Chance Encounters

As the days passed, she found herself more and more reliant on Jackson’s companionship. When something happened at work, she longed to fill him in. Any news or funny story, he was the first one she wanted to tell. So by the time Clay got home from work, Caroline no longer felt the need to share. When he asked how things were going, he got one-word answers.

“Baby, are you okay?” Clay asked her one night.

Caroline stopped what she was doing and looked in his direction. “I’m fine, why?”

“I don’t know. You just seem distracted lately.”

Caroline smiled. “I’m sorry. I just have a lot going on at work with the promotion and stuff.”

Clay looked confused. “What promotion?”

Caroline scrunched her face in confusion, as well. “Yeah. Since I got hired as staff. You know this.”

Clay shook his head. “No. You got hired as staff?” His tone grew in excitement for her. “Baby, that’s awesome!”

“I swear I told you,” Caroline insisted and thought back to the day she got the news.

“No. I’d remember something like that. So when did it happen?”

Caroline tried to remember when the promotion came through and she thought briefly about lying to Clay, but couldn’t. “A few weeks ago.”

Clay’s face dropped. “Really? A few weeks ago?”

“I’m sorry, J…hon. I seriously thought I told you,” Caroline apologized.

“It’s okay. I’ve been so busy at work and I’m never around. It’s my fault.”

“What? Stop it. Clay, it’s not your fault. I thought I told you, but obviously I didn’t. And that’s my fault, not yours.” Caroline refused to let Clay take the blame for her idiocy.

He walked over toward the couch and sat down next to her. “Baby, I know I leave you alone a lot. I’m sorry about that. I’ll try to be a better boyfriend.”

“Oh my gosh, please stop. Are you kidding me? You are not a bad boyfriend. You work hard and I totally understand. I don’t care that you’re gone. I’m not alone, or lonely or sad or anything. I’m fine. Seriously, I’m the one who’s sorry. Forgive me?” Caroline asked sincerely. What kind of girlfriend forgets to tell her own boyfriend something as important as that? The kind who has her priorities all screwed up. Caroline’s stomach clenched as the guilt set in again.

“Forgiven.” Clay smiled and kissed her lips. “Congratulations on the promotion. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, baby,” she said, while looking into his hazel eyes.

Chapter Seven

Bailey stood inside Caroline’s work cubicle and practically shouted, “So you didn’t even tell him?”

Caroline shushed her friend and whispered, “I told Jackson. But I didn’t even tell my own boyfriend.”

“Shut.Up.” Bailey said, all overly dramatic.

“I’m not kidding. I never freaking told Clay,” Caroline continued, “and the worst part…”

“There’s a worse part?” Bailey interrupted.

Caroline glared at her. “I thought I told him. I didn’t even realize I hadn’t.”

“That is a worse part,” Bailey agreed.

“And then he tried to apologize.”

“Of course he did,” her eyes rolled.

“This is serious!” Caroline raised her voice in frustration.