Page 60 of Making Home with You

It’s finally Friday, a day I live for more than I ever have before.The week dragged on, especially after my encounter with Andrew over the article he sent about Finn, but strangely enough, he kept his distance.

While I’m grateful that I haven’t had to deal with his unwanted advances, a part of me is concerned about his quiet, though.It can’t be a good thing, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him, it’s that he doesn’t just fade away.

But I push the thoughts from my head as I watch the houses and small towns of the Newburyport/Rockport line glide by.This is what I live for after a long week: the silence of the train, the anonymity of people, and the knowledge that my life is back to being my own, even if it’s just for two days.

My phone vibrates in my bag and I reach for it, but when I glance at the screen it’s not what I hoped to see.

There’s a message from Andrew requesting that I arrive early on Monday because he needs to speak with me.He wants me at the office at 6:30 a.m., which is honestly completely fucking ridiculous.I’ll have to catch the train that leaves at five in the morning or I’ll need to drive myself.He knows I commute from Rockport and he’s just being a fucker on purpose.

I let out a long slow sigh, willing myself not to text him back and tell him to fuck off.My anxiety is back and that’s exactly what he wants.He wants me thinking about this all weekend.He wants me stressing about it, he wants me on edge, but more than all of that, he wants to be in control.

The train reaches the Gloucester station and I exit, and right now I’m so grateful that I’m meeting up with Erin and Kelsey for dinner.

I need to vent.

I walk the half a mile from the station to the Seaport Grille, all the while thinking the cold air would clear my thoughts, but all it’s done is make me fuming mad.I’ve had too much time to think, too much time to dwell on what this fucker is doing to my life.

I should just quit, but I will not let him win.I will put on my resume that I worked for Bolton and Fisher and I will find a job I love.

I whip open the door to the restaurant and blow right past the hostess without even acknowledging her.I make a beeline for Kelsey and Erin’s table and before either of them can greet me I unload on them.

“Oh my fucking god,” I practically yell, not caring one bit who hears me.Because the only good thing that could come out of this conversation is that someone within an earshot knows my slimy fucker of a boss and realizes what an asshole he is.

I yank my hat from my head and drag a hand through my hair, wanting to pull it out by the roots.

“What happened?Your boss again?”Erin asks, her eyes wide as she reaches over and runs a comforting hand down my back.I watch Kelsey shake her head and then they both listen as I bitch up a storm.

“Does Finn know you saw the article?”Erin asks.“Ryan showed it to me the other day and it took everything in me not to drive to her restaurant and kick her ass.”

I watch Erin rest her hand on her pregnant belly and I chuckle a little.

“I’m not sure you could kick anyone’s ass right now, Erin.”And we’re both now looking at her stomach.

“Of course I could,” she says, sounding mock insulted by my comment.“Well, I probably wouldn’t have kicked her ass, but I would’ve at least called her a cunt to her face.”

“Finn doesn’t know I saw it and I wouldn’t dare tell him that I did.He’s still so rattled by the whole thing and I don’t blame him.But if he knew my sleazy boss emailed it to me, Finn would be irate.”

Finn might be the silent type, but when it comes to any of us girls he’s not going to sit idly by and let someone screw with us.

“Have you told anyone at work about how your boss has been harassing you?”Erin asks and Kelsey shoots me a questioning look.She knows I haven’t said a word, and I begin to wonder why I’ve continued to let it go.

I need the job.

But I also realize I’ve let it continue because I’m afraid to report it.I’m afraid no one will believe me.Especially after what Andrew said to me after the article conversation.

Was he just trying to scare me?Would it be worth it to open a complaint with HR?

“People know.Like lots of people and they just let it happen.It seems like the women in my office just try to brush off his advances.”

“That’s ridiculous.You should all go to your HR department together.Get his ass fired,” Erin says, still fired up from our discussion about Carla.

“Are you afraid of him?”Kelsey asks, all anger gone from our conversation.

I swallow hard because, yes a part of me is scared of him, and even more so now that he’s requested I meet him at the office before anyone else arrives.No front desk security, no admins or staff.

“I am.He asked me to meet him at the office on Monday.Early though, before anyone else arrives.”

“No!”Both Kelsey and Erin shout, and I shake my head.