Chapter 69

“Bright and early and reporting for duty,” Petra said, giving me a mock salute.

“Welcome back Petra.”

I rolled my eyes and carried on to my office.

It was a new week and a seemingly fresh start. Word had gotten round to Jesse that Oscar and I might be getting back together. Oscar couldn’t seem to keep his mouth shut when it came to one-uping Jesse.

Unfortunately, that had the effect of making Jesse further distance himself from me. As if my dad’s warning to stay away from me hadn’t been enough.

I called and called but everyone of those calls went unanswered and unreturned. He seemed to have forgotten where he worked and who his boss was.

****

Later that day, I sat in my office chair, hands steepled in front of me, staring intently at him. He was quietly sitting opposite me, seemingly staring at something right above my head, shoulders squared.

“Jesse…” I said, my voice inadvertently quivering with hurt. “Why have you been avoiding me? Is it my dad? Or Oscar? I know I’ve said this bef