Page 125 of Fun Together
She looks up but doesn’t stop typing as she says, “Eli. What can I do for you?”
I stall for a second to decide how to approach this conversation. “How do you do that? Keep typing while talking?”
She shrugs. “Lots of practice, I guess.”
“Impressive.” I step further into her office. “Do you have a minute?”
She rolls her chair around to face me and gestures to the chairs in front of her desk. “Sure, have a seat.”
I sit down. “I just talked to Faye.” My voice cracks on her name, and I clear my throat. “I didn’t know an email was going to her this morning, and I didn’t have a chance to speak with her before it went out.”
“Sorry about that, there must have been a miscommunication there.”
I fidget in my seat, steeling myself for what I want to say.
“Is there something else?” she asks impatiently.
“Yes, sorry. I’ve just been thinking. It’s just . . . well . . . I hate this job.”
Not exactly the most elegant way of putting it, but my chest unclenches a little after saying it, so I’m taking that tiny bit of relief while I can get it.
Her brow furrows. “You . . . hate it?”
“I really hate it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. What’s going on?”
“I just don’t think this is the company for me. Or the role for me, honestly.”
“I wish you had come to me sooner. Is there anything I can do to help? We really can’t afford to lose anyone right now.”
It’s not lost on me that she says “anyone” and not “we can’t afford to loseyouright now.”
I stand up. “Can you give me just a second?”
She’s so clearly bewildered by this conversation and my behavior, and I can’t blame her. But I need to check one thing before I do what I’m pretty sure I’m about to do.
“Okay . . .”
I step into the hallway outside of her office and walk over to the wall of windows that overlooks the courtyard. I dial Chris’ number.
“Hey Eli, what’s up?”
I hear dogs barking in the background. “Hey, sorry to call you while you’re working, but I had a question.”
“No worries, I’ve gotten pretty good at pretending I have an extra limb or two.”
“I’m sort of hoping I could help with that. Any chance you’re hiring?”
He lets out a surprised laugh. “Actually, yeah, I could use some help.”
“Any chance you want to hire me?”
“Yeah, let’s talk details at our game tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
I hang up and go back into Melissa’s office. “I think I’d like to quit.” I wait to feel regret after saying those words. But I feel relieved.
