All Chapters of Flowers for Olivia: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Miranda’s dad and my boss, David Gleason, is getting audited soon and so he needs my help to get everything in order. The day goes by so fast I don’t even have time to eat lunch, I’m buried in an endless pile of documents we have to revise. I take a short break to call Ivan to tell him I’ll be late and that I’ll call him to let him know when to come to pick me up. Around 7 pm, David suggests we order a pizza. I’m partly relieved because I’m starving, but also worried because that means we have a long way to go. I wonder how much they pay for overtime?It’s almost 9 pm when David tells me to go home. I’ve been here for more than 12 hours straight, my neck and back are killing me. I thought this job would be a good distraction, not a prison sentence. I rush out and breathe in the cold autumn air, immensely happy to be finally free. My happiness ends as soon as I realize I forgot to call Ivan. I don’t have my cellphone with me and I definitely don’t want to go back to the office to call h

The next day at lunch time I’m not invited to go with Nancy and the others. No surprise there, after the way I snapped at Nancy yesterday. I look for the nearest cafe and sit alone with a latte between my hands. I observe people sitting near me for a while until I remember what’s in my purse. I take out my phone and call Miranda. 

I wake up early and full of energy. I get to the CrossFit class at 9 o’clock and Miranda is already here. I’m excited, I have missed my training the last couple of weeks, but today I finally felt good enough to come. I take my place next to Miranda. I’m sure she’s going to want to tell me all about her date last night with Barney.  “Good morning,” I greet cheerfully. Miranda looks at me with a sad expression. Maybe her date didn’t go very well. “What’s wrong?”

The week goes by painfully slow. Every day seems longer than the last. I must admit I’ve learned many new skills at my job, but I haven’t seen Stefan once since last Sunday and the longing is killing me. He’s been busy with work and has spent most of his time supervising shipments. Part of me prefers it because at least that way he’s not at home as much and the less he’s there the fewer chances there are of my mom being rude to him, but it also means I don’t get to see him as much. I look incessantly at the clock on my screen, it’s Friday and I’m ready

Every day for the next couple of weeks I spend every free second I have with Stefan, he picks me up after work every day and on the weekends we stay together as well. I haven’t seen Miranda or even my parents, but I’m enjoying my time so much I don’t even care. The more I know Stefan the more I like him. It’s scary how much I’ve come to care for him in such a short time. A few weeks ago, I didn’t even know he existed, but now I can’t imagine not being with him. “So, I was thinking of a fun game we can play tonight,” Stefan says as we reach the fro