Page 11 of Wild For You
“Can you work with a different sport or field entirely?”
“I could. I’m just partial to baseball, you know, because of my dad.”
My father had been an avid Bears fan, and we went to as many games as he could afford. Working for the Bears had always been my dream.
“I guess that’s what sucks the most about this entire thing… I won’t ever get to work for my dad’s favorite team again. All because of my asshole ex.”
“I’m so sorry, Kelsey. You know you’re welcome to visit me in Knoxville too.”
Chuckling, I said, “Yeah, right. I have zero desire to have a front-row seat in Talon’s and your love nest again.”
“Aw, we’d behave.” She grins. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I can arrange some time in my schedule, or if you want to head to Ashfield, maybe I can meet up with you there.”
“Okay, that sounds good. Though, I really do need to find another job. Especially since Mom has been contacting me again.” I let the info slip without thinking but then realized if I were going to tell anyone, it would’ve been Rory.
“Things okay with your mom?”
“Yeah, things are just… not as easy as I hoped.” Especially since she pretty much drained my savings whenever she called. That was going to be a tricky situation I’d have to navigate.
I didn’t let Rory know how my mother was using up all my savings. It was something I was embarrassed about.
In the background, I heard Talon call for his wife, and I ended my call with her after promising I’d message her later and let her know where I was applying for jobs.
After an hour of scrolling through online job postings, it looked like any prospects would likely take me across the country unless I wanted to switch my field of work from baseball to golf. And while I enjoyed the sport, golf was not something I was passionate about. I’d even take working for a college-level baseball team at this point, but being the middle of a school year, many weren’t looking for replacements.
What am I going to do?
My stomach growled loudly as I gave up my search and switched on my television to a true crime show I’d becomeaddicted to recently. Caleb thought it was stupid, but now I didn’t have to explain why I enjoyed it.
While the show ran through its intro, I stalked my cabinets for something to eat, but nothing seemed appetizing. Did I need to spend any money on takeout now that I was without a job? No. Did my stomach sound like it was about to hold its own revolution if I didn’t order Chinese? Yes. And I was not one to argue with my stomach. Thankfully, the Chinese restaurant was only a block away and promised to deliver my Kung-Pow chicken and wonton soup in the next ten minutes.
I was midway through my show when the deliveryman buzzed from the lobby. I let him up, and I swore I could smell the fragrant meal before he even reached my door.
I thanked the server and gave him a hefty tip before nearly devouring the meal in my entryway. It took all my strength to bring it over to my coffee table and settle in like a normal human being.
Just as I finished one episode and waited for another to begin, there was a knock at my door. No one had buzzed up from the lobby for approval, so I could only assume it was Caleb here to collect his items. He and Rory were the only ones on my approval list—something I was going to have to remedy sooner rather than later.
Begrudgingly, I set my dinner aside and headed toward the door. Thankfully, I already put his few things together and I wouldn’t have to ransack my apartment for his stuff.
Opening the door, I came face-to-face with a bored-looking Caleb staring down at his phone. I recognized he was wearing one of those smirks he got when he was watching something he thought was funny. Usually, it involved someone getting hurt or maimed in a video.
“Caleb,” I said as I opened the door.
“Hold up,” he replied, eyes still glued to his phone as if I was inconveniencing him, even though he was the one standing at my door.
I used to brush aside his attitude, but now I’d had enough.
“No.”
Caleb’s attention finally left his phone as he focused his narrowed gaze on me. “Don’t need to be a bitch, Kelsey.”
“I do when you’re the one at my door interruptingmynight.”
He made a grumbling noise before he added, “Like you have anything interesting going on. I bet you’re watching some reality show and eating ice cream while you cry.”
Caleb was a fucking asshole. I didn’t know how I hadn’t seen it before. He always put me down, but it was in ways that I saw the comments as playful. Now, I knew better. Caleb had always been ready to bolt.
Maybe that’s why I was more upset over the downfall of mycareerthan my relationship.
