Page 9 of Never With You
I had my trip all planned out. I was staying three extra days after the event ended so I could go canyoning, caving, zip-lining, and rafting. It was going to be a wild ride—just how I like it. But thanks to Nate, those tours were ripped out from under me.
“Where will the pallet of rice be?” I force myself to focus on the task at hand. “Down in the kitchen, or will Charlotte have it with the rest of the event supplies in the hospitality room? Sorry, I’m asking so many questions. I won’t be there, and the guy in charge has the IQ of a five-year-old, so I need to give himveryspecific instructions, or he’ll mess it up.”
“We can take the pallet of rice to Charlotte.”
“Perfect.” I make a note on the paper in front of me. “That sounds easiest.”
“What do you need all these rice bags for anyway?”
My shoulders fall. “Rucking.”
“Rucking?”
“It’s a long story.” I attempt to wind down the call. “Thank you, Arthur. You totally saved me.”
“No problem, miss.”
“Okay, goodbye.”
I hang up and silently stare off into space.
Today, I hate my job.
No, I take that back.
Today, I hate Nate. The sentiment even rhymes, making it easier to roll off the tongue.
My gaze flips to his office. His door is shut, but I can see his feet kicked up on his desk through the side panel window. Naturally, he’s relaxing while the rest of us work.
I’ve avoided him the last two days since he told me I was off the New Zealand trip. Tasks are getting done, but I prefer to communicate only through email. Face-to-face combat is out of the question.
I wiggle my mouse, open my work email, and begin typing.
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: Rucking
Nate,
Charlotte (your contact at the hotel) will have all your rucking supplies. There are fifty-five backpacks (withSassy Scrapbooking’s logo on them) and fifty-five thirty-pound bags of rice that you can put inside the backpacks for the weight. I’ve attached a map and directions to a local trail you can hike along.
Regards,
Carly Catterson
Event Coordinator
Voyager Travel Events
I crossruckingoff my list with a satisfied sigh and look at what’s still left to do.
“Hey, Carly.” Rodney stands next to my desk with a stack of folders in his arms. He’s another sales executive and much more tolerable than Nate.
“Hi, Rodney.” Despite my awful day, I push a smile onto my lips. “What’s all that?” My eyes drop to the massive pile he’s holding.
