Free Unexpected Love (Jo's Story) by Nikki Williams Page B

only care about himself and where he is going to go and no one else.  I mean look at him and Hailey.  Together for five years and he still won’t ask her to marry him.” She grabs my hand, “please don’t let what he said have an impact on you.  You’re good at your job.  Everyone knows it.  He is just pissed off because technically you are his boss and you have the pull in your job to demote him if you need to.  He thinks that if he can play down on your lack of edge he will have the power to convince you to give up your title.  Jo, I mean it.”
    I look at her.  Could she be right? Maybe he is after my job. “Well he isn’t getting my job; I don’t think anything could make me give it up.  I am mostly concerned about the fact that other people at the station may think I am unable to do my job.  I mean I lead an entire team, what if they lost faith in my ability to lead them?”
    “Jo, don’t you think that if you were unable to do your job Chief Lorenz would tell you?  He is the boss, and if he had any second guessing about what you are doing he would have told you so.”
    “Yeah you would think so.  Maybe it is time for me to look at other stations?”
    “Jo, don’t let one asshole’s opinion chase you off.  You know damn well that if you transfer you will never get back to where you are right now.”
    “But if I am unable to make sure that my team is safe then what good am I at my position?  It is my job to protect not only myself, but those around me.  If they don’t think I can do it then who am I to continue in that position?”
    “Jo, do me a favor?”
    “What?”  I look at her.
    “Go talk to Chief Lorenz after we are done with breakfast.  I don’t want you to get all worked up over something that someone, that doesn’t even matter, had to say about you.”
    “Yes, I will.  I forgot to leave my paper with HR anyway so I have to go back.”  I look at her again.  I see that question burning in her brain about last night.  “Nothing happened last night,” I smile at her.
    She smiles instantly, “ok so we are going to change to something good now!  I want to know everything!”
    “Annie, nothing happened,” I laugh at her.  I end up going through everything that happened with Jake until our breakfast arrives.  “And before he left he kissed me on the cheek.  Annie, I got instant butterflies.  It is so crazy how much I like him.  And did I mention how great he looked?  I seriously don’t know anyone that is as good looking as he is.” I am just about to take a bite of my omelet when my phone starts ringing.  I look at it and smile, “Hi.”
    “Well hello,” it is Jake.  “How are you this morning?”
    There is that stupid teenage smile again, “I'm good.  Sitting having breakfast with Annie.”
    “Oh, the friend that I like?”
    I giggle, “Yes that would be the one,” I look over at her and she is trying to figure out what I am talking about.  “I thought you had practice this morning?”
    “I do, just got done with drills now we are waiting for the coaches to have play meetings.  I just wanted to call and see how you are and tell you that I am excited to see you at lunch.”
    “I'm pretty excited too.  I have had a pretty crappy morning and could use some fun.”  Annie sticks her tongue out at me.
    “Well that makes me feel a lot better.  I am glad that you can have a fun time with me.” He laughs, “Well they just opened the doors time for me to get back to work.  See you soon.”
    “Can’t wait!”
    “Me either,” he hangs up.
    “JO!” Annie’s mouth is hanging open.
    “What?” I set my phone down next to my plate.
    “You like him like him,” she laughed.
    “What does that mean?”
    “That means you are head over heels for him.  I hope he is looking for something serious because if he hurts you I will have to kick his ass.  I don’t care how cute it is.”
    “Annie, I am sure that right now we are not thinking long