“I have some news and I’m sorry to say but I’ve had to sell the business,” she stated as my mouth slackened, and my heart crumpled in my chest.
“Sell? I didn’t even know that it was on the market,” I replied shocked.
“I had to… I had no choice.” Shelley’s tears welled in her eyes as she looked at me.
“But you could’ve prepared me… us all?” I sighed, my mind whirling with questions.
“I didn’t realise how fast it would happen,” she replied, trying to keep the tears from overspilling.
“So, how long?” I asked, getting straight to the point. No point messing around. I needed facts and fast.
“As soon as possible ideally,” she muttered cautiously. “I have to redecorate the accommodation, too,” she replied.
“Right, thanks.” I headed out of the office with my head down. Elle called after me, but I couldn’t cope with her questions now. I would break down if I stayed in front of her and I couldn’t cope with placing back together my stretched resolve. I had to find a solution and quick. My mind was focused on more pressing issues as Shelley’s feet stomped across the tiled floor from out the back saying that now Courtney had arrived on shift that could Elle head on back, too.
It shouldn’t have shocked me. Something always happened when I was settled, but I was damn frustrated.
Shelley could’ve given me a head’s up over the last few months. I had been given more responsibility and when she was busy, I ran the show. If there was a problem, I was expected to deal with it. I made sure I ran a tight ship and Shelley noticed, but then apparently this information was above my earned respect to be clued in on this from her. So much for me thinking I was her friend, she had made it perfectly clear what the ranking level was and who the boss was.
I hadn’t given a shit about the time left on the clock, or the time left of my shift. I knew that Elle would’ve been faced with a similar predicament, but I couldn’t support myself with the minimal finances I had, let alone anyone else. I wasn’t asking for help from her. It just didn’t seem right to lay such a huge burden on her but at least I had a friendship I could’ve counted on shall I have needed it.
I took myself upstairs and weighed up my possibilities of what options remained. Deep down, I knew only one existed as my heart sank at the option.
I swallowed my pride and scrolled through my mobile phone's contact list. I pressed Johnny’s number, allowing the dial tone to ring out before I had a chance to change my mind.
Two
Elijah
Johnny and I had planned a guys’night out in celebration of his recent expansion at work. He owned his own beer distillery company, had built it from the ground up. He prided himself on imports and exports and his range already spanned across exclusive breweries in the country. This deal was his first overseas client in Belgium, which meant he was breaking into the wider European market. It was a huge reason to celebrate and enjoy ourselves to the max.
I was so proud of Johnny overcoming his fretful mind and dealing with reality instead. Harlow had been his waking and last thought daily, but he had to break the apron strings realising time moved forward – mine, too. With nothing else to distract him, he threw everything into his venture, and it showed in terms of progress leading to the achievements he’d made. Pride swelled inside me knowing that even with those first knockbacks it had been worth it.
“Johnny…” I said.
“Yep, what’s up?” He smiled back, filling the fridge with of a selection of his brews.
“I just wanted to tell you I’m proud, you know,” I replied, squeezing his shoulder as he turned around shutting the fridge, holding two beers between his fingers. “I know things haven’t been easy.”
“Thanks man, it means a lot. Beer?” he asked pointing one of the beers in my direction.
“How could I refuse?” I chuckled, grabbing one and popping the bottle cap off with my teeth.
“You’ll chip a tooth if you continue doing that,” Johnny said, grabbing his phone and scrolling until he placed it onto the docked speaker.
“Nah, party trick.” I shrugged as Johnny’s familiar playlist started in the background.
A typical night on the town usually consisted of shots galore, heavy music and late nights. Or should that be an early morning?
Johnny would have shocked me if he weren’t on the search for a girl or two to have completed the picture.
I automatically landed the role of wingman for the evening. To be honest, it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I wasn’t a saint when it came to women, but I was certainly nothing in comparison to Johnny. If you wanted to compare the two of us, then I certainly would’ve won a knighthood in that department.
Whenever we went out, we always had one another’s backs which meant no man got left behind at the end of the night.
At the moment, I was tense and wound up. I needed the pent-up energy to be expelled. Take the strain from my shoulders so I could let go. I called Cooper on the phone outside, ensuring Johnny was out of ear shot.
“Dude. Will you be wingman tonight?” I asked him.