Page 27 of Fractured Hope
Grinning from ear to ear, I was so thankful he’d accepted! “We need you to fill in the form with the offer letter, and we can get you on the books tomorrow. Congratulations, Bodhi!”
He sent me such a sweet smile.
“This calls for a celebration!” Lyric ruffled Bohdi’s hair. “Dinner’s on me. Let’s meet at Elpízo in an hour.”
With that, we all left for our respective houses and prepared to celebrate Bodhi’s new job.
15
BODHI
Life here was becomingsomething new. I couldn’t believe they’d all thought I was doing a good job and wanted to make it official. I had a job!I was doing well at it! I smiled at the thought. I was proud of what I’d accomplished. While Atticus had offered to pay me multiple times, I couldn’t fathom taking his money with all that he’d done for me on top of the fact that I was still staying at his house.
We’d fallen into a leisurely routine with both of us living and now officially working together. We would get up and have breakfast before we headed out to start our workday. He hadn’t mentioned going on a date since the party at his Mom’s a couple of weeks back. We hadn’t progressed any further than that one kiss. I wasn’t sure if he’d changed his mind or forgotten, so I didn’t bring it up. We’d settled into a nice friendship.
Atticus came into the kitchen Friday morning freshly showered and in his usual coveralls and a plain black T-shirt.
“Here you go. You’ll need one of these to forward the business phone to.” He placed an older iPhone in front of me.
“Really?” I eyed him skeptically. He’d probably just wanted to give me a phone for the sake of it.
“Yes, really. This was the phone Lyric would take with him whenever he was out of the shop or late to the office so he could answer the phone while we were busy with cars.” He looked so endearing and honest that I took him at his word.
“Since you’re officially on board, it’s yours. You can reset it and use it however you want as long as you link it to the office phone.” Smiling, he patted me on the shoulder and went to pour our usual morning coffees in travel mugs for us to leave. “Are you seeing Doc today?” Atticus asked, bringing me my cup.
“Not today. He said because I feel fine, I may as well just wait until next week, and then we’ll have a better idea of how much longer the cast and boot need to stay on.”
We rose and made our way to the door.
“Are you sure you’re feeling, okay? No pain or twinges Doc should know about?”
Rolling my eyes at Atticus’s mother-hen nature, I turned to him and gave him a reassuring hug. “Trust me, I’m fine.” With one last squeeze, I opened the front door and headed to the truck. “The only issue I have is the cast is starting to get really itchy,” I added over my shoulder as I waited for Atticus to unlock the truck. I no longer needed the crutches because the walking boot was fine on its own.
“If you’re sure...” Atticus hesitated by the driver-side door. “Can I take you to your appointment?”
Hopping in the truck, I waited for him to join me. “Okay, as long as it’s not a problem with work.” I waggled my eyebrows at him.
He chuckled as he started the truck. “I’m sure the boss won’t mind.”
The day passed much the same as usual. I got myself put on the books and continued with my work in the office as I had forthe previous two weeks or so. It wasn’t until midafternoon that I finally had a chance to reset the phone Atticus had given me and begin setting it up. I was logging into the email, so I had access to the shop’s correspondence while I was out, when something seemed off. The email notification bubble said thirty-two unread emails. Thinking it was just the phone preparing the emails that were in the inbox, I clicked on the icon and froze. The subjects of the emails were nothing to do with work.Holy fuck!My stomach dropped. I’d logged into my old email on autopilot. How could I have been sostupid?
Ice slid through my veins as I took in the messages Derek must have sent.
Where are you?
You think you can ignore me?
You better get back here or else.
Come back from wherever you’re hiding. You know I’m the best thing to ever happen to you.
YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN LEAVE!?
WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?
I WILL FIND YOU, YOU LITTLE CUNT.
The emails all had different subject lines. I could see his aggression and agitation as he realized I wasn’t coming back. That I had escaped him. My heart beat rapidly as I read the message, dated a week ago.
