Page 71 of Love & Other Disasters

“Whatever,” she huffed, jerking open her car door.

Violet let her leave and stood in her gravel driveway staring down the road long after Monique’s taillights disappeared.

“Are you all right?” Jordan asked as she entered. He sat on her couch, dressed in his suit for the day. He’d transformed from casual and fun into serious, covered in armor, ready to go out and fight for the company.

Violet shrugged and wandered into the kitchen, and found the coffee ready, and poured a cup.

Jordan’s arms slid around her; his heat enveloped her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered nuzzling his face into her hair and planting a kiss on her neck. “Is there anything I can do?”

Go back in time and change everything. “I hurt my friend by keeping this from her, and there’s not anything I can do about that. And the reason I couldn’t tell her hasn’t changed. I still can’t talk to her.” Violet blew into her mug, took a sip, and grimaced at the bitterness.

J.P. retrieved the creamer and handed it to her. “What are you going to do?”

Violet dumped the creamer into the black liquid until it was creamy looking. “I will drink my coffee and get ready to go do my job.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” J.P. slid his arms around her again.

“I don’t think so,” she closed her eyes and leaned back against him. “It’s best if you stay out of it.”

J.P. nuzzled her neck again. “I could fire her,” he said, flashing a cheesy grin. He joked at a time like this.

“Oh, splendid idea, that won’t lead to a giant scandal and lawsuit.”

He laughed, turning his arm. They both noticed the time on his wristwatch. “I need to go, babe.”

“Yeah I’m late for work, too, and I can’t just come waltzing in late now.”

“You’re never late,” he said and kissed the top of her head, letting go. She missed his warmth.

“Fire me,” she blurted out.

“What?” Jordan turned at the kitchen door.

“She thinks I’m screwing you to save my job… so fire me.”

“And let her think I retaliated? No way. Look, I have a meeting. Don’t do anything drastic. We’ll talk about it later.” He crossed the room, kissed her, and left.

Violet checked her phone for the first time that morning. A missed call and voicemail from her mom.

“Violet, it’s your mother. What on earth has gotten into you? I need it out right this minute, young lady. You apologize to me and your sister. This is getting ridiculous. I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish. Your behavior is childish and unacceptable. You didn’t even act like this when you were a child. You always apologized like the good girl—” Violet deleted the voice message.

Jordan pulled out of Violet’s driveway deep in thought. How could he fix this? He didn’t want to break it off with Violet, and maybe that was selfish, but she hadn’t suggested breaking up, only terminating her employment. If he eliminated her position, she would qualify for unemployment. Not that he’d let her struggle with bills if it came down to that. But what if she decided that he wasn’t worth the hassle?

The phone ring blared through the car speakers. He cringed as Ethan’s name came up on the screen and answered.

“Busy?” Ethan asked as a greeting.

“Driving to work. What’s up?”

“We need to talk about Mom,” he said.

“How often are you checking in on her?”

“As often as I can, but with work, the kids, and Celeste is pregnant.”

“Have you considered birth control? That might help.”

“Don’t be an ass. I’m the one stuck here having to tend to everything while you’re off living it up with no responsibilities.”

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