Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jack
The next day, I come back to my locker after camp ends for the day and find a voicemail on my phone from Maggie.
“Hey. The fucker did exactly what I expected. I gave him a letter informing him of my two weeks’ notice.
He sent me a text after he read it telling me to leave if I wasn’t, quote, dedicated to the project.
So, uh, I guess I have free time during the day now.
I reeeeeally hope I get an interview soon with your PR department because I’m not sure what I’m gonna do now.
I guess just start applying to anything and everything because not having a job is not an option.
” She pauses and clears her throat. “Anyway. I just wanted to let you know. Call me back whenever.”
I’m torn between happiness that she no longer has to deal with her jackass of a boss and sadness on her behalf. The anxiety about not having a job is palpable. I shoot off a text to Molly, just to check in.
I had Maggie email you her resume last night
Molly
Got it. I’ve put in a request to the C-suite emphasizing that I have someone ready to start ASAP and referenced our increasing fan engagement and the need to have someone dedicated to cultivating that growth.
More fans means more butts in seats means more advertising dollars, not to mention the revenue from ticket and merchandise sales.
You’re the best, Molly
And don’t you forget it!
Chuckling, I put my phone away so I can hurry and get showered and changed to head home.
I don’t want to call Maggie back from the locker room.
My asshole teammates would for sure start clowning in the background, and while that might be funny under different circumstances, when she just lost her job and is faced with so much uncertainty, it wouldn’t be funny now.
She seemed pretty relaxed when we went out for ice cream last night, which was a relief after the roller coaster of emotions leading up to that.
I think feeling like she had a way out of the blackmail her boss was trying to pull that didn’t mean she had to break up with me—though based on the fact that he fired her for putting in her two weeks’ notice makes me think he’d’ve fired her for breaking up with me too—made all the difference.
Liam and I had fun taking turns shooting baskets until she finished, and she let me hold her hand while we were walking into the ice cream shop.
Since Liam knows we’re a couple—and seems okay with it—she feels more comfortable with low level PDA.
On my way out to my car, I hit her name and press my phone to my ear. “How does it feel to be free?” I ask when she answers.
She laughs, though it’s that anxious kind of laughter she does sometimes.
“Terrified? But also really good.” This time her chuckle sounds more genuine.
“Brock’s threat has been hanging over my head for so long now.
It’s a relief that he doesn’t have power over me anymore.
I mean, I’m sure he won’t give me a good reference, but that’s why I didn’t put him down as one on the resume I sent to Molly.
My friend Sadie from my old network will give me a good reference.
Even though Kyle did a good job making it so no one there wants to work with me on any other shows, the people that actually worked with me there know the truth. ”
“I’m glad of that, at least,” I murmur. “What are you gonna do with all your free time now that you’re not working?”
“Well, like I said, I’ll be applying to anything that looks promising. I know you’re sure Molly will come through, but since the position doesn’t even actually exist, I’m less confident. Not confident enough to bet on it without having some backup, anyway.”
“That makes sense.”
“Otherwise, I guess I can finally clean the house?”
“Boo. Who wants to do that? If your house needs cleaning, I can ask my cleaning service to swing by for you. How often do you want them to come?”
She splutters out a laugh. “Jack. Seriously. I’m not letting you hire a cleaning service for me.”
“Why not? It’s not that expensive.”
“For you, maybe.”
“Sure. I’m the one in charge of my budget. If I want to hire a cleaning service to make my girlfriend’s life easier, what’s so wrong with that? Do you actually enjoy cleaning toilets?”
“Well … no. Not really.”
“Great. It’s settled, then.”
She hums. “I’m willing to put a pin in this discussion, but I wouldn’t call it settled.”
“Okay, fine. How about I take you out to dinner tomorrow night. I’d stick with Friday, but we have our first preseason game on the road that day.”
“Actually, that works perfectly. Kyle’s supposed to be having dinner with Liam that night.”
“Awesome.” Hopefully the asshole follows through this time.
She laughs lightly. “Don’t worry,” she says, assuaging my unspoken concern. “With mediation and court coming up, he’s flaking a lot less.”
“Less?” I clarify. “That means he’s still flaking some .”
“Well, it’s Kyle, so yeah. But less is still better than nearly always.”
“I guess,” I grumble. “I’m gonna be pissed if he cancels.”
“Yeah, well, me too.”