“Happy?” he asked her.
Jessie laughed. “Almost. Don’t miss me too much.”
“I already do.”
Smiling to herself, she closed the door and locked it. Jessie got into the car and drove to work. She’d worry about Sergio all day. Maybe she could take half the day off and spend the rest of the afternoon with him.
****
“Jessie, what should I do with this?” asked Charlene, another coworker. Charlene carried a stack of new books in her arms.
Jessie blinked from Charlene and back to her list. The manager, Todd, assigned her to check out the store’s current inventory. Once she picked out the books that were selling the most, she had to order more of them.
It didn’t help that she was spaced out the entire morning. She checked the clock in the far wall of the storeroom and grimaced. Almost lunch time. What had she been doing the entire time?
Jessie picked up one book from the pile Charlene carried and returned it.
“Shelf 3A, please,” she said, relieved when Charlene left her to her own thoughts.
This was her first day as the bookstore’s assistant manager. She should be focused on doing a good job. Prove to Todd he hadn’t made a mistake in promoting her. All she could think about right now was Sergio.
Her man really looked terrible that morning. She shook her head. Sergio insisted she shouldn’t worry about him. He was fully capable of taking care of himself and yet, she also knew he was stubborn as an ox. He didn’t know how to relax.
She sighed and went down her list. When her lunch break came around, she grabbed her purse and exited the storeroom. She tracked down Todd in his office.
“How’s the inventory check?” he asked.
“I’m halfway done,” she said. “I’m sorry to ask you of this and it’s my first day as the assistant manager and all.” She took a deep breath. She’d made her decision. Sergio always put her needs first before his. He’d done so much so it was only right she returned him the same favor.
“Jessie?” Todd prompted.
“I have a personal emergency,” she explained. “I need to take the rest of the day off, but I promise to make it up to you.”
Todd widened his eyes, then seemed to consider her for a moment. “Go. Do what you need to do. Your job would be waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Todd,” she said with some relief.
“You’re a good worker, Jessie. You’ve never missed a single day of work the time you’re here. You’re always punctual and you don’t complain when I need an extra pair of hands.” Todd nodded. “This must really important.”
“Someone I care about is sick. I need to run back home.”
“See you tomorrow. I take it you’ll be able to return to work tomorrow?”
“Absolutely.” Jessie exited Todd’s office.
Her first stop was the pharmacy. She asked for the very helpful pharmacist’s recommendation, and he gave her a bunch of flu and cold meds. Then she headed to the town’s sandwich stop and ordered two cold cut sandwiches and pumpkin soup to go.
Jessie returned to her car. Excitement coursed through her body. She’d been worried about Sergio being all by himself that morning, so she couldn’t wait to see him soon.
With her bags in one arm, Jessie reached for her cell phone and dialed his number. Five rings later, he answered.
“Jessie?” he asked, then coughed. His voice sounded terrible.
“I’m on my way home. I got your meds and our lunch. So, don’t prepare anything. Let’s eat together, then I can tuck you in bed.”
“I’m not a child,” her grumpy hitman complained. “And I told you this morning. I can survive one day without you.”
She laughed. “So, you don’t miss me at all?”