Page 7 of Come Home to Me

A flock of birds flies past the window and for some reason, they remind me of Sarah, wild and free. “That’s funny. I was calling to see if you wanted the honor of alleviating my boredom. Meet me for lunch.”

“So that’s a yes?”

I smile, pleased with her response. “That’s a hell yes. Meet me at, say, twelve thirty? There’s a great steakhouse called Guard and Grace on California Street…”

There’s a rustle on the other end of the line as she jots down the name. “It’s a date.”

We say our goodbyes and I hang up feeling excited. We didn’t say much, hell, barely more than a few sentences, but there’s something between us and I can’t wait to find out what it is. I bury myself in work and head out of the office around noon, only to get stuck waiting on an elevator next to Violet, her chin dropped, a cardboard box filled with personal items in her hands.

“I quit today.” She won’t make eye contact. “Didn’t even put in my two weeks notice, just told them I was done. And I definitely told them it was because of you.” Violet glances at me, her typically sweet face a tragedy of smudged eyeliner and red-rimmed eyes.

Well great. That’s the last thing I need. I did my best to keep my fling with the receptionist quiet because, despite the weekly relationship building get-togethers at Derby’s, office romances are frowned upon. And while the Bree situation was obviously a miscommunication, Violet citing me as the reason she quit officially counts as two strikes against me.

Though, when it comes right down to it, I’m pretty much invincible around here. I’m good at my job. Really good at my job. As a receptionist, Violet is replaceable. Me? Not so much. It’s a shitty truth, but it is a truth.

“Vi…”

She turns away. “I get it. It happens. I loved you but the feeling wasn’t mutual. You just shouldn’t have let things go so far. Especially since we worked together…” The elevator dings and she sniffs as she steps in, her pastel skirt flowing around her ankles.

I cram my hands in my pockets and stare at my feet. Neither of us wants to spend time stuck side by side in the elevator, so I do us both a favor. “I’ll wait for the next one. I’m sorry, Vi. I really am.”

The doors close between us and I almost sag with relief, then feel like a class-A dickhead for the response. Violet Dunham is a sweet girl who fell in love way too fast. I was a fool for letting things go as far as they did, but I kept hoping I’d fall for her in the same way she fell for me. Daddy issues aside, Vi’s a good person, the kind of woman my mother would approve of. Try as I might, it grew ever more obvious that there was nothing real between us. I called things off and it’s been a challenge—to put it lightly—trying to figure out how to work around her broken heart ever since. The thought of not having to see her sad face day after day is a good one to say the least.

The elevator dings, the doors slide open, and I step inside. Now, if only I could figure out how to get rid of Bree Marshall, things around McDougall & Kent will be looking up for sure. With zero distractions and even less drama, I can dedicate myself to reminding everyone just how good I am at my job.

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