Page 92 of Break My Heart
‘Hello?’ I yell, hoping someone didn’t break in. There shouldn’t be anyone here. My staff doesn’t come in until this afternoon.
‘Sawyer?’ a guy yells back. Wade appears, coming out of the office. ‘Hey, man, I thought you were going to be at the orchard all day.’
‘I’m heading there in a few minutes.’ I walk up to him. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘You told me to come in this morning.’
‘I did?’
‘Yeah. Last night. You said Tom is bringing t-shirts over this morning. I thought that meant I was supposed to be here to let him in.’
‘No, I was just letting you know we’d be getting more today in case someone asked. Sorry, I should’ve made that clear.’
‘Don’t worry about it. So you want me to leave?’
I pause to think about that. I could send him home and come back later to do the orders, or I could let Wade do them. He’s been here for months and I haven’t been letting him do the orders or any of the paperwork. It’s part of his job as the manager, but I keep doing it myself. But like Nick said, I hired a manager so I wouldn’t have to do everything.
‘Any chance you could stay?’ I ask. ‘Maybe for a couple hours?’
‘Sure. I’m already here. Just tell me what you need me to do.’
I take him in the office and start up the computer.
‘I’m going to have you do the order for next week,’ I say as the order screen pops up. ‘Have you used this system before?’
‘Yeah, at my last job.’
‘Okay, so really all you have to do is a quick inventory of the storeroom and then order whatever we need. I’ve already made a list.’ I hand it to him. ‘Just double check it and add whatever’s missing.’
‘Got it, boss.’
My phone rings. I check it, see Gina’s name, and silence the call.
‘You’re not going to answer it?’ Wade asks. My phone is on the desk and Wade saw Gina’s name on the screen.
‘Not right now,’ I say, getting up.
I need to cool off before I talk to her. I’m still furious she lied to me about her ex. She said they’re not together, but then I find him with her at G’s. And he was there a few weeks ago. Both times she cancelled our plans, telling me she had to work, when she was really with her boyfriend.
Why would she do this? Why would she date me when she’s already dating someone else? Am I just her fill-in boyfriend for when the other guy isn’t around? She made me fall for her, got close to my family—and the whole time she was dating some other guy.
‘You two have a fight?’ Wade asks.
‘I don’t want to get into it.’
‘It’s probably for the best,’ he says, sitting down in front of the computer. ‘I can’t see her sticking around. You’d be better off finding someone in town.’
‘Why do you think she’s not sticking around?’
He shrugs. ‘She’s not getting any business. Every time I drive by there, the parking lot is empty.’
‘That’s just because of the festival. Everyone’s downtown thisweekend. People don’t want to drive out to G’s for a beer when they could get one here.’
‘Yeah, maybe, or maybe they just like this place better.’ He looks at the laptop screen. ‘This shouldn’t take long. I’ll have the order in before noon.’
‘Thanks.’ I walk to the door. ‘If you have any questions, just give me a call.’
‘Will do. See ya, boss.’
