The Mix-up (Surprising Love! #1)

Chapter 1 The dumping

Leon

The sky breaks in purple, pink and orange hues.

The light blends with the dark blue of the previous night, turning the whole sight into a work of art that's too beautiful for words.

I can't remember the last time I saw the sunrise, but it had to be after an all-nighter in college, when I was either too drunk or tired to appreciate it.

This is quite possibly the most stunning view I have ever witnessed. Too bad I can't enjoy it.

I've been dumped. The words don't get easier the twentieth time I say them in my mind.

My sweet, loving girlfriend of five years informed me last night that she can't do this anymore.

Apparently, she was giving me signs for a while, and I was not picking up anything she was putting down.

Guess it's my fault I wasn't born a mind-reader.

Bitter much?

So what if we haven't had sex in over six months?

It's not like couples don't go through dry spells.

Work is hard, life is hard, and sometimes you just wanna cuddle the person you love instead of jumping their bones.

Apparently Jen disagrees and somehow thinks I'm not attracted to her anymore.

How do I explain that, as a twenty-six-year-old male, I just don't feel like it?

Sounds like the start of a bad line and I don't blame her for whatever insecurities she said she developed lately because of me.

I get insecure too, despite being a generally happy and goofy person.

Like knowing I had to leave hockey behind when I left college, because I was never going to be drafted.

The logical part of my brain understood it, but my heart not so much.

Come to think of it now, it was Jen who helped me through the slump.

She was so supportive while I was figuring out what to do with my life, barely leaving my couch or talking to any of my former teammates.

Did I say I was a happy and goofy person?

Maybe I used to be in college, but it seems I let that person go along with my hockey dreams. My degree in sports management at least helped me feel connected to that part of my life and, once I left the resentment behind, I got an internship with the New York Hunters and am now an assistant on the PR & marketing team led by Kaylee Dunne.

I love my job even though the hours are far beyond your regular (and contracted) nine to five.

Kaylee is a shark and reminds me of a ‘70s stock trader.

She takes no bull and manages the players with an iron fist. All the guys on the team are terrified of her, but I'm taking all her training to heart, so that I can hopefully replace her one day, although despite being in her late fifties, I doubt she will retire until she's well over eighty.

The other job I always considered was becoming an agent, but that seems too much responsibility, to manage someone's entire career and the potential to fuck it up is crippling.

Jen always hinted that I could use some more drive, yet another thing I didn't catch on to until now.

Aaaand I'm back to the break-up, or rather the official dumping of Leon Sciend by one Jen Fields for being a sexless, clueless moron without drive.

I have been lying awake ever since I got home at midnight and, while I haven't slept a wink, I'm not exactly tired.

Jen was sitting in the living room with suitcases packed and a whole speech prepared.

Funny how all I got over the past year were "signs", yet last night the communication skills were on fire.

I know I'm being an asshole and she was nothing but the sweet girl I've always loved, but couldn't I at least get the courtesy of "it's not you, it's me"?

I was a good boyfriend, attentive and cuddly, never even looked at another person the whole time we were together.

I also never forgot a birthday or anniversary and, despite my very long hours, I always made sure to schedule at least two date nights a week.

Maybe that wasn't the case the last couple months, but with the preseason starting soon, there is a lot more to do in the office to ensure games go smoothly and tickets are sold.

The charity gala we're organizing for the end of August is taking up all my time and it's an honour that Kaylee is letting me take on most of the planning.

Take that for drive! Jen sure didn't pack her punches and while I feel like the worst scum for making her insecure, her accusations of not loving her or not being attracted to her came by surprise.

And yet, people don't understand why I say I hate surprises.

Numb is a better description for what I feel, although the ache beneath my ribs indicates it might not be the right word.

Heartbroken comes to mind, but that doesn't seem like the right word either.

Disappointed is too light as well, but now I'm getting into semantics and I didn't think I would put my grammar skills to test at 5am on a Thursday.

The sky has almost lost its dark hues and more yellow is exploding through the pink and orange.

On a heavy sigh, I decide I've had enough wallowing and need to get a move on to get to the office early.

Work will help distract me until I can think clearly and wrap my head around how I'm supposed to move on without Jen.

Plus, Kaylee will be impressed by seeing me arrive before her, which has never happened since I joined there.

I suspect there's a cot in her office which she sleeps on, that the elves magic away every morning, so it looks like she has any kind of work-life balance.

With another sigh, I push up from the balcony wicker chair and pull out my phone, taking a photo of the sky before I head for the sliding balcony door. I pull up IG to post it with the caption To new beginnings. Corny much? Definitely not me.

I make it to the office in Madison Square around 6:30am and greet Don from security with a big smile that I don't feel in my surly state of mind.

I only have to travel around forty minutes from my two-bed apartment near Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

It's nothing I could afford during my internship, but Aunt Lacey was a godsend when she decided she would rather move to Valencia in Spain with her profits from her last steamy romance novel.

While she could have sold the place, she wanted to keep a connection to the first apartment she bought when her books became successful.

Dad's youngest sister always had a soft spot for me and she didn't think twice about offering up the place to Jen and me, four years ago.

While I love all my aunts, Lacey was always closest to me growing up and we shared a kindred spirit connection.

She’s a goofball of ADHD and the only one of my dad's five sisters who does not want a relationship or children.

Guess that made her the black sheep in the eyes of her family, although her act of rebellion was as mild as the rest of the family.

To be honest, they are all chill and laidback, with steady careers and loving demeanours.

They embraced my mom instantly, who was a quiet mousy girl from Surrey, England and I came shortly after their fast engagement and wedding.

My mom is still a quiet lady, mostly focusing on her sculptures, but she brightens up when my dad walks into the room each time I'm visiting home in upstate New York.

I swear they have a love story from the romance novels, one I didn't think existed in real life.

She's also got a really good sense of humor, which she proved by naming me Leon since I was born a Leo, although she blamed the 30-hour labour at the time.

Dad, on the other hand, is outgoing and fearless.

Guess that's what you have to be to make yourself heard in a house with four older sisters and one younger one.

He became a psychiatrist and is quite successful while maintaining an actual work-life balance, unlike yours truly.

I pull my phone just as I step into the office and notice Mom liked my new post of the sunrise.

She is up at five every morning and was likely looking at the same sky.

We always do a weekly call, even when life gets too busy.

After her cancer scare when I was younger, I make sure to always check in.

I remember, even being quite young at the time, I had never felt more scared in my life.

That fear still registers sometimes, the thoughts of losing my mom being unbearable.

Before I register what’s happening, I'm pressing her contact and putting through a call.

Her answer is swift, after just two seconds, and it does not give me time to overthink about hanging up.

In that split-second, I realize she will probably be able to tell that something is wrong.

Her mellow Hi, darling with a soft British accent puts me at ease enough to take a short breath.

"Hi, Mom! Just wanted to check in."

"Oh, lovely baby, thank you for thinking of me! I was just admiring the photo you took since I missed the sunrise this morning."

“Really? You? What happened?”

"I know, right?" she says with a chuckle, "I overslept since your father took me for a late supper last night to celebrate our anniversary!"

SHIT!

"Yeah, would have called yesterday to congratulate you guys, but work ran long and the charity event is nearing. I need to put my all into organizing this, so Kaylee is impressed."

A half-lie at least.

"Oh, darling. You work too hard! And you sound tired! Are you doing ok?"

"Yeah, Mom, I... Jen dumped me last night. I couldn't sleep after that."

Silence blankets our conversation and I wonder if I should take the cop out and pretend she didn't hear over network issues or the call cut off. But while I would be happy in delulu land, I should just rip the band-aid off, especially since I already said the works.

"Mom?"

"Yes, sorry sweets. You've just taken me by surprise, that's all." Cue more heavy silence. "Are you alright, Leon?"

"I don't know how to answer that, Mom. It had taken me by surprise as well. I mean, she said all these things about being unhappy and insecure and giving me signs for months, but I swear I hit me like a freight train." My voice becomes much smaller on the next beat. "I thought we were happy..."

"Oh my sweet baby, I'm so, so sorry you are going through this. Can you come over for a cup of tea so we can chat about it?"

"Sorry Mom, I'm at work already. And honestly, I could use the distraction." I say, on another heavy sigh.

"That's fine, but the weekend?" she asks, with a hopeful note in her voice.

"I'll try... Could you tell Dad as well? Not really feeling like having this conversation twice."

"Yes, dear. Anything you need!" My mom really is the best.

After a couple more minutes of small talk and prolonged goodbyes, I hang up just in time to hear the elevator doors open on our floor.

Guess there goes my elves and cot theory out the window.

Kaylee gets off and by the sound of her heels click-clacking on the floor, she's not in a hurry for once.

When she gets to my door, she does a double-take, and her slight look of surprise gives her a real Miranda Priestly feel.

Her sleek platinum bob drops along with her head on the sight as I squirm in my seat while she looks me up and down.

"Leon," she finally speaks, "This is early, even for you!"

"Hi, boss lady! Couldn't sleep, so I decided to come in. Early bird gets the worm, and all that!" I try to keep it light while cringing inside.

"Did you party all night, Leon?"

Wait, what?

"Uhm, why would you think that?" I ask reluctantly.

"Well, if the heavy bags under your eyes didn't give it away, your general green hue certainly did," she says slowly, while her glacial blue eyes assess me again.

"While I love a good party as much as the next person, I expect you in the office giving one hundred percent, so I hope this is not going to be a problem today. "

Cold sweat covers my body in an instant. I have a good relationship with Kaylee and, while she relies on me and we can joke around, we have always kept it professional and not disclosed much personal details. Do I share the break-up with her? Would that be overstepping?

"Jesus, Leon! I'm having a good day and you look about to throw up. You're turning greener by the second and I can't say I'm happy you came in like this." She says in a disappointed tone.

Guess that's the decision made for me, I can't have her thinking I came to work hungover, or even worse, still drunk.

"My girlfriend, she…uhm…ended things last night.

She had the suitcases packed and the speech ready by the time I made it home.

It's…I've been processing the whole night, which is why I didn't sleep.

But I promise I'm ok to work and I won't let you down!

" I say the last words of the sentence with a peppy inflexion I don't really feel.

"Jen left you?" she floors me by saying.

"I didn't realize you remembered her name.

She only joined us for a bit at the Christmas party last year, and I didn't want to overshare at work.

" I say quickly thinking this will make the whole conversation better.

"But yes, she left. And it was a surprise, so there was a lot of.

.. processing." God, sound more pathetic, Leon.

Her eyes slightly narrow in a sympathetic look that I have yet to see on her, which she follows with a firm "Well, it's her loss," and after a beat, "Do you need to take the day off?"

"No!" I say, much too forcefully. Softening my tone, I add, "No, I need the distraction. Work will help and the gala is coming soon. This is my baby and I need to follow through. Please let me do this."

"Ok, Leon," she says with the sympathetic tone again. "If you need anything, just let me know".

"Will do!" I let her know stoically. And then I plunge myself into work.