Page 42 of FWB
Tiegan
I t’s Valentine’s Day and Torin is taking me out for a special dinner.
I think he might ask me to be his girlfriend.
This terrifies me. I’ve never been in a serious relationship, so Torin would be my first actual boyfriend.
He’s confided in me multiple times over the last few weeks about how he’s dating to be in a committed relationship, despite not actually going on many dates recently.
He says he’s ready after his wife passed away from breast cancer five years ago.
But am I ready for a relationship? I’ve had an incredible time with him over the last month and a half, but something feels off.
He’s blown me off on more than one occasion when we were supposed to hang out.
I don’t know what to make of the mixed signals.
That evening, Torin picks me up in his Toyota Prius. He’s in a red flannel shirt and loose-fitting jeans. I’m wearing a black crop top with my favorite holey jeans, paired with my faux-leather jacket. It’s still cold in Nashville, so the extra warmth is much appreciated.
“So where are we headed?” I ask when I get settled into the car.
“Five Points okay with you?”
“Sure, I love pizza.”
When we get to the restaurant, the house is packed. We grab a table along the far side of the wall and sit down. We each order a beer when the waiter comes up to take our orders. “Do you know what pizza you’d like?” Torin asks when the waiter walks away.
“Supreme is always good with me.”
He sets his menu down abruptly and blurts, “Tiegan, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
I set my menu aside as well. “Okay, is everything alright?”
“It’s just that … I … I’ve met someone.”
“You … you’ve met someone? Please explain.”
“Like I’ve told you, I’ve been dating around to try and find a serious partner. I matched with a woman on the dating apps who’s closer to my age, and we just clicked.”
“You’re still on the dating apps? I didn’t know that.” It’s the only thing I can think to say.
“Well, yeah. That’s what dating around means.”
“You never said you were ‘dating around!’ You said you were dating for a serious relationship. There was no around mentioned. I thought I was the only woman you’ve been sleeping with!
“ I say, raising my voice. Other restaurant patrons start to turn their heads in our direction, sensing a lover’s quarrel brewing.
“Tiegan, I’m really sorry. I thought we were just having some fun. You’re great, but I feel like your maturity level–”
“My maturity level ?“ I’m really raising my voice now. “I’m thirty-fucking-three years old, Torin! Not a goddamn sorority girl in college!”
“I know. I’m sorry, it’s just not going to work for me. I have a deeper connection with this other woman. We have more in common.”
“So you’re telling me that you decided it was a good idea to take me to dinner, on Valentine’s Day , and break up with me in public? What? Is this Legally Blonde or something? Am I Elle Woods right now?”
“In my defense, I completely forgot today was Valentine’s Day. I was wondering why this place was so busy …”
“Jesus Christ. I’m out of here,” I say as I make my way out of the booth and toward the front door.
I pull up my rideshare app and schedule the soonest ride home I can get.
Once my ride is scheduled, thunder claps loudly in the distance.
A giant rain drop splashes on my forehead.
Great. My life just keeps getting better and better.
Unfortunately, a week later, Rob comes into the office looking as morose as I feel.
“What’s wrong, boss?” I venture to ask.
“You know the retirement packets you sent out last week?”
“Yeah, what about them?”
“Did you do a quality check on them?”
My heart plummets to the bottom of my stomach. “Of course. I even printed out a couple of test booklets to make sure everything was facing the right way. I had to make some adjustments, but they all came out looking fine. Why?”
“Well, there are a handful of recipients that are saying the page numbers are out of order.”
“What? I don’t understand. How many people received a bad book?”
“Larry has received more than forty emails since last week about books being wrong.”
Then it hits me— the extra forty-five books I had to make last minute. Fuck. I turn to Rob. “I had to make a second print run because I entered the wrong amount the first time.”
“And you didn’t think to double-check the settings to make sure they stayed from the first printing?”
“No …”
Rob sighs. “Tiegan, I really hate to do this, but Larry has been trying to put out this fire that you inadvertently caused all week. He’s insisting I let you go.”
“What? But … but it was just a mistake! Surely you won’t fire me over one simple mistake.”
“Unfortunately, this is out of my hands. Larry wants me to redo all 150 packets by tomorrow. He said your work has been lackluster over the last couple of months and this proves that you don’t take your job seriously enough to even be responsible for a small project like this.
He said you can’t be trusted, and this was the last straw. ”
I stand there, stunned. “If he’s been so dissatisfied with my work, then why is this the first time I’m hearing about it?”
“You know Larry. He’s got it out for everyone. His arrow just happened to hit your back this time. Trust me, I tried to convince him to give you another chance, but it’s not up to me. He already went to Patricia. I’m supposed to help you gather your things and escort you out of the building.”
“I’m sorry, but this is bullshit!” I bellow.
“Larry gets to walk around here acting like his shit doesn’t stink, meanwhile he can barely write his own name, let alone properly run a department!
He’s got it out for everyone. After all, he knows he’s untouchable because his fucking wife is CHRO. It’s not right.”
“Is that so?”
I whirl around to find Larry standing in the doorway, arms folded across his broad chest.
Shit. Well, if I’m gonna get fired, I might as well go down in a blaze of glory.
I stand up straighter. “You know what, Larry, yeah! It is so. Everyone walks around on eggshells when it comes to you and your antics, yet you’re too dumb to even do your own job correctly.
I’d like to see you try and take on the jobs of half the people you’re always coming in here complaining to Rob about.
You have the IQ of a potato, and the only reason you got into your position of power is because of whose pussy you lick at night! ”
Larry is fuming. I can almost see literal steam coming off his shiny, bald head. Rob is standing between us with his mouth agape. After a moment of silence, Larry says, “Rob, make sure you grab her parking pass on your way to the garage.” Then he turns on his heel and walks out the door.
“Holy shit, Tiegan. Why in the hell did you do that?” Rob hisses when Larry is out of earshot.
“Because I was going to be fired regardless of if I kissed his ass or not. I’d rather go down as a legend than a pussy.”
“Oh, you’re definitely going to go down as a legend around here. I’m sure he’s already bitching about what you said to some other hopeless sap.”
“I’m gonna miss you, Rob. Please keep in touch,” I say, getting teary-eyed now that it’s hitting me that I’m really fired.
“I’m gonna miss you too, kid. Let’s get you packed up before Larry returns with building security.”
When I get in my car, I fire off a quick text to Jerome, Rex, Elizabeth, and Alyssa letting them know what happened.
Then I sit in the garage for a few minutes, processing everything that has gone down.
I feel so worthless. Kroger doesn’t want me.
Torin doesn’t want me. Kenny doesn’t want me.
Kenny. He’s one person I haven’t texted to inform I was fired.
I’m not sure if he’d even care. He’ll find out about it tomorrow, I’m sure.
But I would rather he hear it from me. I pull my phone back out and send him a quick text.
Tiegan: Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I’m no longer employed at Kroger. I was fired today. I just wanted you to hear it from me first. I don’t know what happened between us, but I’ll cherish every moment we spent together. Even the bad ones.
His reply comes as I’m pulling out of the building’s parking garage for the last time.
Kenny: What? Shit, I’m really sorry to hear that. What happened? Kroger won’t be the same without you.
Then:
Kenny: Want some stress relief? ;)