Page 7 of Accidentally Yours

“Are you okay, boss?” she asked.

“Honestly, Christine. I don’t know.”

* * *

Willa

It had been two weeks since Liam and I broke up. I packed my stuff and stayed with Matt and James until I figured things out. I was in a dark place, but I found a few things that helped get me out of it. I glanced over at the half-empty bottle of wine on my nightstand and then at my phone, where I had Pinterest open, and a board I put together titledIt Gets Better, filled with break-up quotes.

When I finally climbed out of bed, it was two p.m. I threw on some clothes, brushed my hair, and headed to the store. Last night, a friend of mine called me sobbing that her boyfriend had broken up with her. I knew all too well the hell she was going through, so I thought I’d buy a few things, box them up, and send them to her with the hopes it would ease her pain.

Walking through Target, I searched for the things that helped me. Soon, my cart contained snacks, chocolate, a candle, a bath bomb, fuzzy socks, and a journal with self-love quotes. As I put the box together, I hand-wrote a note to stick inside:He wasn’t that great anyway.

“How was your day?” Matt walked through the door and kissed my cheek. “Any luck on the job front?”

“No. I think I have to move to a new city,” I said.

“What?” He chuckled. “Why?”

“Because word has already gotten around about my error, and now I’m un-hirable.”

“That is not true, Willa.”

I picked up my glass of wine from the island and tipped it to my lips, savoring the taste of a newly opened bottle.

“Yes, it is. Alexis called me today while I was at Target and told me she had overheard my ex-boss telling one of the firms I interviewed with this week that they would be better off giving the job to someone else.”

“What an asshole. I’m sorry, Willa. What’s all this?”

“A breakup box.”

“A what?” His face twisted.

“Ramona called me last night. Ben broke up with her, and she’s a mess. I’m hoping this will make her feel better.”

“What a great idea.” He grinned. “And you’re not moving to a new city.” He kissed the side of my head. “You’ll figure things out. Maybe it’s time for a career change.”

“And what would I do? I’m a legal secretary. That’s what I went to school for.”

“But you started as a marketing major. Do you remember when we were little, and my mom and I stayed with you and your parents after my dad took all of our money and ran?”

“Yeah. I remember.”

“And what did you do?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Matt.” I sighed.

“You set up a lemonade stand every day that entire summer. And when summer ended, you gave my mom all the money you earned because you felt bad for us. Even as a child, you were helping people. You hug random strangers when you feel they need one. You give money to the homeless when you see them. You help people, Willa. Start a business. Go to the bank, get a business loan, make these boxes, and sell them online.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Nobody wants these boxes. It’s for a friend. She’ll probably hate it.”

“You always doubt yourself, Willa. I was just throwing the idea out there. I have to go take a shower.”

I taped the box, attached the label with her name and address, and set it aside to take to the post office tomorrow.

* * *

Damien

---