Coldhearted Boss

He claps a hand over his mouth and shakes his head. His eyes are welling with tears, and now the redness makes sense. He’s been crying.

From joy.

“Jeremy, that’s…” My voice breaks. “That’s really great news.”

More than anything, I want Jeremy to be happy, and he is happy right now. He’s over the moon about this news, news that is going to absolutely turn his world upside down.

“I can’t even believe it. I just got off the phone with Khloe. She’s been trying to reach me all day. She’s already six months along.”

“Six months?! Hasn’t she been showing?”

My heart races trying to catch up with all this news.

He nods, more tears running down his cheeks before he wipes them away. “She’s always been curvy and I guess I should have been paying more attention, but it doesn’t matter now. She says we’re having a little girl and she wants to name her Jacqueline after her grandmother. She was keeping it a secret because she wasn’t sure how I’d take it. That’s why she called me here instead of just waiting until I got home. She was nervous I’d want nothing to do with her or the baby.”

I can’t wrap my head around this. Jeremy had goals. He wanted to get out of debt and start building up a nest egg. I’m so happy for him—I am—I just…

What happens now?

Apparently, what happens now is that Jeremy is moving.

Khloe has family in San Antonio, an aunt and an uncle who want to help her out. Her uncle has work for Jeremy at a car dealership he manages.

“It’s a good opportunity for us.”

“Better than this?” I ask, feeling like a jerk for even bringing it up. I’m just still in shock.

His eyes find mine and pity settles there. I feel terrible. He should be getting to enjoy this moment, but how can he with me standing here like a joy-sucking leech?

“Khloe’s dead set on going to San Antonio, and I can’t abandon her. I have to do what’s best for my family.”

Family.

That’s right.

Khloe and Jacqueline are Jeremy’s family now, and just like that my safety net is gone, because if Jeremy is quitting, I can’t leave with him and drive back to Oak Dale. I’d have no way of getting back here on Monday. Max would be an option if Max had a car, but Jeremy says he’s been catching a ride with another guy. He isn’t sure on the details and he doesn’t even have Max’s current number and I feel like I’m on the brink of tears, but I can’t cry in front of Jeremy. I can’t cry and ruin his moment more than I probably already have.

“Hey, why don’t I just drive you back here on Monday?” Jeremy offers, but I shake my head.

“No, that’s silly. You’ve got a lot to do with…everything, and I don’t mind staying here. I just need to grab my stuff out of your truck.”

He frowns. “Where are you going to sleep? You can have my bunk now.”

I could, but I’d rather not have to sleep in the bunkhouse and use the communal shower without Jeremy there to stand guard.

I guess it’s probably time to head back to Rose Cabin.The camp is a ghost town. Everyone’s left. The cars that were parked beside Jeremy’s drove away soon after he did. Now it’s just me…me and a deer munching on some grass a couple yards away. I try to get it to come closer, but it gets spooked and flees. So yeah, it’s just me. I didn’t really think my plan through. I’m not even sure we’re allowed to stay at the camp on the weekends, though if no one is here, who’s going to report me?

I haul my stuff back through camp and out to Rose Cabin. It reminds me of the first day I arrived, quiet and secluded. The door creaks and I glance down at Ethan’s bunk, still perfectly made from when I tidied up the cabin earlier this morning. He didn’t take all of his things with him. There’s a baseball cap on the dresser and some clothes still in the drawers. I unpack my duffle bag—for good this time—and then try to call my mom. Three attempts and no successes have me ready to throw my phone clear across the forest. I curse phone carriers and their lack of forethought in putting cell towers out here in the middle of nowhere.

Then when that doesn’t soothe my anger enough, I storm out of the cabin, haul butt down the stairs, and let out a soul-on-fire, life-cannot-be-this-unfair scream. Birds shoot up out of the surrounding trees, apparently terrified of me. I would be too.

There’s such a thing as too much crap.

One person can only handle so much. I have a breaking point, and apparently, I’ve reached it.