“Fucking asshole…”
I resist an urge to throw my phone—my perfectly innocent phone—at the wall. I don’t think Savannah or her mom would appreciate my little show of temper, either. Which wouldn’t be that little, truth be told.
Fucking Manny. I just spent half an hour arguing with him over a few days working remotely.
Working. Not time off. I haven’t taken a single day off since I was hired. Not even a sick day, though I could’ve and probably should have. And I ask for this one thing and he goes off like the whiny little bitch he clearly is.
I finally dared him to fire me and face a suit for wrongful termination or lay me off and pay severance, and in either case, find someone who could come up to speed in time, save his skank little ass and put up with his shit.
He caved after that.
I wonder if I don’t wish he’d fire or lay me off. I’m losing faith in this project and I’ve completely lost respect for Manny. Maybe knowing Savannah has opened my eyes? But I still owe it to my team. I’ll see this through for them, because they’re counting on it and they deserve it, regardless of Manny.
I need to calm down. I need to call Casey too. I held off on that in case Manny went nonlinear, which he did, though not to the point of me looking for a new job. That’s when I see three missed calls and five texts from Casey that came in while I was on the phone. I don’t bother to read them. I called Manny on his cell at 7 AM his time; it’s just after 7:30 now and Casey will be on the road. But I better not wait. I hit her icon.
“Jesus, Erin. Where are you? Did you have a really great weekend?”
“Uh… that’s kinda hard to say. Are you driving?” I don’t know if this is a driving conversation.
“Yeah, you’re on Bluetooth. Why haven’t you answered my question?”
“Because I’m in Vermont.”
“You’re WHAT?”
Shit… “Maybe we should wait till you’re off the road.”
“Fuck no! If I have to pull over, I’ll pull over. What are you doing in Vermont, of all places?”
“Promise me you won’t flip your shit when I tell you.”
“Erin, when someone leads with promise me you won’t flip your shit it’s almost guaranteed somebody’s gonna flip their shit.”
“Okay. Fine. But just try? I know how this is going to sound, so I don’t need a lecture, but—”
“You’re gonna get one anyway. You know that.”
“Casey, please…”
My tone gets through to her. “Alright, just tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s Savannah.”
“Surprise, surprise.”
“Casey!”
“Okay, I’ll be quiet.”
I heave a sigh. “Thank you. It’s Savannah’s mom, actually. Her cancer’s back. Savannah needs my help, so I flew back with her Saturday night. I’m staying with her and her mom now.”
“Yikes. Was I supposed to know her mom had cancer?”
“Oh… Right. No.” After all, I’d just found out this weekend. “I’m a little scattered.”
“So you flew all the way across the country to support Savannah and her mom on the spur of the moment and didn’t bother to call your best friend to tell her until just now.”
“Uh… yeah.” I don’t bother to mention that she was busy. I know that won’t wash as an excuse.
“Which means there’s something you haven’t told me yet. And that something is shit-flipping worthy.”
“Um, I guess. Probably.” Crap. I sound like a guilty teen being caught after curfew.
“So spill.”
“Hang on a sec…” I mute the phone and put it down so I can go to the door and peek out. The coast looks clear but I should keep my voice down just in case. “Okay…”—unmuting the phone as I pick it up. “Remember your promise.”
“I didn’t promise anything, remember?”
“Ahh, right.” I take a deep breath, hoping I can get this all out in a rush. “Here’s what happened. There was this misunderstanding about me and Savannah. Her mom wants her to be in a relationship—wants it more than anything. She got this idea we’re together, got all excited and Savannah was really struggling with telling her the truth. So I…” My breath runs out.
“You what?” Suspicion absolutely drips from Casey’s tone.
Another deep breath and I drop my voice even lower. “So I suggested I could pretend to be her girlfriend to make her mom happy.”
“Erinnnn…”
“I know, I know. But I couldn’t just… do nothing. Not after what she did for me that night.”
“I don’t recall her flying across country for you that night.”
“That’s not the point! She was there for me when she had no reason to be. We’d just met. If you call her being our server meeting. Sure, I’ll admit it’s completely crazy, but that’s what it is.”
“That’s not all it is. She agreed to this?”
“Umm, yeah, she did… I mean, yes.”
“You mean you talked her into it?”
“It’s her mom, Casey. You know what that’s like.” Casey was with me all through Dad’s illness and then losing Mom to her heart attack. She’s gotta understand…
“Okay. Alright. But you two are a pair.”
“So… you’re not mad?”
“I’m not mad, Erin. Flabbergasted, maybe. Have you guys thought this through, though? How’s this gonna end?”
“We’re, ummm… kinda figuring it out as we go.”
Casey groans.
“Fuck, Casey. I told you it’s crazy. I just… just had too.”
“I know. I get that. I really do.” She pauses for a couple of breaths. “But Erin… are you sure this fake?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, aside from the whole flying to Vermont bit, you sound all melty when you talk about her.”
“I do not sound melty.”
“You do. I’ve got gooey heart eyes oozing out of my screen.”
“Don’t be mean, Casey.” She laughs. “Yes, I like her. It doesn’t matter. I can’t pursue anything right now and you know it. Even it there wasn’t work, it’s not the right time.”
“How does anyone know when it’s the right time? It just happens.”
“How would you know, Miss A-three-day-weekend-counts-as-long-term?”
Casey sounds amused at my attempted snipe. “Maybe that’s how I know.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Anyway, speaking of work, I’m almost there. Have you talked to Manny yet?”
“I did. He’s an asshole.”
“Y’think?”
I give her a quick rundown on our conversation. Casey swears under her breath.
“We’ll make the best of it,” she says a moment later. “I’m here. I’ll see you on the big screen.”
“You will. And Casey?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Even when you’re nucking futs.”
“I guess I’m a lucky girl then.”
“Too right.”
Hi Robin, yes, those little everyday hassles with supervisors—people only really become “good” once they get the label “former.” I know that all too well. But Erin will manage. A really true-to-life story; thanks, Robin—you’re doing a great job. 😍💕💕💕💕
Hello! Yes, isn’t that true? I suspect many of us know that, unfortunately. Yes, Erin does manage! Thank you so very much! That is truly high praise! 😊