Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
The person I do want to talk to is Spencer, but I can’t reach out, and I can’t bring myself to answer his calls. Not that I’ve gotten one in a while. I’m thinking maybe he has given up on me. Malia says I should just call him, but that’s easier said than done. I told her about the whole keeping that door locked thing, and she thinks it’s silly, but both she and Abby respect my decision.
It’s good that Abby is on board because I’m still living in her spare room. I bought a clunker car for a couple of thousand dollars, dipping into my savings because Malia and I haven’t gotten my car here yet. I’d hate to sell it since we’ve had so many great memories, but that is starting to feel like my only option.
I’m trying not to feel totally hopeless, but it’s hard. I thought if I just forced myself to get back into a routine, I might be happy again, but that hasn’t happened yet, and it’s not just because I miss Spencer. I miss all of California and the life I started to develop there. I came out of my shell on the other side of the country, and now I’m right back into it.
After I finish up my lunch, I head back to the office. As soon as I walk through the door, Rebecca calls out for me to meet her in the office.
I sigh. This isn’t going to be good.
“Hey, Leila, how are you doing?”
“I’m okay. Still working on Deborah’s bathroom project.”
“You’ve had that for over a week now. Bathrooms can’t take that long.”
“I know; I just haven’t found the right combination of colors yet. I’ll get it done today.”
“I’m starting to worry about you, Leila. I gave you time to adjust, but your work here has been slacking. You’re keeping up with Frills West, and that’s great, but I’ve had multiple client complaints about how slow you’re going here. Thankfully, I’ve been able to hold them off, but you need to get your act together.”
“I’m really sorry. I’m trying, but … I guess assimilating back hasn’t been as easy as I expected.”
“I know, but I can’t keep you on if your work doesn’t improve. You have one more month. I need to see some genuine changes in you.”
I blink away the tears that threaten to fall. I can’t lose this job, especially not like this.
“And, if you decide to go back to California, you let me know before that month is up. I haven’t started to replace you there yet, but I’ll have to if you’re sticking around at Frills East.”
I nod. “Okay. I promise I won’t let you down.”
I slink back to my desk and force myself to finish every open project I have, including the ones I was just assigned within the last few days. They’ll require some in-person tweaks, but I’m happy with what I’m left with when it’s time for me to leave for the day. I’m the last person, aside from Rebecca, who gives me an approving nod when I finally pack up my desk.
Just four months ago, I was on cloud nine. I had an amazing boyfriend, new friends in Los Angeles, an apartment that worked for Shiloh and me, and a job I genuinely loved, and it felt like my life had finally found the perfect balance.
So how did I end up back at square one? Sure, I still have my friends, but that’s pretty much it. I can’t find an apartment here that will allow Shiloh and the ones that do don’t have anywhere for me to walk him. He needs space like the dog park at our California complex. I can’t afford a house, even a rental, which is why I’m stuck with Abby until I can figure something out.
When I get back to her apartment, Abby and Shiloh are lounging together on the couch. I scratch my dog’s ears and flop down beside them.
“Rough day?”
“Rebecca will fire me in a month if I don’t get back to my old self.”
“What? She said that?”
“Yep. And I can’t find an apartment, and my life is in shambles!”
Abby puts an arm around my shoulder. “You don’t want to hear this, but maybe you haven’t found a place because you want to go back to California.”
“It doesn’t matter. My lease at the old apartment is already up.”
“There’s still availability in the complex, though.”
“You looked?”
“Only because I’m worried about you, and so is Malia. I’ve tried to back off these last few months, but I’m beginning to think you need an intervention or something.”
I laugh. “That’s dramatic. I got so much done today. Maybe I just needed Rebecca’s threat to light a fire underneath me. She did say if I want to go back to Frills West, I can.”