Forrest: That’s a given because there is no other option. In the meantime, I’m taking leave. See you all in a week.

Flynn: Wait, what the fuck are you talking about! Where are you going?

Forrest: Away from here.

Rem: Don’t do anything stupid!

Forrest: Noted.

I know full well I am, but I’m not stupid enough to tell them that.

Nic: Everyone in my office in thirty minutes, I don’t want any fucking excuses. And yes, that means you too, Forrest. Then I’ll approve your leave.

I don’t know how many times I’m going to say this today but probably more times than is acceptable.

“Fuck.” I pick up my paperweight and throw it across the room harder than I think I have ever done before, considering I’m now looking at a hole in the wall right next to the door frame of my office.

But I don’t have time to worry about that now, I have a bag to pack and then get to the office before my asshole friends send out a search party.

This day sucks already, and it’s not even eight am yet.

HARPER

The elevator doors to Flynn and Felisha’s apartment open, and she is standing in front of me looking full of pity.

“Nope, we aren’t doing this! I’m not crying again. Get your shit, we’re going to the office,” I say to her and walk straight past her to the powder room in the foyer. “Just give me a minute to sort my face out. Nobody needs to see me like this.”

“Harper,” she calls after me, but I’m not stopping.

The mirror does not tell any lies; I look like a wreck. Digging into my bag for my makeup, I go about fixing the damage and pick up my phone for the hundredth time since I left Forrest’s apartment.

He hasn’t called or messaged, and I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m annoyed at him. Isn’t that what boyfriends are supposed to do, chase after their girl when she has a meltdown?

“What the fuck, since when is he your boyfriend?” I say to myself in the mirror and kind of hope the person I see before me will answer with some crazy piece of wisdom, even though I know she won’t. Because she is the cause of all this drama.

Shaking my head, I close my eyes and just take a moment to still my mind. Who am I kidding, there is no way there is anything except noise inside my head today, so I’ll just have to deal with it.

Straightening my outfit, I walk back out to see Felisha standing there with her work bag in her hands.

“What, you aren’t even going to fight me on this?” I ask, looking at her, waiting.