Page 102 of Miss Understanding
“It’s me. Don’t hang up.”
“Unless this is work related, please don’t call me.”
“I need five minutes. Can you transfer this to my office and take it there for privacy? Please?”
I waited the ten beats until she finally said, “Fine. Five minutes.”
Although I was a master at preparing what needed to be said, I was ill prepared right now.
Finally there was a click and then the sound of her voice. “All right. I’m here.”
“First off, I want to apologize for last night. I could make a lot of excuses, but the bottom line is it was inexcusable.”
Silence.
“What are you thinking, Kendall?” How was she feeling? Scared? Lonely? Disappointed in me? Probably all of the above.
“I don’t know. I’m still processing things.”
“About if you’re planning to keep this baby?”
“Yes. Or from what I’m reading, the miscarriage rate is high, so maybe you’ll get lucky.”
Her shot hit below the belt, but I didn’t blame her. Never in a million years would I wish for her to lose the baby. Nor did I want her to consider abortion. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m thousands of miles away trying to figure out what to say here, and clearly botching it all.”
“I should’ve never told you over the phone. It was a mistake. I knew you wouldn’t be happy, but I wanted someone to talk to because it had come as such as shock.”
Not for the first time, I realized how very selfish I’d been to only think of myself. “Kendall—”
“I’m not done. I need you to leave me alone for the weekend. Don’t call. Don’t text. Leave me to figure some things out. Rest assured, I’m not going to HR, nor do I plan on telling anyone in the office. Hell, I’m still on the fence about whether to tell my roommate. I’ve always known what your priorities are, and I don’t expect you to change them for me or for this circumstance. Matter of fact, I don’t expect anything from you.”
I hated the way she said circumstance. It was cold. Clinical. I knew in my heart, I’d pushed her to this. She was in self-preservation mode because I had been such a prick. I also loathed the way she assumed I’d think she’d go to HR. I was beyond my trust issues with her, but hearing she didn’t believe it was another blow.
“Can we talk once I return?” I was grasping at straws here, desperate to try to do damage control.
“Text me once you’re home, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to see you. Also, one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I put in this morning for a transfer to the Century City office. They have an open secretarial position. No matter what happens, it would be best for me to make this move. I’m sure the coordinator will be reaching out to you. I’m hopeful you will be supportive of the move.”
“If it’s what you want.” I’d lost her. She couldn’t wait to get away from me. She had probably started another list of all the reasons why.
“It is. Again, I’m sorry I put this on you over the phone on your way to Virginia. I hope everything goes okay with your family.”
Leave it to her to apologize when she didn’t need to. “It’s me who should do all the apologizing. I’ll text you Sunday.”
“Okay. Goodbye.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Liam
“You look like shit.”
Leave it to my sister to be blunt when she got out of her car to give me a hug. We were curbside at the Roanoke airport on Friday night.
Although I could’ve rented a car, Allison had insisted on picking me up. I was relieved to get the time alone with her. Because I needed someone to talk to.
