Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Nancy and Robert look at me with some concern, and I almost immediately regret saying anything.
I sigh, pushing the hair that has fallen into my face back.
“It’s not that big of a deal, guys. I shouldn’t have said anything.” I need to get my ass home, take a long hot shower, and then get some sleep. “I think I’m going to–”
“No, no, no. Stay.” Nancy holds her hands up, willing me to stop. “We’re going to talk about this, Brick. Robert told me about you and Tammy and a little bit of what’s going on. I mean, this is a big deal. In all the years I’ve worked for you, you’ve never taken a week off for a woman! There was that one time with your mother, but never for something like this. What’s happening here is a big deal and needs to be discussed.”
“I agree with Nancy,” Robert adds.
I look at these two people who have essentially strong-armed me into hanging out with them, and now they’re refusing to let me leave unless I bare my soul.
Or at the very least, talk about my relationship problems. Which I have never done before. Why would I? Like Nancy said, I’ve never been in a situation like this before.
“Fine. What do I say?” I don’t even know how people do this.
Nancy looks at me like I’m an idiot. Regarding something like this, she wouldn’t be wrong.
“Tell us about what’s going on with you two. Like why she was in bed for a week,” Nancy pushes. “And was she literally in bed for a week? Did she not get up at all?”
“She got up occasionally but rarely. And we didn’t talk about the why, but I’m assuming it has to do with what happened with her parents.”
“George Thompson, right? One of our editors. Or used to be. He hasn’t been at work in a week. I’m guessing it has something to do with you and Tammy.”
“You’re rather perceptive, Nancy.”
“I’ve been working for you for over ten years, Brick. If I haven’t started picking up on certain cues by now, that would be a problem.”
Nancy is the best there is. She does so much around the office. There’s a very high chance our company would start falling apart if we suddenly didn’t have her anymore.
“And to answer your question, yes. The woman I’m dating is George Thompson’s daughter. We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, and last week, her parents found out. They did not take it well. Harsh words were said, and then Tammy came to stay with me, but our relationship feels different now. It is different. We’re living together now, I guess.”
I hadn’t really thought about how quickly this has all gone down. Tammy and I only reacquainted a few months ago, and now she’s living with me.
“Wow, that’s fast,” Nancy comments as if she has read my mind. Robert nods in agreement.
“I was surprised to hear it myself,” he adds.
“It’s whatever,” I rub one of my eyes with my fingers. “But true. I don’t know what she wants. I thought things were going well, but this entire week has been weird.”
“Have you tried talking to her?”
“Yeah, of course,” I answer immediately. But then I furrow my brow because why is Nancy asking me that. “What do you mean talking to her?”
“Well, have you asked Tammy what she wants? Have you told her what you want? Do you know what you want?”
I fall back against my seat, thinking about what I’ve just heard. The alcohol sloshing around in my brain isn’t helping.
“No, we haven’t spoken about what happened.”
“Well, there’s your first problem!” Nancy laughs like I should have seen this was the problem from a mile away. “Talk to your girlfriend, see where the two of you are at, and then you can come back and talk to us if you still need help.”
“Such a simple solution. I’m surprised you didn’t think of it yourself,” Robert adds. I press my lips into a line because I know Robert’s being sassy. Either way, it’s definitely time for me to get back home. If I’m going to have this majorly important conversation about the future of my relationship with Tammy, I need to be well rested.
“Okay, I’ll do what you two say. I need to get home,” I stand up, feeling dizzy almost instantly. “First, I’m going to call myself a taxi, head home, and get some sleep. Be at the top of my game for tomorrow.” I don’t know if all of my words are coming out the way I think they are coming out, but I’m leaving regardless.
I start to gather my things and notice that Nancy and Robert aren’t making any moves to leave.
“Are you guys coming?”
“No,” Robert shakes his head. “We’re going to hang out a little bit longer. You’ll be able to get home fine on your own, right?”