that I was able to stumble into my jeans and t-shirt, slide on my tennis shoes, and shove a pair of reading glasses over my eyes to hide the evidence of tears. My hair went into a sloppy ponytail that sprouted curls like a chia pet down my back, but at least it was out of my face.
With every breath, I avoided thinking of Benjamin.
A brief review of last night after restless sleep didn't paint any prettier of a picture. Just thinking about what he said sent hot prickles back to my eyes. I pushed them back. Normally, I'd sleep off a spurt of heartbreak and be ready to plan the next stop in the morning. Today, I just felt groggy. Worse.
No, I could do this.
I'd go to work, pick up Ava, and live the same day I'd already lived many times. The end of the day, however, would be different this time. That was fine. I could figure this out. I'd done scarier things before.
When my phone buzzed, I snatched it off the floor so fast it flew out of my hands and I bobbled it for five seconds. Once it rested firmly in my clutches, Ben's name flashed across the screen. I had to stop and let out a long breath. My heart raced. A daydream of a text that said, I'm sorry, come back. I thought about it all night and I totally screwed up, slipped through my mind.
Finally, I rallied my courage and opened the stupid thing.
Benjamin: I realized while I was sick that I'm not as essential at work as I thought. I'm going to start leaving work at four, so Ava can come to the MMA Center after school and I'll take her home. Then I can spend more needed time with her. Hopefully this softens things for you a bit. I hope you're doing okay with everything. Let me know if I can help with Talmage.
Any hope in my chest withered and died.
He didn't need me.
And now he'd just taken Ava from me.
Like a machine, I grabbed my keys. My backpack. Parts of my heart died with every beat as I shut the door quietly behind me and slipped down the stairs.
Cool, morning air rushed across my face as I stepped outside and around the Frolicking Moose, headed toward the Diner. Cars slipped in and out of the drive-through of the Frolicking Moose while Ellie bustled around inside, surprisingly alert for such a starkly early hour. She gave me a quick wave through the windows as I passed the porch, her dark hair glossy in the growing daylight.
I stopped halfway across the parking lot and gazed across the street. The MMA Center cast light onto their parking lot in the still-quiet morning. A few early-morning bodies worked out at the equipment. I could just make out the figure of the woman I'd seen there before, running it instead of Ben.
My jaw tightened. Then I can spend more needed time with her. Yes, Benjamin absolutely needed to spend more time with Ava. Hadn't I encouraged him to do that? To leave work early and come be home with her? He was only doing what was absolutely necessary, particularly in light of what Ava had revealed about Sadie's underhanded tactics.
But he wasn't supposed to do it to the exclusion of me, I thought.
My fist tightened.
Well, that text certainly sealed the deal, didn't it? There would be no ascertaining whether he was working through his issues now. No seeing him. I'd been shuttled out of his life without a chance to even say goodbye to Ava. He'd made it perfectly clear where we stood. I turned and stalked into the Frolicking Moose.
Ellie glanced up, one eyebrow lifted. She took me in with a quick glance. “You good?” she asked.
“No. Do you have a piece of paper?”
“Sure.”
A plain white paper and pen found their way to the counter seconds later. She didn't ask questions as I scrawled across the front.
This is my official two weeks notice, given May 23rd. My last day of work will be June 6th.
* * *
Serafina Courdray
Ellie studied me as I shoved the pen back toward her. “Ben's an idiot, isn't he?” she asked.
“The biggest,” I snapped.
Her cool gaze met mine. “Whatever he did to break your heart, I'm sorry.”
Somehow, despite not knowing any details, there was real sorrow in her voice. Ellie, the sharpest, toughest girl I had ever met, spoke with experience in her moderated tone. In that moment, I felt