Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,54

set to go.

Somewhere around seven o'clock, Wally told me to go home. I told him I couldn't, seeing as I just ordered a large pizza and had about three more hours of work I wanted to kick out before I would be in bright and early. It was in that moment that my boss stopped and looked at me dead in the eyes as he said what he had to say next.

"We all get caught up in our own personal life drama, but Amber, you are the only, truly committed, employee I know that once you realized I needed you, you were there. I can't thank you enough. You're a hard worker, organized and smart."

I raised my eyebrows. "Gee Wally Woo, I was afraid you might have chewed my ass for calling in for the last three days."

"Nah. Besides, shit didn't hit the fan until about an hour before you showed up. I know if I called you, you would have rushed right over. You're dependable that way. If you ask me, that boyfriend of yours, he's not worth it. You deserve a man who appreciates you, and that goes for your mom too. Maybe someday she will." His smile was full of sincerity and concern. Wally Woo and I spent a lot of hours talking about each other's lives in a supportive way, and I guess right now, if felt good to hear those words from him. It gave me a bit of reassurance of who I am as a person is not so bad after all.

I laughed. "Well, I think the boyfriend probably is worth the trouble. I just think we need some time right now. The best thing for me is to throw myself into my work as a distraction and for that, I guess I have you, the production line crew, and the auditor to thank."

"Lines up by the way. Crew starts back up in the morning. I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with that and the auditor." He tipped his white sideways ball cap, with the shiny brand sticker still on the brim, and started to turn to walk out of my cubicle, but I stopped him.

"Hey Wally. If I had just been an ounce or gallon, more mature, you would not have had to fend for yourself in the first place. I am sorry my personal life affected me. It won't happen again. Believe me, I swear; I am grown up now."

"Geez girl. Don't go all high and mighty over the rest of us. You act mature, and then I have to act mature. No sense. I like it when your life entertains me. Besides, remember that last crazy bitch, I dated. Just keep it real." He did a peace out sign and was gone.

Sometime after ten p.m., I left my cubicle with a half-eaten large pizza in a brown cardboard box and stepped out into the dead of the night to about the only car left in the parking lot. The security guy walked me to my car and then asked me if I was going to take my pizza home for leftovers. Not that he looked to have been on any low-carb diet as of late since his belly was bigger than a nine-month pregnant woman, so I offered him my leftovers, which he took gladly.

Pulling up to my apartment building, I noticed a few lights on in apartments, most of which were being illuminated by late-night TV watchers. Mason's was pitch black, which made me think that he could be in 6D's. I tried to figure out which apartment might be hers, assuming their numbered apartments were the same as my buildings but reversed. Then I felt my head pound and realized I was trying too hard to make something out of nothing. Even if it was, now was not the time to deal with it. I desperately needed a good night's sleep so that I could be at work by seven in the morning.

My alarm went off as soon as my head hit the pillow to go to sleep, I was sure of it. Yet, the sun was peeking, and the night had passed. I didn't even remember fluffing my pillow before I fell asleep.

I jumped in the shower and washed briskly. Then I attempted the ten-minute get ready for work plan. It consisted of wet hair, twisted in a clip with only a few bangs out in the front and side. While those dried, I painted on