Page 93 of Lovesick
All the thoughts that had filled my head before vanished all at once. The vacuum they left behind allowed the pain in.
The crushing sensation of love was every bit as excruciating as I’d feared.
* * *
Somehow, I shoved JJ into a small box in the back of my mind, packed all my belongings, and forced myself back to Mark’s desk in the office.
Once there, I kept my head down. The soft strains of Bocelli sang to me in the background and made my eyes hot. There was maybe an hour left of work that had to be done in the office, then everything Mark needed me to do from Adventura would be complete. The rest I’d do remotely.
Because I couldn’t stand one more second of JJ’s delicious smell. Not after I’d broken his heart.
JJ had disappeared, but I kept my head tucked to my chest and the chair on the shortest possible setting so the computer hid my face. I’d even thrown on a pair of old, fake glasses just to obscure my puffy eyes a little more.
Twenty minutes later, I sent Mav a text.
Lizbeth:Can you come get me? I’m all done at Adventura and can move back home. The rest of the work can be done remotely.
Maverick:Everything okay?
Lizbeth:Yep!
My entire body choked on the lie, but I sent it anyway. Things were okay between me and Mark. The erupting volcano was withinme.
Maverick:I’m on my way home from Jackson City in a little bit. I can be there in less than an hour.
My heart clenched as I responded with trembling hands.
Lizbeth:Perfect. See you then.
One more hour,I thought as I shoved my phone into my pocket.One more hour.
I perused a few binders I’d made for Mark. Double-checked everything in the desk. Reviewed my spreadsheet full of strikethrough font and color-coded descriptions of where each project stood. Almost all of them were done, so I updated the online interface with his business information to make sure I had it all so I could work remotely without having to call and hear their voices.
Puttering, that was it. I puttered around, trying to find something to keep me here. I would close out my life here today and be justified. Yet, my fingers wouldn’t stop checking everything again. Maybe I’d find something to tether me to this place that felt so much like home.
Twenty minutes until JJ isn’t a part of my life,I thought.
No,I almost snapped.Stop it. Don’t say his name.
Nineteen minutes until freedom.
Eighteen minutes until that lovely, breathless feeling in the pit of my stomach never comes back.
Frustrated, I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and stood up. This was the price I’d pay. Mama chased men. I wouldn’t. Then I’d never be like her. In the end, it would be worth it.
Mark walked into the room, a triumphant expression on his face. Fatigue lines lay beneath his jubilance.
Interesting.
No, I thought.NOT interesting. Not my business now, either.
“Lizzy!” he sang, drawing out every vowel in an annoying chant. He did this every morning. I’d desperately miss it.
“Yes?”
“I may have another job for you.”
My heart shriveled. “What?”
