Chapter Seven: Party Distractions
The second time Killian Jones left was even worse. It's hard to imagine that was possible after the difficulty of the first time. But to have him come back to leave again a year and a half later was absolutely devastating. Why would I put myself in this situation again? Why would I let him get close again? I knew he was going to leave. I knew he was destined to be a District Manager. However, when by a stroke of luck Killian was transferred back to our store to be the store manager I couldn't help the glee that filled my veins.
He was coming back. He was coming back to me. After being apart for a year and having very little communication I was thrilled to have him back in my life. By then my life had taken an extremely fucked up turn and I didn't know which way was up or down. My relationship with Walsh was hanging on by a thread and I was a complete disaster. I had put myself in a spot that I couldn't come back from. I couldn't fix the mistakes I made, and I sure as shit couldn't own up to them without destroying my entire life. I was stuck. Having Killian came back grounded me. He made me see sense in my actions, he made me feel normal. He made me feel like I wasn't the royal fuckup I knew I was.
So we grew closer. He came back and everything fell back together. I wasn't able to fix my past with Walsh but I was able to move forward from it. He stimulated me intellectually again, he made me think. He made me dream big. I had been going to school to be a teacher and I was getting ready to graduate when he came back. He changed my vision.
"You would be a great manager Emma," he said to me one night while sorting out stock in the backroom. I always loved our back of the store conversations, we had the space to breathe, to be ourselves, we didn't get interrupted over and over again by customers and employees.
"What? What are you talking about Killian? I'm going to be a teacher." I said not sure what he was getting at.
"I know, but I went to school to be a police officer, hell I was first in my class and I ended up here. As a store manager. And not a day goes by that I don't know that I made the right decision. Plans change, people change Emma. I think you have some real potential. You've already invested almost ten years into this company, why not give it a shot?" He asked me.
"Killian, in case you haven't noticed you haven't even given me keys to the store yet. I need to be a key carrier and then an assistant before I can even think about becoming a store manager." I replied trying to keep the images of me running a store out of my head, I didn't want to be distracted. I had goals, and I was determined to fulfill them.
"Okay, so I'll give you keys." He said simply like it was no big deal.
"What? I don't want keys Killian, I don't want to go down this road. I have a plan." I said fighting him.
"Again plans change Emma. I think you are really going to be missing out on an opportunity if you don't take this. You know how picky I am about who I give keys to in this store, but you deserve them. Hell you've been writing the schedule for years and you aren't even a manager. Why not get paid for something you know you can easily do?" He asked.
I was starting to see his point but I still didn't want to budge. However, I did respond with, "I'll think about it." The answer seemed to appease him.
One week later I had keys and was managing the store on my own at night. I was still going to school and was almost done with my Bachelor's degree, however I embarked on this new adventure as well. Killian taught me everything he knew. He dove into reports with me, he showed me all the ropes. He gave me not only keys to the store but keys to success.
However throughout his time of coaching me and training me at work and talking me off a cliff in my personal life I knew that our time was limited. I knew every day was another day closer to him leaving again. He had made it clear to his superiors that he wanted to become a District Manager, and I knew that he deserved to be a District Manager. I forced myself to not think about it, to enjoy the time together that we had. I had repaired my relationship with Walsh, things were moving forward. But the clock was ticking down my time with Killian.
I remember on March 15th Killian had a meeting with our Regional Manager. I knew that day that our time was over again. When he came back into the store with a big smile I knew he had gotten it. He had finally gotten his promotion. From the time I had met him years prior I knew that was his first major milestone. He wanted to be a District Manager. I had watched him excel as an Assistant Manager and as a Store Manager and now he was moving up again. He was leaving again.
I tried to be happy for him. I really did. But he got ripped out of our store two days later. This time we were closer though. I had finally cracked him and gotten him to hang out with me at my housewarming party, and our company Christmas party. I was finally able to text him, very carefully, but I could inform him of events and invite him and of course Milah to hang out.
Milah and I had formed a strange friendship. She was an alright person, honestly I didn't think there was anything special enough about her to make her worthy of Killian, but she was a good time. Plus I really enjoyed getting her drunk and getting her to hang out with us. That makes me sound like a terrible person but I was grasping at anything I could to spend time with Killian.
So I decided to do the only thing I could do when I found out Killian was leaving. I decided to throw him a party.
Speaking of parties, I needed to get out of my own head and focus on the Super Bowl party in front of me. Things had certainly taken a strange turn. Eric had introduced me to Jeff. Jeff was a nice guy. He was decently attractive with his blonde hair and blue eyes, although he was a little too short for my taste. He was kind and very attentive.
We started talking about work and our day to day lives. I noticed he started drinking his mixed drinks quicker. He then confessed that he wasn't much of a drinker but I made him nervous.
"Nervous?" I asked confused by the statement.
"Yes, you are pretty, funny, and the perfect girl." He said taking a large drink of his new drink in front of him.
"The perfect girl huh?" I asked, "No such thing."
"Well, if there was a perfect girl I think it would be you." He replied.
"That's very sweet," I replied, 'and slightly creepy' I thought additionally. We had made our way to an open table that we sat down at. Around us the Super Bowl was playing on the big screen TVs scattered around the room but my attention surprisingly wasn't on the game even though I am a huge football fan.
"You know I would move to Michigan for you," he said leaning towards me.
"You don't even know me," I said suddenly wishing someone would come and rescue me from this guy. I looked around and didn't recognize anyone in area. I knew I wasn't in danger, not surrounded by this many people, however I did want to leave this conversation as abruptly as possible.
"I'm engaged," I said hoping that maybe that would divert his attention.
"Really? Well now I'm brokenhearted." He said and I knew right then he was full of shit. He obviously had drank too much and was now looking to hook up with someone. Well that someone wasn't going to be me.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom," I said standing up.
"Me too," he answered smiling a drunk smile at me.
We walked towards the bathroom together and as soon as I got in the stall I took out my phone. I had started to text Killian about forty minutes ago when Jeff had started swooning over me, but I didn't want to have him rescue me. I hated showing signs of weakness and I didn't want him to think I needed him.
However, after another forty minutes of listening to Jeff I didn't care how I would appear to Killian.
'Save me.' I texted him quickly.
My phone immediately started ringing.
"Where are you?" He said before I could even properly greet him.
"In the bathroom by the smoking patio." I answered.
"Come out on the patio, we are all out here." He said sternly.
"Okay," I replied quickly and hung up.
I walked out of the bathroom where Jeff was waiting for me.
"I'm sorry Jeff but my Regional Manager just called and he wants me to hang out with my region, introduce myself to some of the other managers." I said trying to look apologetic.
"Really? That sucks. Can I have your number so I can text you to hang out later or tomorrow?" He asked.
I just wanted to get away from him so I gave him my number and then swiftly walked out the door.
"What the hell happened to you?" Killian asked concern all over his face.
"Funny you should ask," I said and then proceeded to tell him the entire story about how Jeff had fallen in love with me over the course of an hour.
"Wow, the perfect girl eh? Lucky you." He said sarcastically after I finished the story.
"Shut up," I said gently smacking him in the arm. We had gotten over the not touching each other thing, although we still rarely touched it did happen more often now that we hung out more.
He laughed and asked, "so which one is he?"
I discreetly pointed in the direction where Jeff was now standing with another guy on the patio. He kept looking over at me.
"Looks like he's your one true love, you sure you don't want to race back to his arms?" Killian teased.
I laughed and realized how much I was enjoying myself talking to Killian. Sure we were in a group of people but we were able to have a nice conversation together as well. I felt myself relax. Killian always had that effect on me, even when I was wound up about something or upset he could always calm me down quickly. It was one of my favorite qualities about him.
I decided to stop putting the distance between us the rest of the night. He obviously was enjoying hanging out with me and I was certainly enjoying hanging out with him, therefore I decided to throw caution to the wind and just be myself, because I knew with Killian being myself was perfectly okay.
They are getting closer! I told you I was invested in this story! What happens next? I already have part of the next chapter written too! Lots of plot to fill in! I hope you are all enjoying it! Let me know! Thanks again and have an amazing holiday!
