Page 17 of Every Broken Piece

Chapter seventeen

Tess

GS: Is that what you want?

Y es. No. Maybe.

No.

My tears are blurring my vision and closing off my throat. I know they’re because of Sandra Jansen and the mystery man. But they’re also because of Gabriel Strong.

I made the mistake of forming an attachment to him. I’ve broken the cardinal rule at TaskGenius VA.

I’ve also broken my own firm rule.

Don’t get close to people.

GS: I’m sorry I left you hanging last weekend. My son came home unexpectedly from college

I swipe at my eyes so I can actually see his text and damn it, it makes sense. Maybe something happened to his son. Maybe his son just needed his dad and Gabe wanted to be there for him.

GS: Tess?

Me: I’m here

Me: I’m not sure what this is between us on the weekends, but it has to stop. Nothing can come of it

GS: Nothing can come of friendship?

Me: I have a feeling that Gabriel Strong has a lot of friends who’re more in your league than a VA from Ohio

GS: Ouch

Me: Why? Why text me on the weekends? If you’re lonely, you have your brother and your son and probably a dozen other people to keep you company

Not people. Women. He probably has a dozen other women to keep him company. Sophisticated women who aren’t living in a two-bedroom apartment with strange men demanding money from them.

GS: You’ve researched me?

Me: I research all my clients so I can be a better VA to them

It takes a while for him to respond. The dots dance for a long time. Is he writing a book, or did he walk away from his phone mid text? He’s probably ghosting me again. Good. Fool me once...

My eyes drift closed. It’s midnight here so it’s 10pm in Denver.

I’ve had a full day and a horrendous week.

I should go to bed. Except I don’t want to lay in bed and think about the man demanding money and the woman who throws me under the bus every time she lands in hot water.

I don’t want to think about where I’ll have to move to next.

All I’ve ever wanted in life is stability. A job I love. A home I can call my own even if it is a tiny apartment. Maybe a cat. I don’t think that’s asking too much.

But apparently it is.