Page 95 of Unexpected Kisses

“AJ said he’s a misogynist and doesn’t deem me worthy of using my name. Which was completely shocking to me because I’ve never found Eric to be like that. He’s a great boss. Fair and flexible with the staff. Admittedly, there are only two women in the company and both hold secretarial-type positions.”

“Sounds like he might be to me.”

“But then AJ wanted me to give up my job to raise our baby, doesn’t that make him the same?”

Mel shrugs. “Depends what his reasons are and why he said it. To me, it sounded like he was saying it to give you options. He probably knows you well enough and realized you’d break things off with him to keep your job. But think about this, Sare. If you break things off with AJ to keep your job and he becomes your boss, you’ll have to work with him every single day. Will you be able to do that? Knowing what the two of you share and what you’ve given up, could you be happy seeing him every day and not be able to touch him?” She chews on her bottom lip. “How will you feel if he starts dating someone else?”

I drag my hair around to one side and fiddle with it, feeling sick to my stomach at the thought of AJ with someone else, while I think about Mel’s questions. She’s right, dammit. This is why I love her. She knows me so well that she knows exactly how and why I respond to things the way I do. “It’ll kill me,” I finally whisper.

“Then why can’t you have the manandthe job?” She squeezes my arm. “He obviously adores you, Sare. Why would you give that up? Jobs come and go, but love … true, deep, lasting love, that’s not so easy to find.”

Tears burst forth again, pouring over my lashes and down my cheeks. “Oh my God, I’ve made a terrible mistake, Mel.” I press my face into my hands. God, I’m stupid. As if a job is worth more than AJ. “It was a knee-jerk reaction to hold onto my job. I’m so used to having to take care of myself and plan for my future.”

I’m not sure how long we sit in silence on Mel’s couch before her stomach growls loudly, breaking through my haze. I look at my best friend: sitting beside me, comforting me, giving up her sleep for me. I’ve got to be the luckiest girl in the world to have Mel as my best friend. I pat her leg and climb to my feet, shaking out the pins and needles in my left foot so I can actually put it on the floor without tipping over. “How about I make us something to eat and you can shower and get ready for work?”

She shows me her gorgeous straight teeth and nods. “Sure, that’d be great.”

She heads off to her bedroom, and I step into her kitchen, ready to look after my best friend. Opening her fridge leaves me scratching my head. It’s pretty bare, but I think I can make us both an omelet. By the time she comes out, dressed in her cute pink scrubs with baby elephants on them, I have two omelets plated and ready to eat. I quickly pour Mel a coffee and we sit at her two-seater dining table pushed against the window to eat.

Mel moans around a forkful of food. “Delicious, Sare. I always love your cooking.”

I chuckle. “Only because you don’t cook. Your fridge looks like it belongs in a bachelor pad.”

She shrugs. “I’m not here all that much. The food spoils if I have too much stuff.” She takes another bite and then swallows, locking her gaze on me. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to sleep on it tonight because I need to plan how I’m going to apologize properly to AJ. I need to be clear about what I’m going to say. I’ll talk with him after work tomorrow. Hopefully, he’s the forgiving type and won’t hate me too much for my behavior today. I only wish I respond better when I’m blindsided like I was. I’m not proud of my actions, Mel. I’m really ashamed of myself. He’s been nothing but supportive and caring toward me.”

“We all make mistakes, Sare. You’re not the first and you definitely won’t be the last. It’s how you take responsibility for it that matters.”

“Thanks, Mel.” I lean across and give my girl a hug, then shoo her out the door for her shift. “I’m sorry you didn’t get your sleep today.”

“That’s okay. I’m glad I could be there for you. I probably won’t see you tomorrow. So, good luck.”

“Thanks.” We hug goodbye. She heads to work and I clean up from our meal.

* * *

After minimal sleep last night because I was missing AJ so much, work was awful today. It felt like it was never going to end, and all I wanted to do was get to AJ. I’m so churned up about seeing him, that I couldn’t bear to eat anything for fear it would make a reappearance. This whole situation has me questioning everything. AJ hasn’t messaged me and I’m second-guessing my plan to go over to his house to apologize. Maybe he’s thankful he’s finally free of me. After all, I was just a stranger he offered to help.

I take a deep breath and reach up a shaky hand to press AJ’s doorbell. The sound is empty, reminding me of how I feel knowing I’ve hurt AJ. I spin on my heel to peer down the street while I wait for an answer. I can’t hear anyone making their way to the door, so I ring again and wait.

No answer.

I have a key I could use, but it feels all kinds of wrong to walk inside his home after the way we left things and I packed up and moved out. I’m kicking myself for my overreaction yesterday. If I’d only taken a moment to think things through properly. He must think I value my job more than I value him and the relationship we were building.

When there’s still no answer, I wander around to the side entrance, the one he uses for the business. I knock on the door and I don’t have to wait long before I hear footsteps moving close. It swings inward, revealing Dylan. He tips his chin at me and steps back inside, leaving the door open, I assume so I can follow him.

“Hi.” My voice comes out shaky.

“Hey. AJ’s not here.” Dylan’s frosty greeting adds to my anxiety about speaking with AJ. He leans against a desk, crossing his arms over his chest and his feet at his ankles. His stance is one of careless relaxation, but there’s an undertone of annoyance.

“Oh. Any idea when he’ll be back?”

He shrugs. “Nope. He said he needed some space, so he’s gone camping to climb.”

Shit! That’s not good. I was hoping to sort this out today. “Do you know where he went?”

“Nope. And I’ve tried to call him, but he’s out of range.”

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