Free Unexpected Chance by Joanne Schwehm Page B

friends to tell them
I was leaving. Julie saw my expression when I approached them and could totally
sense that I was going to lose it in one form or another.
    She walked up to me. “What’s wrong?”
    “I need to get out of here.” I was going to burst. I hated feeling
this way. I looked at Brett sitting behind Julie. “Good-bye, Brett.” Turning
toward Mark, I said, “Thanks for coming out tonight, Mark. Next time, bring
Jessica.” I smiled the best I could and walked away.
    Mark jogged over to me. “Wait, do you need a ride?”
    “Thanks, Mark, but stay and have fun.” I knew that Alex was
behind me, but I didn’t care. I felt nothing but confusion and hurt. It wasn’t
supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be research. He was supposed to be
research. Why did I feel this way?
    “No, really, I was just leaving, and Julie told me she drove
here.”
    “Okay, if you’re sure, that would be great.”
    Alex spoke up. “I’ll take her home.”
    I looked at Alex. “No, thank you. You should stay here and
service your customers.” I made sure to sarcastically emphasize the word
“service.”
    I turned away from him and looked at Mark. “Ready?”
     

 
     
    Chapter 8
    There’d been no word from Alex. So much for my
research. Oh well. I had nothing to add to my journal about him. I didn’t
think his dismissing my feelings toward Leah was a romantic gesture, nor was
not contacting me at all. Julie was going strong with Brett. I didn’t bother to
ask her about Alex, and she didn’t volunteer any information. She knew me well
enough to know that if I didn’t ask she shouldn’t tell. Maybe I’ll ask Mark
what he thinks is romantic or see if Brett does anything like that for Julie. I couldn’t deny that my heart felt broken. To say that I was disappointed would
have been the understatement of the year . . . no, the century!
    I’d been at Walker-Stone two weeks now, and I’d settled into my chair
and drowned myself in work. Brian was pleased with our new clients marketing
requests and then told Julie that there was another marketing event for The White
Orchid. Julie and I just looked at each other. I wasn’t sure how I felt. On one
hand, I was excited, but on the other, I was apprehensive. What if he acted
distant with me? Did I misinterpret everything? I doubted everything: his
feelings for me and mine for him. Was there even an “us”?
    Brian was going through the papers on his desk and handed some to
Julie. “Julie, you’re the lead on this account. I want you to meet with Mr.
Logan at ten tomorrow morning, see what he has in mind, and have him review the
updated contract terms. Aubrey, you’re to accompany Julie. I want you to see
our marketing approach firsthand, and this is one of our largest accounts. Mr.
Logan asked for you by name; apparently, he’s heard of you. He spends a lot of
money on marketing, so we give him the red carpet treatment.” I looked at Julie
and then to Mark, who took notes.
    Back at my desk, I put my head in my hands. I hadn’t stopped
thinking about Alex, and I couldn’t let my personal life interfere with my new
job. I was also thinking about my writing. I kept repeating the word “research”
over and over in my head. I decided to text Alex.
    Me: 3:45 p.m.—Hey, Alex.
    Well, that said a lot. I was a dumb ass. Could I have written
less? I suppose I could have omitted his name. I suck at this relationship
stuff. My phone dinged.
    Alex: 3:51 p.m.—Surprised to hear from you. Can we talk?
    He wants to talk? Where has he been? I really missed him. I
shouldn’t, but I did.
    Me: 3:52 p.m.—I guess so.
    I was waiting for another text, but instead, my phone rang. I
looked and saw that it was Alex.
    “Hi.” My heartbeat raced.
    “Aubrey, it’s really good to hear your voice. I wanted to know if
you were busy after work today. May I come and pick you up and take you to
dinner?”
    I really wanted to go with him. I realized that I missed him. “Sure,
I guess