterday, and now, when he wanted to make sure the work bases were covered, he used that nickname?

Screw him.

I silenced my phone and dumped it into the bottom of my purse when I went into the living room to grab clean underwear out of the laundry basket. I didn’t really need to have the phone handy since Blake was the only person who ever texted me anyway, right? I showered and got ready for work, feeling miserable the entire time.

I was pathetic.

But when I got to Ellis and stepped into the elevator, I realized that I wanted to text him. To hear what he had to say and give him a chance to explain. Blake had always been a good friend—he was a very good person, that was clear—so he deserved my trust and patience.

There was no reason to assume the worst.

I rifled through my bag until I found my phone. I texted,What’s up? You get tired of ghosting me and need an Izzy fix?

I kept the phone in my hand, expecting a quick response. What I hadn’t expected, though, was for Pam to be standing outside of my office when I got off the elevator, pacing like she was waiting for my arrival.

“Hey, Pam,” I said, hoping I hadn’t forgotten an early meeting or something. “How’s it going?”

She frowned before saying, “Fine, thanks. Can I talk to you in your office?”

Blake

I pulled the phone out of my pocket as I exited the conference room.

Izzy:What’s up? You get tired of ghosting me and need an Izzy fix?

Holy shit, she’d responded. I felt my pulse kick up as I hit the button to call her.

It went directly to voicemail.Shit.

I glanced at my watch—nine thirty—and realized I was probably too late. Pam liked to get separations out of the way first thing in the morning, so Iz was probably already gone.

I pushed through the door to the stairwell and started down the stairs toward Izzy’s floor. It was a stupid move, running to her office, but I felt like I had to know that fucking instant. I sprinted down four flights of stairs before straightening my tie, checking my phone, and then stepping onto the HR floor, trying my best to look casual and professional.

“Blake,” Adam Carter, one of the new IT guys, said with a nod, walking down the hall as if it was entirely normal for me to be skulking about in stairwells.

“Adam,” I muttered in response before turning the corner.

“Hey, Blake.” Pam stopped walking. “I was just coming to see you.”

“Yeah?” I said, looking past her, in the direction of Izzy’s office.

“Yes. We finished all twelve of the separations.”

That made my gut clench, which was stupid as fuck because I’dknownit was happening. I tried for detached when I said, “Everything go okay?”

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