Page 188 of One Bad Idea
Finally, at six, I began gathering my things to leave for the day.
Whether Jaden realized it or not, the last two days had only confirmed what I'd been thinking all week.
I couldn’t continue to work here.
Everything was so twisted up with my own personal feelings that I was having a hard time acting remotely professional. I couldn’t help but recall how I'd acted when Luna had shown up out of the blue.
I'd almost lost it.
Was that how a normal employee behaved?
No. It wasn't.
I was just heading out of my office when I heard the phone ringing at my desk. I dropped my stuff and practically sprinted to pick it up.
It was Jaden.
Thank God.
But then, he skipped the whole message thing entirely and went straight to the point. "Time's up."
I frowned. "What?"
"The flight leaves tomorrow. Are you gonna be on it or not?"
I felt my jaw clench. "Well, hello to you, too."
In a tight voice, he said, "Hello. Now answer the question."
Even for Jaden, this wassounacceptable. I said, "And what if the answer's no? What then?"
His only reply was a muttered curse.
I said, "Oh, that's nice."
"If you want nice," he said, "you've got the wrong guy."
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think. It was true that part of the reason I loved him was that hewasn'tMister Softie, but did hehaveto rub my nose in it?
I heard myself say, "Or maybeyouhave the wrong girl."
"What?"
"I'm just saying, it cuts both ways."
"Alright. If that's the way you want it."
I made a sound of frustration. "No. It'snotthe way I want it. Haven't you been listening?"
"I've heard plenty."
His attitude was beyond infuriating. It was like talking to a brick wall. "Alright," I said, "here's something youhaven'theard. Do you know that no one here ever talks to me?"
He paused. "What?"
"Yeah. That's right. Oh sure, they're perfectly lovely whenever I'm withyou. But when I’m on my own? Cripes, they might as well spit on me." My voice rose. "Haven't you noticed that I have no friends? That no one except Morgan ever stops by my office to pass the time? That I'm not invited to any party for cake or whatever?"
Sounding genuinely surprised, he said, "What are you talking about?"
