“Yeah.” I throw down the rag. “Very, very shit.”
There’s another long moment and then Milo looks between us. “You know, I think we have a decent bottle of rosé in the fridge. Should I—?”
“Get it,” Millie and I say in unison. Once he’s gone, I flop into Millie’s lap, and I finally let the tears begin to fall.
“Can you put on Adele please?” I ask pitifully.
Millie nods down at me, phone in hand. “Already on it.”
So,finally, I succumb to the heartbreak. I drink wine, and eat takeout, and trade my annoyingly upbeat playlists for pure post-break-up misery. Then, after Millie and Milo head home, and I’m deep in Joni Mitchell, I realize something with a pang: I’m going to have to go back into the Vital offices. I have to return my work laptop, and there are a few personal items still at my desk. My favorite sweater, the one Evelyn knitted me, is still hanging over the back of my chair.
How am I going to pull this off without another awful, big fight?
I sigh. If I’ve learned anything from the past month, it’s that waiting to do the hard thing is never the right choice. I need to rip off the Band-Aid and get it over with.
The next morning, my final commute feels the exact opposite of the elation I felt my first day. I’m crawling in dread and sweaty-palmed nerves, wondering what kind of reception I’m about to face. Has Austin has told everyone why I left?
I keep my head down and walk fast through the lobby, which is surprisingly busy, full of buzz and life. I pause, looking around to take it all in. The spa’s been open a couple of weeks now, and it’s clear, things are going great. Happy clients, enthusiastic staff, and a positive, fresh vibe as people chat, lounge, and sip smoothies by the juice bar.
I feel a wash of pride, for Austin. He really did it. This place is everything he dreamed about and worked so hard to make a reality. I can already tell; it’s going to be a massive success.
I sneak upstairs to the office floor, hoping I can just grab my stuff and get out, but Paloma spots me in the hallway.
“Jenn!” she looks so excited, it’s clear that word of my identity theft hadn’t spread. “Are you back? Tell me you’re back!”
I wince. “I’m not back,” I say. “Just stopped by to clear out my office and return my laptop.”
I glance around nervously, and she sees. “Austin’s not here. He’s out doing press.”
I exhale in relief.
“What’s going on?” Paloma trails me into my office, standing there watching as I grab my things and throw them into a tote bag. “Why did you quit? Everyone here loves you; you were doing an amazing job!”
So. Austin didn’t tell them why I left.
“It’s… Complicated,” I say, sadly. “It’s absolutely nothing personal. This was the best job of my life. But I can’t stay. I’m sorry.”
“I am, too.” Paloma gives a pout. “Austin’s making me schedule interviews for your replacement, but none of them measure up. You have to come back,” she implores me. “You’re the glue holding this place together.”
I feel another pang. Dammit, why did I have to screw up an amazing jobandan amazing relationship, all with one lie?
“Thank you for saying that,” I tell Paloma finally. “I truly loved working here. But… I have to go.”
I grab my things, hand my computer back to IT on my way out, and head for the exit with Paloma trailing after me. “Are you sure about this?” she asks.
No.
“Yes,” I tell her instead. Taking one final look around at the place I had a small hand in building, I walk out.
* * *
“We’ve gotto clarify your personal mission statement. And your brand goals. And what happened to your socials? Honestly, you’re better off just deleting and starting from scratch again.”
“I’m just going to smile, nod, and pretend like I’m in a state to follow what you’re saying.” I refill Other Jennifer’s champagne glass with more pomegranate juice to make a Pomosa, which she’s informed me is the hot new drink in town. At least it will be once she’s done working on the Pomegranate Council’s campaign.
We’re at my apartment that evening. Jennifer called for an update on the Austin situation, but somehow, instead of hitting the town, she wound up doing a full audit of my CV for my job search and found things lacking.
Seriously lacking.