Page 5 of 4th and Goal (Season of Change #4)

For the love of all that is holy! My phone buzzes incessantly on the corner of my desk. Face down.

With a huff of impatience, I flip it over, ignore the dozen missed calls, and open my messages. What is his deal?

Conner: I understand you are upset, perhaps it’s close to your time of the month.

I believe the last week apart was good for us.

However, I have already apologized for my behavior, though I do not believe I did anything wrong.

I will give you until Monday to get over your snit, then we will meet for dinner to discuss us like adults.

Conner: Ignoring my calls and messages is childish, Lilly.

Conner: Take some Midol, eat some chocolate, and behave like an adult.

Conner: Monday, 6pm, Lion Ale House. DO NOT BE LATE.

“AHHHHH!” I scream, pushing my phone away, then shaking my fists.

GOD! How did I not know he was like this?

I called him Monday night after I got home from work.

I told him that I have enjoyed our time together, but I believe it has come to an end.

We want different things out of life, blah, blah, blah.

I tried to be as polite and kind as I could, snapping my mouth shut to hold back the clichéd, It’s not you, it's me.

It sure the hell is him! I’m delightful.

He was reserved on the phone, claimed he understood, and disconnected the call.

As far as breakups go…it was only my second in all my 26 years and I was dumped the first time, so I think it went ok.

But I didn’t have any sense of closure. Of course, I didn’t, because according to Conner, we haven’t broken up!

“Lilly!” Jenna stands in my doorway, her eyes darting wildly over every inch of my office. “Are you ok?”

“Shoot. Sorry. Yes.” I screamed in my office! Where people can hear me. Geez, get a grip, Lilly. “Just working through something.” Jenna’s body deflates, and she rolls her eyes as she takes a seat in front of my desk.

“We’ll talk about that soon. Right now, we have a problem.”

“Oh, goody,” I deadpan.

“You know who did it?” I ask after Jenna has laid it all out. Daya Moul is being harassed. She had two incidents this past weekend after the game, and today on her way into practice.

“Yes.”

I eye my friend for a moment, then sigh. “But you don’t have proof.”

“It’s Shaye. Lilly, I know it.”

“I don’t doubt you. But there’s nothing we can do without concrete evidence.” I bite back a groan when my phone vibrates again. Jenna looks at it, then arches a brow in question at me. I shake my head and lean back in my seat, closing my eyes. “First Heacock. Now Daya. Anything else?”

Jenna gasps, jumping up in alarm, her arms waving about. “Why would you put that into the universe? What is wrong with you?” I start laughing and then I can’t stop. I needed this. I finally get control of myself to find Jenna back in her seat staring at me expectantly.

“No.” I don’t want to talk about it.

“Tough shit.” She slyly lifts her hand, her fingers nearly touching the back of my phone. I try to snatch it before she does but darn her athletic speed. I’m a desk jockey and apparently slow as molasses. I grimace while she reads the text previews on my screen. Her face flushes, eyes narrow.

“What the fuck is this?” She waves my phone about, glaring at me. “Why is he speaking to you like this? You know what, doesn’t matter. There is NO scenario in which this is appropriate. Especially for a long-term girlfriend!”

“I broke up with him on Monday.”

“As you should, he’s slimy and apparently unhinged.”

“What?” I’ve never heard her say that before. “What do you mean slimy?” With a heavy sigh, Jenna sits back down.

“I don’t know. It’s just—” My stomach flips unpleasantly.

“Jenna? Did something happen?”

“I don’t know. Just something that’s bothered me.” I get up from behind my desk, sit in the seat next to her, and grab her hand. I need an anchor, because the look on her face has dread sitting like a ball of lead in my gut. “A few times he came to visit you; I found him wandering around.”

“Oh. Well. That’s not too bad. He was probably curious about a college athletic facility.”

“Outside the women’s cheer locker room?” I swallow hard, unable to explain that one. “He claimed he got turned around the first time.”

“First time?”

“Second, he said you encouraged him to have a proper look around.” I did not do any such thing. “Third, fourth, fifth, he didn’t even bother to come up with an excuse, just ignored me.”

“Jenna. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because he didn’t actually do anything wrong, not that I could see.

I didn’t want to raise the creep alarm too early.

You seemed happy.” Jenna shakes her head instantly.

“Not happy. You were pretending to be happy. And I bought it at first.” She nods at my phone.

“I love you, Lilly. You’re my best friend.

I thought if I spoke against him without any,” she smirks, “ concrete evidence,” I chuckle when she throws my words back at me, but the levity is short-lived, “you’d dig your heels in, or think I was trying to sabotage you. ”

I stare openly at her for several moments, blinking owlishly. “Mean girls in high school?”

“And college. And the bedroom next to mine growing up.”

“Your sister is a bitch.” Jenna throws her head back in laughter.

“I know!” She stops cackling a minute later. “Sometimes, we need to be hit over the head with something to fully believe it. I figured you’d get hit soon and I would provide an ice pack and some comedic entertainment when you did.”

“I think you might be right.” Jenna engulfs me in a hug, and I lay my head on her shoulder, letting it all sink in.

“I think I was living in denial.”

“You were the mayor of denial.”

“Only the mayor? So many people have taken up residence in denial, surely, I would be governor or president.”

“Perhaps a dictator.”

“No, I’m a fan of democracy. Besides,” I start, sitting back and wiping under my eyes, “I can’t pull off the sashes and medals dictators always wear.”

Jenna’s brows slant severely, as her lips turn down into a fierce scowl. “You have to tell Brody.”

“That I don’t like sashes?”

“No, you twatwaffle. About Creepy Conner.”

“I don’t like how easily that rolled right off your tongue.”

She shrugs. “It felt right.”

“Why would I need to tell Brody about Conner?”

Jenna looks at me like I’m dumber than Lloyd Christmas. “In which part of Creepy Conner did I lose you? He’s unhinged and dangerous.”

“He’s not dangerous. He’s an investment analyst!”

“Your phone records would indicate otherwise.” She leans forward earnestly. “Lilly. Please tell Brody. They can keep an eye out for him if nothing else.”

“Ok.” I agree. I shake out my arms and crack my neck.

“Do you want to review the photoshoot itinerary?” She nods and we focus on Daya and Addy’s upcoming shoot with Edee.

I push Creepy Conner to the back of my mind.

I’m not going to tell Brody anything. I don’t need him knowing how stupid I was for getting involved with a man like that.

I wanted to talk to Jenna about Brody’s cute comment, but since I haven’t seen him since he ran from my office last week, I swallow my disappointment and decide not to mention it.

I’m already embarrassed about Conner; I don’t need to compound it by obsessing over my crush’s words.