ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟜𝟚 #2
He cleared his throat. "So, uh..."
His eyes searched the hallway like answers might be written on the walls.
"Hey, the weather's finally cooling off."
I looked at him. "Josh..you don't have to do this."
"Do what?"
"This," I gestured vaguely between us. "The awkward small talk."
"I'm just trying to be nice." He lagged sheepishly
"I know. And I appreciate it."
I really didn't. In fact, I loathed it.
"But I really don't have the energy." I settled.
He nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
Another silence passed by- this one somehow felt even worse.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, then something occurred to me. "How's Dannah?"
"What?" Josh blinked.
"Dannah," I shrugged. "I never got around to calling her after that stomach bug. I figured she was probably feeling better by now."
Josh's expression changed almost immediately.
His shoulders stiffened as he scoffed. "Why would I know?"
I frowned. "What?"
"Why would I know how she's doing?"
"Because you're dating." I stared at him.
His jaw clenched. "Well we broke up."
Holy moly.
"Again?" I say.
"A week ago."
"Oh."
That explained a lot. I looked him over again.
The unshaven face...the tired eyes, his wrinkled shirt..Dannah would never let Josh wear a wrinkled shirt and I know that for a fact.
How had I missed all of that? "I didn't know."
"Clearly."
I shifted awkwardly. "I'm sorry."
"It's whatever." He shrugged.
No it wasn't.
Josh only ever said it's whatever when it absolutely was not whatever.
"What happened?" I asked, looking up.
He laughed once. "You really wanna know?"
I hesitated. I honestly didn't have the emotional capacity to carry another person's relationship today, but I kind of wanted to know.
"I..." He looked at me before sighing. "You know what? It doesn't matter."
"It probably does if you're saying that."
"It doesn't." He leaned back against the wall.
"She wanted one thing, I wanted another..we argued. Neither of us apologized. The end."
I frowned. "That doesn't sound like the whole story."
"It isn't.." He looked down at the floor. "But I'm not exactly in the mood to unpack it."
"I get that." I nodded once.
I would hate it if Cam and I were on and off.
Another quiet settled over us.
Finally, I said, "I'll just call Dannah myself."
"Yeah, I think that's probably better." Josh looked up.
I gave him a small nod. "I hope you're okay."
"I will be." He smiled politely.
I wasn't too convinced. Sooner or later they probably won't be able to get their hands off each other.
Before I could say anything else, Ted's office door clicked open. Both Josh and I looked over. Ted stepped into the hallway, one hand still holding his phone.
He ended the call before sliding it into his pocket.
His eyes landed on me immediately. "There she is."
He smiled. "Dixie."
"Ted." I straightened automatically.
He looked me up and down briefly. "I like it. You're still punctual."
"You told me to be here."
"I did," His gaze flickered toward Josh for half a second. "Would you give us the room?"
Josh nodded. "Sure."
I didn't even realize I'd forgotten to say goodbye until Josh had already disappeared down the hallway.
His eyes returned to me. "You seem tense."
"I've had a long couple of weeks." I reply.
"So I've heard."
That caught my attention. He turned and held his office door open. "Come in."
I walked past him.
His office hadn't changed much. He still had that same expensive coffee on his desk that somehow always smelled better than everyone else's.
Funny- I'd spent weeks imagining walking back in here. I just hadn't imagined my heart pounding this hard.
Ted closed the door behind us.
I remained standing. He didn't tell me to sit.
Instead, he walked behind his desk as calmly as ever, adjusted a stack of papers, before finally looking up at me.
A small smile settled on his face. "Welcome back, Dixie."
Something about the way he said it made my pulse jump.
This was it- It had to be.
This was the conversation I'd spent weeks hoping for. The one that would finally put everything back where it belonged.
I took a slow breath, trying very hard not to let myself smile first.
Ted gestured toward the chair across from his desk.
"Don't you want to sit?"
I did. Only because I'd spent the last five minutes convincing myself this conversation was about to change my life.
Ted settled into his chair, folding his hands together. "How's Cameron?"
I blinked. That wasn't how I was expecting this to go.
"He's alright."
Ted nodded once. "And Molly?"
That question landed heavier.
I looked down briefly. "No updates yet."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
Silence settled between us. Ted picked up a pen, turning it slowly between his fingers.
"I heard about the community meeting."
My stomach twisted. Well, of course. Everyone had.
"It was difficult." I nod.
"I imagine. You look tired."
"I told you I've had a long week."
"So I've heard."
That irritatingly calm voice.
I waited. Surely we were done with the pleasantries. Surely.
"So..." I finally said.
Ted looked up. "So?"
"You asked me to come in."
"I did."
"I assumed..." I leaned forward slightly. "I assumed this was about... my position."
His expression didn't change. He simply nodded once. "...Ah."
My heart sped up- this was it.
He leaned back in his chair. "I can see how you would've come to that conclusion."
I smiled before I could stop myself. "Good. That's..good."
"Oh, no." Ted looked at me for another second.
My smile froze. I tiled my head slightly. "I'm sorry?"
"Georgia still has your office." He spoke as casually as if he were commenting on the weather.
Everything inside me stopped. The whole world if you will.
"What?"