The Work Wife

Five Questions

I pace almost the entire waiting period before boarding and pop that Xanax quickly. I had turned my phone off after Chase tried calling me during the taxi ride to see what my emergency was because I couldn't face him yet. I needed to get my thoughts together. I'm humiliated that everyone knows I've been crushing on him, and I wasn't ready to face that with him either. 

I was running. From everything and everyone.

When I land in Denver, I turn my phone on and find a few texts from the group chat checking on me—they probably couldn't find the ceremony location without me physically leading them there. 

Ainslee worriedly asks if I was really not going to be around for the wedding tomorrow, but I know it was just for show. I also see that Chase asked me to call him. Short and simple. I have nothing from Logan, but he may not have been sure what to say either. We just left us completely up in the air.

I slump down in the front seat of my car when I find it in the parking garage. I am still in shock that I really boarded a plane and came home. Twenty-four hours ago I was on a yacht, posting romantic photos, and now I am back in Denver, not knowing if I have a job or Logan. 

I second-guessed every step while walking out of the resort when normally I am so sure. I just knew I couldn't fake it around those girls any longer. If Chase wasn't going to listen to his closest friend's opinions on Ainslee, he sure as shit wouldn't have listened to mine. I didn't want to ruin Chase's wedding day after all, and leaving seemed like the only option.

I take a deep breath and start my car. I am physically and emotionally exhausted, and all I want is to curl up in bed after drinking a bottle of wine.

My thoughts race the whole drive home, and I don't even know if I had music on during my half-hour ride. I suddenly end up in my parking space and chastise myself for spacing out while driving. I haul my suitcase from my trunk and trudge toward my door, eager to pull a cork out of my favorite red I have stashed in the kitchen.

When I open my door, I find my kitchen light on and Mina's face pops around the corner. My hand flies to my chest, and she has a rolling pin held about her head.

"You scared the shit out of me!" We say at the same time, and then she lowers her weapon.

"I was bringing in your mail," she says with a dramatic exhale. "I thought you were in Mexico for two more days."

I lug my suitcase through the door and drop onto the couch as I say, "I was supposed to be." I have no idea where to start or if I even want to tell Mina. She has no idea about Chase or any of what has been happening.

"Wedding called off?" She asks with a furrowed brow. She lingers near the couch but doesn't sit down. 

I flick my tired eyes up at her and reply, "No. I just didn't feel like being there anymore."

"What?" She gasps. "It doesn't seem like you to skip out of an event."

I drop my head against the couch cushion. "Trust me, nothing about the past week has seemed like me."

"Do you want me to boogie home or grab wine and gab? What do you need right now?" She asks, straddling the area that separates the kitchen from the living room.

I sigh. I know I need wine, and I think I want company.

"Wine. Unless you are busy, I don't want to hold you up," I tell her, but she just swats her hand at me. She knows where everything is in my kitchen, so I let her handle the alcohol while I slip my jacket and shoes off. She comes back with two wine glasses, but one has a much heavier pour.

"Here, hun, you look like you need this," she admits while handing me the fuller one. I feel my phone buzz as it rests on my leg, and I am shocked to see Logan's name.