Once Upon A Time(28)

“’Kay,” I answered, removing the phone from my ear.

“I love you,” Kylie whispered through the door.

“You too.”

I love you. Three tiny words that I could never say. For a person to say them, they’d have to believe in love, romance and happily ever after. I believed in working your ass off to get where you dreamed of being, enjoying life and understanding that life was tough, not like Cinder-fucking-ella with her fancy glass slippers and fairy godmother.

Anger coursed through my veins and my cell took the brunt of the anger as I threw it against the wall in frustration. Looking down at my lap, I fought back the tears threatening to escape. Growling loudly, I jumped from the bed and all but tore off the clothes Kylie had given me this morning, but I toed the heels off my feet gently. I found myself standing in front of my mirror clad in just my bra and panties. Shaking my head, I dove into my closet and pulled out an oversized hoodie and sweats before sitting in the middle of my bed.

Leaning forward, I reached beneath the bed, pulling out something I swore I’d never look at again. In the palms of my hands sat something I’d kept since high school. It was a gift from Cam, he’d given it to me the day I let slip that I thought he was my Prince Charming. Bound in brown leather sat the one thing that could instantly make my blood boil.

The book of fairy tales.

I don’t know what made me think of pulling it out, I don’t know why I gulped back tears while I ran my palm over the embossed text on the cover. I still don’t know why I opened it up to the first fairy tale that was read to me as a child.

“Once Upon A Time…” I read.

The jolt of pain that shocked right through my chest caught me off guard. I slammed the book closed, throwing it across the room and watching it land near my cell. Curling up into a ball on the center of my bed, I closed my eyes, hoping I’d wake up with my job intact and my thick skin very much in place, guarding my thorn-encased heart.

The moment I closed my eyes, my cell rang for a second time. Curious who would be calling, I stood from the bed and retrieved my cell from the floor. Thankfully intact, I almost jumped for joy the moment I saw my mom’s name flash on the screen. Sliding my finger across my cell, I answered the call.

“Hey momma.” I smiled.

My Southern accent came out in abundance the moment I knew I’d be talking to my parents. I had no control over it.

“Payton Alessandra Miller, why haven’t you called me, young lady? You've had me here worried sick!” Her Southern sing-song voice rang through my ear and I instantly missed her. “A call to your mother once a week surely isn't too much to ask, right?”

“No, ma’am. I’m sorry.” I chuckled softly. “I've missed you. Work has been a little bit crazy.”

“I've missed you too, honey. Now, fill me in on work. You know how much I love hearing how well you're doing.”

I cringed at her words. When I took the job straight out of college, I told her it was a high paying, demanding account manager's job. I didn't inform her I was actually my boss’s coffee maker. I wanted her to be proud of me, I wanted her to know I could do this and not disappoint her.

I cleared my throat. “I just signed a new client today.” I cringed for a second time. “I just don’t want to screw it up.”

“Oh, honey. You won’t screw it up. You’re one of the most passionate people I know, just remember that when you’re second guessing everything.”

I moved to my bed and sat down crossed legged.

“Thanks, Momma.” I smiled warmly, trying to suppress the warm tears that had gathered in my eyes.

I heard some shuffling in the background and I could hear my father's voice. I wondered for a moment why he was home so early from work.

“Is that Dad?”

She sighed hard into the receiver. “It is. The garage isn't doing as well as it used to since the new garage opened just outside of town. It seems everyone wants to go to a larger garage rather than a family owned one these days.”

“Momma, you’re okay for money, right?”

She paused for a moment. A moment a little too long for my liking.

“Of course, sweetie. Everything’s fine. Y’all go and have fun now and try not to forget to call your momma once in a while. I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I whispered.

The call ended and I lay my head down on my pillow. The call left me with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Closing my eyes, I tried to get some sleep and hoped I could deal with what tomorrow would bring me.





THE SEARING HOT COFFEE in my hands finally registered a mere ten minutes after being placed in them. I was numb. I ran over the possible scenarios in my head over and over again as I sat in my chair opposite my boss, whose poker face was very much in place.