Page 49 of (La)Crosse My Heart

But I don’t want to move. I’ve learned so much from taking the leap, it would feel worthless if I didn’t try to figure out something else.

I got up early and started the job search.

Clark was so kind the night before and while it had been nice kissing him again, I’m not sure hanging out with him will be a good idea. What if I have to move? The heartbreak will only be worse.

And my ultimate fear is that I’ll do to Clark what Dan did to me. If I can’t take care of myself, I’d be a crappy girlfriend. Not that he asked me. Before Daphne’s phone call, I wondered if we’d take our relationship further. Now I’m in pure survival mode.

We get up and head to the airport. I try to be kind to Clark but also shut down any major conversation. I don’t need to add to the stress I’m already under.

“Do you want to come over for dinner?” Clark asks as we’re in the rideshare we’re splitting to get home.

I give him a small smile and shake my head. “I’m good. I think I’ve got a few things I need to eat before they go bad. Thank you, though.”

As much as I’d love to hang out with the guys, I’d probably be a downer right now.

Once in the house, I change out of my clothes and settle into my bed. Not the best place to work, but I need comfort as I scour every job listing within thirty miles of here.

With what SMG will give me as a final check and the savings I had before this, I’ll be able to hold out for all of two months before I’ll have to go back home. Unless I can find a job.

My phone notifies me I need to head into the Stockton Group main offices. I change into a business suit, not wanting to give Daphne the satisfaction of seeing me this way. With some makeup and a quick twist of my hair, it’s time to head out.

When I walk out to my car in the driveway, I glance across the street at the guys’ house and then over to Nora’s. She’s sitting on the porch, so I wave before getting into my car.

I make the drive in silence. Am I moping? Absolutely.

This job had been the first to give me a chance to figure out what I want to do with my life. No, I haven’t applied for any jobs that help image, but I’ve sent in my information for anything to do with marketing and photography.

I walk up to the desk in the reception area. This is my first time in the offices since I’d done everything else through online video chats.

“May I help you?” the woman behind the desk asks with a smile.

“Yes, I have an appointment with Daphne. My name is Jessa Stratton.”

“Let me call up to her.” It takes another minute before I’m given a visitor badge and sent up the elevator to the third floor.

Another man walks into the elevator and smiles at me. There’s gray around his temples, but I can tell by the expensive suit he’s wearing that he’s probably upper management.

“Who are you here to visit?”

“Daphne.”

He smiles and nods. “Are you a new hire?”

I swallow, wishing I could say something different. “Kind of. I’m heading up to pick up my last check.”

He frowns. “That’s not good. Can I ask what happened?”

“It might be better to ask Daphne what happened.”

The doors to the elevator open and I walk out, trying to remember the instructions from the gal downstairs.

“Her office is just over here,” the man says, pointing to a door about three down from where we’re standing right now. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Jessa Stratton.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jessa. I’m Ollie Stockton. I hope you’ll give us another chance soon.”

I try to smile, but it probably looks like a grimace at this point. Maybe if I hadn’t been fired so quickly, I would try again.

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