Page 16 of Bear In Mind

Stuart cast an annoyed glare my way.“Just go, Bryn.”He exhaled harshly, going to work on the customer’s order.

My flesh began to tingle, fear morphing into a physical response.My heart pounded in my chest.I stood frozen.Had it finally happened?

Seeing that I was still there, Stuart huffed, throwing a hand on one of his slim hips.“Are you deaf?I said to get out of here.Don’t make me call the cops to escort you off the property.”His voice rose, louder this time.He was no longer concerned with keeping it quiet.

Like an icy belt whipping across my extremities, his words stung but did their job in that they sent me into motion.Moving as quickly as I could, I slipped past the order station, keeping my gaze straight ahead, avoiding Jake and the other patrons.I heard a male voice, it sounded like Jake’s, echoing behind me, but I paid it no mind.I was on a mission; I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could.

Removing my oversized black apron, I hung it on one of the hooks, snatched my purse up with my good hand and practically ran out the back door.I thought everything had changed in twelve hours.Fast forward to eighteen and that statement was truer.If I had a phone right now, I would be calling my best friend, inviting her over for cheesy pizza, cheap wine, and an afternoon of bitching about horrible people in positions of authority.So many men and women didn’t deserve the upper hand they had in life, and no matter how you viewed it, it just plain wasn’t fair.

It was a miracle that I managed to drive home without shedding a single tear, but the moment I was safe inside my apartment, I crashed and crumbled.For the first time in my life, I was furious.Royally pissed off didn’t even begin to cover it.

Rage burned through my veins, adrenaline pumping.I had been the model employee.In five-and-a-half years, I’d called out once.I was never late, never rude and never complained.I put up with a crappy box, sometimes crappy customers and crappy pay without an ounce of attitude.My thanks?Being fired for no reason whatsoever.

“Err!”I screamed, my tears bitter, hot drops of overly salted water, stinging my eyes.My fists tightly clenched despite the pain in my left arm.I wanted to hit something.Hell, I wanted to hit someone, preferably the incomparable Stuart Bartholomew III.

Stomping to my room like a petulant child, I stripped off my uniform and put the leggings and tank I’d worn earlier back on.My tears slowed enough to flip my hair and pull it into a messy bun.

It isn’t fair.It just isn’t freaking fair.

Walking back into the living room, I looked around.I didn’t want to be here.I didn’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself, but I didn’t have a plethora of choices.The longer I stood there, the antsier I became.As the seconds ticked by, my anger gradually melted into a puddle of defeat.It felt like nothing ever went right in my life sometimes.

This called for coffee and cake.

Going back to my room, I changed into a solid black tank and pulled on my oversized grey boyfriend sweater.It was only day one yet I couldn’t wait for the bruise to go away.The summer temperatures were slightly more forgiving at Black Fall’s elevation, but not by much; and, sometimes, it just felt like we were closer to the sun, baking faster.Humidity swamped the air and made me miss the days of scraping ice off my car’s windshield.

Slipping on the most comfortable sandals I owned – a pair of men’s flip flops I’d bought with Tiff from a skate apparel store in the mall two towns over – I tidied up my room, snatched my purse and headed out.I had just locked my apartment door when Jake appeared, taking the stairs two at a time.

“Hey.”He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his cargo shorts, giving me a quick appraisal.“You okay?”

I wanted to be rude.I wanted to yell, scream and lash out, but none of this was his fault.He didn’t deserve my ire and, therefore, he wouldn’t get it.

I gave him a slight nod.“Yeah.Thanks.”

His gaze went to my arm, where a layer hid the discoloration.“Where are you going?”

Considering him for a moment, I debated whether or not to tell him.I wouldn’t take my frustration out on him, but I knew I wouldn’t – couldn’t – be good company right now.Somehow, I sensed he gathered that already, yet asked anyways.Maybe he didn’t mind peace, but I did.Because, in this instance, my silence would most certainly be categorized as rude.Not by him, but by my own standards.“ToJane’s.”

Taking a step forward, I paused and looked up at him.“I can’t tell you what to do; the same way no one can tell me.But if you followed me and we sat quietly, I wouldn’t be able to relax and work through all that’s happened.I’m not trying to be rude, but I want to decompress, not pile on the guilt.”

He glowered, but allowed me to pass without a fight.

I knew this was probably just as awkward for him as it was for me.As it was, I felt bad that he’d been assigned the task of babysitting me.Friends of not, that wasn’t in his job description.

Settling in behind the wheel, I turned the key in the ignition.Instead of my car revving to life, I heard a click followed by nothing.Sadly, I knew what that meant because I’d replaced the part for times already in the ten years that I’d owned my car.

The starter went out again.

Could anything else go wrong?

Irritation swelled.I knew exactly how much a new started would cost.Pressing my forehead to the steering wheel, I clung to the bottom of the ring.Mel, my mechanic, had checked the car from bumper to bumper and couldn’t figure out why the starters kept going bad.He suggested I buy a new car and I suggested he pay for it.He laughed and I felt like crying.

A knock on my window had me straightening fast.

Jake leaned against the side of my car, just beyond the side mirror, staring in at me.

With a sigh, I removed my keys, grabbed my purse and exited the vehicle.

“Need a lift?”He quirked a brow.

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