However, my willpower is waning. The clock on my nightstand shows 6:00 a.m. on the dot. I know that Willow will be up soon, and we have a 10:00 a.m. checkout. I can no longer hide from my reality.
Glancing at the bed across from mine, I see Willow is still sound asleep. Grabbing my phone, I turn it on and wait for it to power up. Sure enough, there is an onslaught of missed calls and messages. Most of them are from Cameron, but there are three missed calls from my uncle Drew and a message. I go straight to the message.
Uncle Drew: Call me when you get time. I need to ask you something.
He’s not just my uncle. He’s my boss. I know I wasn’t supposed to be at work this week, but tension still builds as I wonder what he wants. Forgetting that it’s the ass crack of dawn, I find his contact in my phone and hit call.
“Paisley,” he answers immediately.
“Hi,” I say meekly.
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“I went by your place last night. I couldn’t get you on the phone, and I need to talk to you about something. Your car wasn’t there, and Cameron came out of his place to tell me you’d been gone all day.”
“Yeah. Willow and I had a girls’ night. We rented a hotel room, ate junk food, watched trash TV, that kind of thing.” I blow it off like it’s no big deal.
“He told me you called it off.”
And there it is. The one thing I hoped I wouldn’t have to talk about. “I did, but that’s not why I called. What’s up? Your text said you needed to ask me something.”
“I do. I was hoping you could meet me at the stadium so we could talk.”
“Talk about what?” My stomach drops at his request.
“Changes in the training room. Not staffing wise.” He’s quick to say. “Organization and layout. I thought it would be nice to see it through fresh eyes. As our newest trainer, that defaults to you.”
“When?”
“Today if possible. I… need to get on this.”
I’m not really ready to face him and any conversations he may want to have about Cameron. However, I do need to talk to him. To turn in my resignation. Bile rises in my throat when I think about it, but it’s what I have to do. “Okay. I have to run home for a few, but I can stop by after.” I need to print my resignation letter.
“That’s perfect. I’m getting ready to head there now.”
“The sun is barely up,” I tease, hoping to expel some of the tension I feel. I don’t know how he’ll take me quitting, and I’m sure that will put a strain on our relationship.
“Just because the season is over doesn’t mean my work is done. Now’s the time to plan next year, the roster, the layout, and so much more.”
“I know you have a lot on your plate. If there is ever anything I can do to help, just let me know.” The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of them. He’s not going to need me or even ask me for help once I quit. He’ll be mad, and I understand, but this is what I have to do. Cam is… my heart. I can’t let him lose everything he’s worked for over me. I can find another job locally. He, however, can’t.
“Thanks, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.” The line goes dead, and I drop my phone beside me on the bed.
“Who was that?” Willow asks groggily.
“Uncle Drew. He wants my help with some reorganizing and layout of the training room.”
“Does the man sleep?” she asks.
I chuckle. “He does. My guess is he wants to get the ball rolling and delegate so he can take some time off.”
“Maybe,” she mumbles.
“Anyway, you probably heard, but I’m going to head there after I stop at our place and print my resignation letter.”
“We need breakfast.”