Fairy Tales and Cappuccinos (Everyday Love #1) - Taylor Rylan Page 0,1

had notepads and pens in the desk drawer, and after I put my laptop and charger in my bag, I emptied out my one and only drawer into the bag. It was sad, really.

I thought about leaving the resignation on my desk but decided against it. Instead, I took it with me and dropped it off with Bonnie.

“It’s about time. They work you to the bone, and with Shelly being pregnant now, I figured you would be the one they’d make pick up her hours.”

That didn’t surprise me. Richard and Shelly had married two years ago in an elaborate wedding that was all about show, and I cringed the entire time I had to stand there with a smile plastered to my face. And now she was pregnant. I was happy for them, but at the same time, I felt resentment because of course I was the one who had to do a job that I had no idea how to do really.

“Well, that explains so much, actually. I don’t suppose that when I find a new job you’d be willing to give me a good reference, would you?” I asked Bonnie. She’d worked for the ski lodge from day one, and I was thankful that Dad hadn’t given Richard her job. Richard managed the day to day of the lodge while Bonnie was basically the human resources manager.

“Of course I will. I don’t believe in the way they’re running things, and I think that eventually it’s going to collapse. And not only this lodge.”

I had to agree but it wasn’t my concern anymore. “Thanks, Bonnie. Have a great day if you can,” I told her and left her office. I didn’t see my brother or father anywhere as I left the lodge, but that didn’t surprise me.

Needing to talk to someone, I called my best friend, Chris, on my drive home. I forgot that he would be at work at this time, so I left a message for him to return my call when he got home. That would give me time to think about things and calm down more anyway.

“No, Chris. I’m okay, I swear. I have several months of income saved up. I’ll be fine until next spring. Besides, even you agreed that I needed to quit because of the stress. Although, you don’t have much room to talk. It’s not as if your job isn’t stressful.” I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. Something I’d done a lot over the last few hours.

I happened to agree. The stress was insane, and I was more than ready for something a little slower-paced. Who knew that being in public relations would be so stressful? But then again, it wasn’t just the job in public relations or the marketing I did with it. No, it was the fact that I worked for the family business and my dad was incredibly driven.

He’d been upset when I didn’t get a business degree but that quickly changed when he realized I was going to be useful after all. That there should have been my first clue. And the first few years hadn’t been nearly as bad as the last couple. I’d not had a day off in…years. I worked so damn hard at my job because I worked for the family business. But I’d sadly realized that they didn’t really care for me any more than they did for any other employee. Perhaps less since I was related and expected to “give it my all and then some.”

“My job would be stressful if I still worked in the ER. I don’t. Not anymore,” Chris said, drawing me back to the conversation.

“You so lucked out with that. You know that, right?”

“I do. And I’m not going to look a gifted horse in the mouth either.”

I rolled my eyes. He’d been hanging out with old people too long. I missed Chris, but he left after college for his job. I couldn’t say I blamed him. But still. It sucked getting to see him only once a year. But I knew that was my fault because of how much I’d allowed my job to rule my life.

“You know, I was thinking.”

“That’s a very dangerous statement,” I joked.

“He has jokes. He quits his job and suddenly he has jokes again. Hallelujah!”

I cringed even though Chris couldn’t see me. He wasn’t wrong. I’d become a person that even I didn’t know anymore.

“Okay, fine. I’ll take that because I know that things have been a