“That won’t happen.”
“It happens to people, Erik. They have every intention on seeing each other again, but life gets in the way and they don’t do it. Then sooner or later, it’s too late and both people have moved on with their life.”
“You can come out with me tomorrow if you want to. I’m ready to take you on a date right now.”
She laughed at the idea. I had probably exaggerated just a little bit. I wasn’t ready to do the date just yet. But I would have made it happen if she had said yes.
“I think we should wait six months, at least. You need time to adjust and figure out your life and your treatment. I don’t want to be in the way of that.”
“Six months is too long. I’m not okay with that,” I said firmly.
Just then, there was a knock at the door and it quickly swung open. It was Kaitlin, and right behind her was Officer Pinter.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cassidy
“I’ll wait out here, but you’re going to have to come with me,” Officer Pinter said.
I was devastated. I knew what was going to happen. I was about to get fired. Tears started to well up, but then I blocked them. I didn’t want that to be the last memory that Erik had of me. I was going to be all right. No matter what happened with this job, I was sober and happy and loved by many people. I would be just fine.
“I’m so sorry, Cassidy. I’ll tell them it was my fault,” Erik said as we both got dressed.
“It wasn’t your fault, though. It was my choice, Erik, and I’m okay with it. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I tried to make up some crazy lie. I will live with the consequences of my actions.”
“Come see me as soon as you can,” he said as he wrote down his home address, phone number, and even his e-mail address for me.
“I’m sure we will find time to see each other. I’m not too worried about it. But I want you to take time and take care of yourself. You call me any time you are having a rough night or you just need a friend,” I said as I wrote down my information for him.
It felt like we were saying goodbye forever. Nothing about the moment felt like I was going to see this guy again. But that was still all right with me. I didn’t regret any of it. I grew because I knew Erik, and I hoped by meeting me that Erik felt like he was a better person, as well.
“Let’s go, Cassidy,” Officer Pinter said from the other side of the door.
“I’ll talk to you later,” I said to Erik as I leaned down and kissed him. “Take care of yourself. No matter what else is going on in your life, always take care of yourself.”
We kissed one last time before I walked off the unit with Officer Pinter. I didn’t look back at Erik’s room, but I felt like he watched me as I left the unit. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to me, but I could only guess that I was being fired.
Officer Pinter walked me to the front of the building and held his hand out for my badge.
“I don’t have it,” I said.
But then I thought they would get angry with Kaitlin so I had to make up a story. There was no way I was going to let Kaitlin get in trouble for letting me onto the unit.
“I lost it last week. If I find it, I’ll mail it back to you guys.”
“Fine, but if you don’t find it, make sure and call me so I can get the codes changed. I don’t want some random stranger having access to our units.”
“Because people are trying to break into our treatment center all the time?” I laughed.
“Oh, you know what I mean.”
“So, I’m fired?” I questioned, just to make sure I knew what was happening.
“Technically, I can’t fire you. But Mr. March will call you in the morning and do it or he might ask you to come in. You know if you fight it and say you two were just talking, he’ll take your word and let you off with a warning.”
Officer Pinter was a nice guy, and I appreciated him giving me an out if I wanted to keep my job. But there was no way I was going to stay if I had to lie and there was no way Mr. March could keep me on staff if he knew what I had done with Erik. This was my final moment in the treatment center. There was no way around it.
“Thanks, and I’m sorry for giving you so much trouble tonight.”