The Real

“Oh, wow, wow,” she remarked as I beamed at her behind her desk.

“Yeah, I’m totally fucking in love.”

“I’m so happy for you,” she said with a genuine smile. “A little jealous, but happy.”

“That used to be my line,” I said as I dropped my purse at my desk and walked into her office.

“So, what happened?”

“We just confessed. I mean, it’s been there for a while, but we kind of just opened the gates and it was everything. He’s so perfect.”

She shook her head. “That’s great, Abbie. You deserve it.”

“Damned right I do. No more dateless weddings.”

“Maybe you have your own to look forward to,” she said softly. I saw it then, the fatigue.

“Don’t worry about today, okay? I’ve got it handled. Look at it like just another meeting.”

She nodded solemnly. “I need a change. If they let me go, maybe it’s a sign.”

“Don’t think that way. You love it here. I can tell. We’ll get this handled. You’ve seen the reports. Piece of cake, okay?”

She nodded before handing me a cup of coffee, just the way I liked it.

“So, tell me what’s been going on.”

Before I got the chance, several executives walked out of the elevator. Kat visibly cringed at their arrival and whispered to me.

“This really is it, isn’t it? Are you done after today?”

I followed her toward the conference room. “I’ll be done here, yes, but I’ll still have a few things to tie up from home.”

She threw her shoulders back and looked at me earnestly. “I just want this to be over.”

“I’ve got you,” I swore, every bit as confident as I was the day we’d met.

Nine hours later, we walked out of that meeting with matching smiles.

“I can’t believe it. Not only did you save my job, you made me look good. You’re a miracle worker, Abbie.”

“I told you. You are capable of running the division. It was just a matter of time.”

“Walk me down?” she asked as she grabbed her purse.

“Sure,” I said, checking my phone for a text from Cameron.

He’d been quiet that afternoon, but he knew it was an important day for me at the office. I sent a text of my own.

I hope your day was as good as mine, Coach. XO

“I really can’t thank you enough,” Kat said as we walked out of the elevator.

When we pressed through the heavy set of double doors into the freezing cold, I looked over at her. “Maybe we could get together sometime?”

“Absolutely,” she said, though I was sure her response was plastic.

I’d had one too many office friendships that only lasted the duration of my time on the job. Our relationship had been far too one-sided for me to pursue it any further.