She’s always been kind to me. She’s never made snide comments when I stumble over my words or spout random things irrelevant to the current topic when my mind bounces away from me, and she’s offered to go to lunch at least once a week since she started.

And now Mark wants to add her to his list of office hookups. And I can’t hate her. I’m not sure I actually care if Mark wants her, but I worry a little for her sake.

“Thank you, Presley. For everything.”

She shrugs. “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Sure.” There’s no point in telling her I’m not coming back. It’s not like anyone here, even Presley, would notice or care for more than a blip before moving on with their lives.

Chapter Three

Outside, it’s a dreary and grim foggy morning in San Francisco.

Karl. That’s what locals call the incessant fog that rolls in, especially prevalent in the June months. Karl even has his own Instagram account. I squint up into the gray haze.

It’s perfect.

I’m halfway down the block, fingering the tear in the side of my nicest blouse, wondering how I’m going to explain to my parents that I got fired, when footsteps slap the pavement behind me.

“Hey, Jane. You okay?”

I stop and turn around in the middle of the sidewalk, letting Alex catch up to me.

This is a horrible time to have to talk like a normal person to my biggest male fantasy brought to life. This day is like every awful thing I thought would ever happen to me coming true. I always tried to tell myself it was the anxiety talking, but this time the anxiety was right.

I’m doomed.

“My shirt ripped,” I tell him. I’ve reverted to a toddler who’s got an owie and can only focus on one thing.

He regards me, head tilted, eyes concerned.

Now I’ll have to wear the blue shirt to job interviews, but it’s a little on the tight side and the button right in front of my boobs always pops open. I guess that’s one way to get a job. If I can even get another job. I guess I could apply to other marketing firms but it will mean starting all over again. How to explain my sudden departure from Blue Wave? I doubt they’ll give me a nice reference. On top of that, I’m terrible at interviews. I was lucky to get my job at Blue Wave.

Lucky. Ha.

“I might have a safety pin in the truck.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Just wait here a sec?”

I nod. I have nowhere else to be.