Page 11 of The Boyfriend Effect (Frisky Business 1)
“Well, not that I’ve found. We can look into loans, but I don’t know how we’d ever pay them off. Unless a big donor sweeps in and saves the day, Riverside as we know it is done for. It’s just gotten too expensive to operate,” Peggy chokes out.
Pulling herself together, she scoots forward in the chair, a new determination in her eyes. “Maren, you’re such a wonderful, hardworking young woman. You should look for another job sooner rather than later, before everyone else starts looking. Put me down as your reference. I’ll tell any potential employers how incredible you are. You would be a godsend to any employer.”
“Thanks, Peggy,” I say with a weak smile, wishing this conversation were over. Actually, I wish this conversation was one I never had to have. All I want to do is run out of here, hop on the Red Line, and take it straight to my uptown apartment where I can cry in peace, away from everyone.
Peggy pulls me in close and gives me a big hug before she leaves.
I squeeze her tight, knowing that whatever I’m feeling must be amplified tenfold for her. She’s been here for over a decade, so I can’t imagine what this must be doing to her.The rest of my morning passes in a blur of appointments and reports. I’m pulled away from scanning my emails only by my phone dinging with a reminder.
Lunch with Scarlett.
Still numb, I pack up my purse and lock my office, stepping out into the midday glow of summer in Chicago. The café we picked is only a short walk away, and I’m reaching for the door just as Scarlett approaches.
“Hey!” she calls out, all sunshine and warmth in her flowy pink top and cream cardigan, her rainbow-hued crocheted purse slung over one shoulder.
All it takes is one look at my best friend, and the emotions of the day come barreling forward, releasing the tears I’ve been holding in all day.
Scarlett rushes toward me with open arms and a worried expression. “Oh my God, Mare. Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I manage to say, sniffing loudly and wiping away tears that now freely stream down my cheeks.
“Let’s grab a table, and you can tell me all about it, okay?”
Scarlett does all the talking, thank God. She orders my favorite soup-and-salad combo for me and a chicken salad sandwich for herself, before guiding me to the most secluded corner table available on the patio. By the time the food is served, I’ve tearfully confided in her about the whole depressing situation at Riverside.
“That’s heartbreaking.” Scarlett sighs, leaning over to rub my back with small, comforting circles. “I’m so sorry, Mare. What a disaster.”
“Thanks for listening.” I sniffle, dabbing at my eyes with a paper napkin. “Can we talk about anything else now? Please?” I blow the steam off of a spoonful of lemon rice soup.
“You know I’m always here for a good distraction. You won’t believe the date I had last night. The bastard showed up in a Hawaiian shirt—short sleeves, flower pattern, garish colors, the whole nine yards.”
“Nooo.” I laugh, shaking my head in gleeful commiseration.
Scarlett goes on a lot of dates, and they’re usually pretty terrible across the board. In her search for Mr. Right, she’s compiled an extensive canon of disaster stories, all told with an incredible sense of humor. While I do feel for her latest dating disaster, I’m already perking up at the hilarious situation she has once again found herself in. She was right—she always provides a great distraction.
“Like, I know it’s summer and all, but I thought we collectively burned all Hawaiian shirts back in the early 2000s? As a society? Like, no, dude! There are rules!”
I’m full-on belly-laughing now, the drama of the day nearly forgotten. I can always count on Scarlett to lift my spirits.
When we finish our lunches and say our good-byes, I hug her a little longer than usual.The rest of the afternoon passes by in a fog. My resident meetings are uneventful, and my paperwork even more so.
By the time I pack up and leave for the day, my mood has sunk again. The hot summer sun mocks me, still high in the sky at five p.m.
Heading for the train station, I make the quiet trek through the residential neighborhood where Riverside is comfortably nestled. I usually love this part of the day, when the work is done and the only concern on my mind is what I’ll have for dinner.
Tonight, I’m numb with disappointment and helplessness. My mind is overcome with trying to figure out what I can do to help save Riverside, but so far, I’ve come up with nothing, which makes my mood sink even further. For once, there are no train delays, so I make it home in record time.
