RANCHER BEAR’S BABY(89)

“I remember.”

“I called him and we talked for a while. He had the nerve to tell me that the message wasn’t about me. He said he met someone else- and it was about her!”

I coughed and continued to work on my desk. My heart was racing. Did he mean me? “That’s uncomfortable.”

She scoffed. “It was embarrassing as hell. He said he met the little bitch right around the time we ended and she left him. It broke his heart, yada, yada, yada. I think he cheated on me.”

Mandy didn’t need me to look like I was actively listening to her, so she went on. “She left him and they haven’t spoken since, but apparently, he’s hoping she comes back to him. He told me all of that like I was supposed to care. I’ll tell you one thing, Bunny, he was never that sentimental when he was with me. It’s such bullshit. What was so wrong with me that he didn’t feel that way about me?”

I tried to answer, but my tongue felt like it had swollen up to the size of a golf ball. John wanted me back.

“I’m attractive and I’m nice! I’m also a lot of fun! What does a guy like that not see in me? It’s infuriating. I have half a mind to out him. Wouldn’t that just serve him right? Having a crowd of reporters show up at his front door. He’d die.”

Irrational anger threatened to erupt out of me. I chomped down on my tongue and gripped the back of my chair.

“I’m better than that, though. Just like I’m sure I’m better than the woman he cheated on me with. It was probably some little backwoods hussy he found in Wyoming. A mountain-dwelling nobody whose uncle is also her brother.”

I slammed my hand down on my desk. “Mandy. This is a man you broke up with months ago. There’s no need to dwell on him. He’s clearly depressed enough, as it is. You’re better than this.”

Her eyes lit up, forever the self-help addict. “Oh, my gosh. You’re so right. It’s just so easy to get caught up in the negative. I just need to forget about all of this. Maybe I’ll burn his book to clean out my energy.”

I just wanted her out of my office. “That would really be good. Just don’t do it in here.”

She rolled her eyes and stood up. “Duh. I’ll see you later. Thanks, Bunny.”

After she left, I sat there, contemplating my next move. I couldn’t just ignore him. Not anymore. I had to make some sort of concrete decision. I also had to find a way to apologize to Mandy for what happened with John. Despite everything, I still felt bad for what I’d done.

I contemplated my life and kept coming up with the same answer. I hated my job and I hated living in LA. LA was nice, but it wasn’t for me. I had plenty of money saved up. I could take my time looking for a job in Wyoming and not have to rush into something I hated. Even if in the end I decided that I couldn’t be with John, I would be closer to Star and in a place I enjoyed living.

With that realization in my head, I walked into Mr. Scott’s office and tried to smile at him. I was beyond nervous, but I knew what I had to do.

“What is it, Bonnie?”

“I need to talk to you, Mr. Scott. About working here.”

He looked up from his cell phone and sighed. “Are you giving me two weeks to find someone else, at least?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir. I wouldn’t leave you empty handed.”

He barked out a rough laugh. “I’m never empty handed, Bailey. Alright. Two weeks it is. Have you told my daughter? She seems to like you. I’m sure she’ll be sad to see you go.”

I didn’t actually believe that. Mandy didn’t like anyone who didn’t get her more views on her social media sites. “I’ll email her. Thank you, sir.”

He waved me away. “I’ll contact HR and have them draw up paperwork and some sort of package.”

I turned to leave but he cleared his throat. “Yes, sir? Anything else?”

“Don’t think I’m going to expect any less of you for the next two weeks. You slack and you’re out of here, on your ass, with nothing but the trash bag you came to town with.”

It was an exaggeration. I’d come with suitcases. Instead of correcting him, I nodded and left.

Just two weeks. Two weeks until I had to make a final decision about what to do with John.





CHAPTER 14: John




“Jesus, John.” Alex was flat on his back, breathing heavily after a round of fighting. “You need to figure this shit out. I can’t keep fighting with you every day. I’m getting too old for this.”

“You’re younger than me.” I was on my back next to him, aching in places that I hadn’t ached in a while.