Page 35 of Broken Omega

“I can barely hear you.”

“That’s because I’m trying to be discreet. Most people don’t use their phones while they’re in the bathroom.”

“That’s debatable.”

She sighs. “Seriously, what the fuck did you do?”

“How do you even know about this? Aren’t you supposed to be off work?”

“I’m using up my vacation days. I got Paula to temp for me. She’s a friend of my sister’s and she knows I have a friend named Kellan, so when she heard your name, she texted to let me know you were getting yourself in trouble.” She lets out another soft sigh. “I’m in the bathroom at my mom’s place because it’s the only way I can get any privacy, but if you don’t start talking soon, my sisters are going to make up pregnancy rumors or whatever and that’s not a headache I want, so …”

“Right. Sorry. I spoke to Geraldine,” I tell her, not sure I want to admit to much more than that. “She basically told me to get lost, so I might have been harassing her, blowing up the academy phone lines all day.”

Now that I say it out loud, it sounds kind of crazy.

She lets out a groan. “Seriously, K? I can’t believe this. I take a one lousy long weekend off work, and you take it as a green light to go nuclear on my boss?”

“I wasn’t thinking,” I admit. “Does Geraldine know we’re friends?”

I feel like shit for dragging her into this. I never should have done that. If she loses her job, I’m going to owe her so much more than a fancy car.

“Thankfully, no, but I’d appreciate it if you’d quit calling her now. The longer it goes on, the more likely it is that she finds something I did that helped you, and that’s when it could become an actual real problem for me.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Lana.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she tells me. “Just stop making those calls, okay?”

I let out a sigh. “She rejected my application again, and she told me I’d never be accepted. I know the criteria is a big mystery, but I can’t let go of this unless I know what’s going on. Why I’m being rejected even if I could solve the problem she’s having with Brooke.”

“You know something, you’re a real pain in my ass,” Lana says. “But leave it with me, okay? Stop calling, and when I’m at work tomorrow I’ll see what I can find out.”

“She never tells you why she rejects someone.”

“Well, that someone also never harasses her over the phone. She’ll be pissy about it. I can guarantee it. I’ll ask what happened, and she might let something slip.”

“I’m done with mights and maybes, Lana. I need to know. I … I can’t move on unless I know what’s so damn wrong with me that she’s refusing to give me a chance.”

“I’ll find out. I promise. Now stop calling.”

She hangs up, and my fingers itch.

Immediately, I want to call the academy again. I don’t want to wait another second.

I set my original phone down on the nightstand and toss the new one on the carpet.

Forcing myself to lay down on the bed, I try to relax.

Sleeping would while away the time, if only I could stop my thoughts from swirling.

It’s no use. I give up after a few minutes and get up. Pulling my gym kit together, I decide the only way I’m going to get through today’s hell is to keep my body busy.

It’s physically painful to make myself leave the phone in the bedroom, but I need to let go of the urge to keep trying.

It feels like I’m being tested.

Walking away doesn’t need to mean I’m failing.

Cursing under my breath, I pick up my keys and leave.

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