Page 18 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
“I bet she’s wonderful.” I nearly choked on my words. “And I was remiss in not congratulating you.”Barf.
“Aw, thanks.” Her tone was no longer defensive. “I know you have to be stressed beyond belief.”
“Ha. Me. Never. Ice water in my veins.” I sat up straighter as I spoke, as if it would make the words true.
Marta chuckled. “Sure you do. Well, I just called to check on you. I wanted to let you know I’m here if you need to talk.”
Typical Marta. After my jackass moves, she was right there offering her help.
“Thanks, but I’m good. Real good. In fact, I’m thinking of taking some time off—an extended vacation.”
“Really? That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah, Emma’s been after me, but I’m still trying to figure it all out.”
“How fun.” I imagined her clapping her hands like she did when she was excited. “I miss Emma. But I love seeing her posts on Instagram. Her and the family. I hesitated commenting, unsure if it was okay.”
Marta still followed Emma?Instead, I said, “You should comment. Emma would love that.”
“Ya think?”
And just like that, Marta shifted the conversation away from my struggles to Emma.
I’d paced around my apartment for an hour after ending my call with Marta, but no epiphany came. In my dark mood, the view of Central Park didn’t inspire me. Today, it just looked like a sad spot of green surrounded by buildings.
Damn it.I needed to end this pity party. Big deal if my ex-girlfriend was getting married. It wasn’t like we were compatible, anyway.
It was all Terrence’s fault. This thing with Fortitude had me messed up, but I’d show them. I stomped into my office and grabbed the bag I’d abandoned. For a second, I considered drop kicking it across the room.Mature.Instead, I carried it to my desk and tossed it on top.
It hadn’t escaped me I’d not unpacked it. Since it contained only two items, it wouldn’t have taken me long. Still, it sat in the corner untouched. Before opening it, I took a deep breath. I could do this.
I pulled out the picture and set it to the left of my computer. It wasn’t centered, so I pushed it a few centimeters.Nope.With the tip of my finger, I nudged it.Perfect.The picture was from our trip to Disney World when I was eleven. It was taken before my world turned upside down. Emma and I wore Mickey Mouse ears and sported huge smiles. Mom and Auntie Bess had on Goofy ears, and their smiles were even bigger than ours.
I turned away from the picture and took out my cherished notebook. I hesitated to open it, not wanting to be taunted by the empty checkbox next toBecome CEO of a multimillion-dollar company.
My heart raced. What if I’d checked the box, and then I hadn’t gotten the job?Seriously?Doubtful that the notebook policewould arrest me for improper checking. No, maybe it would be the ambition militia, citing me for falsifying accomplishments.
Now on top of losing my job, I was losing my mind. I slammed the notebook on my desk and glared at it. After several seconds of it innocently staring back at me, I flipped it open. I grabbed a pen, clicked the ballpoint out, and held it over the offensive item. The pen dug into my fingertips as I gripped it tighter. I’d cross the son of a bitch out.
There was only one other item I’d ever scratched out. I flipped back a page and stared at the entry.
Get a pet—cat or dog.
Early in my career, I’d deemed it unattainable with my ambitions, so I’d crossed it out years ago. In weaker moments, I wished I’d used a pencil instead of a pen. But it was the practical choice. I lacked time for the complications of a pet. While I could hire someone to care for Rover or Tabby, what life would they have? No, it was for the best.
I flipped back to the page withBecome a CEO,and my pen hovered over the entry. My hand shook, and I dropped my pen. I needed to get a grip. One setback wouldn’t defeat me. After all, I had a full spreadsheet of potential leads. I closed the notebook and swept it into my desk drawer. Time to dig deeper into my shortlist of potential suitors.
After two fruitless hours, my eyes were blurry, and I was no closer to an answer than when I’d sat down.Fuck.What was wrong with me? Perhaps Emma had a point. Was I burned out? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a vacation.
I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. It might even help. Make them hungry for me to join their firms. It’d give me more negotiating power if I appeared aloof and a touch uninterested. Leaning back in my chair, I imagined the places we could go.
An Olivia Cruise? I pursed my lips. Would they let Emma on board? I rolled my eyes. I doubted they demanded proof of lesbianism or bisexuality to board the ship. What would I show them for proof? I didn’t wear Doc Martens; I didn’t dress my pets up like children, and I hated Home Depot. My absurd thoughts lightened my mood—slightly.
Perhaps the South of France or even Hawaii. I nodded, starting to accept that it wasn’t a horrible idea. My dream job would still be waiting for me when I returned. I’d be refreshed and ready to hit the ground running. Fortitude and Marta wouldn’t get the best of me. I’d show them both.
I snatched my phone from my desk before I could change my mind.
“Hey,” Emma said on the first ring. “Ready to take an adventure with me?”
