Look Whos Back
Maisie
All night, I'd been dreading this – returning to the bike shop after the blowup with Griff. I wasn't even sure what or who I would find.
Probably, I'd find nothing and nobody, especially no billionaire in disguise.
And yet, a stupid part of me still fantasized that Griff would magically show up and explain away the lies with something that actually made sense.
Foolish, I know.
But hey, I knew I was a fool. Why not embrace it?
Today, I was walking to work, hoping to clear my head and shake off the gloom before facing the workday all on my own.
Instead, I got a surprise.
I was about three blocks away when I spotted a familiar figure, lounging against the front door of the shop. He wore jeans, classic white sneakers, and a familiar shirt sporting the name of my shop.
It wasn't Griff.
It wasn't Ryder either.
It was Trevor, the college kid who'd quit with no notice nearly a month ago. My steps faltered, and I stopped to stare. What was he doing here?
As if feeling my gaze, he turned to look. When our eyes locked across the distance, he gave me a tentative smile and friendly wave.
On auto-pilot, I waved back but skipped anything resembling a smile. I wasn't even sure I could smile after what had happened with Griff.
I'd been wrecked.
Devastated.
Thoroughly played.
I'd spent most of last night crying like a fool. Even worse, I'd done it all alone. Wherever Tessa was, I had no idea. All I'd seen of her was a pink note on the fridge with three little words. Be back soon.
But how soon was soon?
Hours? Days? Weeks? The note didn't say. But did it really matter? Even if Tessa had been home, she still couldn't have filled it – that big, empty spot left by Griff.
Or should I say Montgomery?
With my thoughts still churning, I resumed walking toward my shop.
As for Trevor, he stayed rooted in place, looking nervous and fidgety.
As I moved toward him, I couldn't help but recall all of those fallen bikes, the ones he had claimed were knocked over by the wind.
No wonder he was nervous.
What was this?
Confession time?
When I reached the shop, I got right to the point. "So…what brings you here?"
Trevor fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "I heard you might have an opening, and I was wondering if…well, maybe… " He gave me a smile that looked more like a wince. "I'll just say it. Could I have my old job back?"
My jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I heard the other guy's gone, so…" He let the sentence trail off like the rest of it didn't need saying.
I wasn't buying it.
Or maybe I simply wasn't in the mood. "Look, I don't want to be rude or anything, but you quit with no notice. You left me in a huge bind."
His face fell as he mumbled, "Yeah...I know. Sorry."
And of course, sap that I was, I couldn't help but soften just a little. "Don't get me wrong. You were terrific at your job, but…" Now, it was my turn to leave the rest unsaid.
He perked up. "But that won't happen now."
I gave him a dubious look. "Why not?"
He lowered his voice. "Because those guys are gone."
"What guys?" Surely, he didn't mean Griff and Ryder.
Or did he?