One and Done - S. Briones Lim Page 0,62
wonder what she was getting at.
I shook my head. “I don’t have a job…here in Bethel Falls anyway.”
She eyed me knowingly. “That’s where the girl works, right? The one you’re in love with? I’m surprised someone who looks as manly as you do is too chicken to go after her. Seriously, men are so transparent.”
Of course my mother wouldn’t have any qualms gossiping about me.
“You know what? I can’t even dignify that statement with an answer,” I shot back angrily.
“Didn’t expect you to.”
I was walking the line of whether to fire her or not when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Frowning, I snuck a peek at the number that flashed on the screen and felt an unexpected jolt of excitement when I realized it was a number I didn’t recognize.
Maybe it’s Rocky.
I glanced over my shoulder to find Michelle attempting to catch a glimpse of my phone. Catching eyes, she blushed and took a step back.
“I have to take this. I’ll be back.”
“I bet you do.” Michelle’s grin was sickening.
With a shake of my head, I walked toward my kitchen, desperate to escape her prying eyes. “Hello?”
“Jesse!” A mouse-like voice screamed in my ear. “Where are you?”
Guess the excitement wasn’t unwarranted after all. “Is this Rocky?”
“Who else would it be? Where are you? I was worried! You could have at least called in to tell us you were missing work.”
Just like that my heart plummeted. Why did I expect she’d call? To tell me she dumped Ethan? Even if that were true, it wouldn’t change anything anyway.
“How’d you get this number?” I asked, fighting off pangs of disappointment.
“I’m your employer. I have it on file.”
“Your dad is my employer.”
“Jesse, let’s cut the crap. Where are you?” I could almost imagine her tapping the toes of her little feet and crossing her arms in a cartoonish manner. God was she cute.
“Why do you care?” I blurted out, thinking about what I saw the night before.
“Uh, because you were supposed to be here four hours ago!”
“Is that all?” I couldn’t let go of the small hint of hope that she missed me.
Selfish, just like your mother.
She waited for a beat before saying, “Huh?”
“Is that the only reason why you called me? Because I missed work?” My voice came out a bit sterner than I had intended, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Yes, of course.”
Ugh. Arrow to the heart.
“Did you tell your girlfriend you miss her?” Michelle’s annoying voice called out from the den. Without answering, I quickly ran toward my room and shut the door. I already didn’t like the bitch, but for what it was worth I knew she’d get along great with my mom.
“Where are you?” Rocky asked almost accusingly.
Suddenly feeling exhausted, I wanted to end the conversation fast. My world was going around in circles and it wouldn’t stop until I left Bethel Falls for good. “Rocky, I’m going to miss work today.”
“I see that.” She sighed. “Are you coming in tomorrow?”
I shut my eyes. How could I ever go back after everything I put her through? How could I ever look at her knowing that another man was lucky enough to have her in his arms, but I couldn’t?
Nope. I couldn’t do it.
Through gritted teeth I responded, “You know what? I don’t think so.”
“Fuck, Jesse!” she screeched, surprising me. “What the hell is wrong with you? Is this about our fight yesterday?”
“Everything has to be about you, right?” Of course it was. It had always been about her.
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Though she tried her hardest to mask the pain in her voice, there was no mistaking the slight tremor in her tone.
This was my life, wasn’t it? Even when I tried to be a good guy I ended up hurting someone who didn’t deserve it. I must have done something horrible in a past life to deserve such karmic punishment.
Swallowing back a lump of guilt that formed in my throat, I whispered, “You know what? I’ll tell you everything one day, but for now—”
“You’re not comfortable, I get it!”
“Goodbye, Rocky.”
It’s for your own good.
“Jesse!”
I lowered the phone from my ear and stared at it. I watched as the screen shut off to black like the darkness in my soul. Life wasn’t fair, was it? Sometimes looking out for the ones you love most meant dragging your heart through the mud. For whatever karmic punishment I deserved, maybe this was my way of making up for it.
“Michelle doesn’t need training,” I whispered. “I need to stop dragging