3

BPOV

"Two Weeks Notice"

I'm sitting on my living room floor between the shabby recliner and flea market coffee table. I have to leave for my shift at the hardware store soon, but I'm nervously staring down at my phone as if it's going to make the call for me.

I've had less than forty-eight hours to come to terms with the fact that my life has irrevocably changed. I spent the better part of my only day off pacing between the fridge and the spot where I'm sitting now, checking to make sure it wasn't all just a fever dream. Checking and rechecking to make sure the numbers actually matched up.

I'm not in denial, more in a state of shock and disbelief.

My first alarm goes off, telling me I only have thirty minutes before I need to leave for work because, God forbid, I'm one minute late. Someone has to be there to open the store.

"Now or never, Swan," I mutter and snatch my phone off the table.

I already have the number saved because, in between pacing, I did a little research. The lottery office is located in Olympia, which is less than a two-hour drive. I'm going to have to rent a car because I doubt my poor truck could make it. I also looked into the difference between taking the lump sum or an annuity, and I've decided on the latter.

"Thank you for calling the Washington Lottery."

It doesn't take long for me to make an appointment for Wednesday morning, and the very cheerful man on the other end of the phone congratulates me and gives me some advice.

"Try not to tell anyone until an official statement has been made, and you have legal backup. People are crazy," he tells me.

It's not like I have many people I'm close with so that shouldn't be a problem.

He also insists that I sign the back of the ticket and put it somewhere safe.

My second alarm is going off when I end the call. With ten minutes to spare, I sign the back of the ticket and put it back on my fridge under two of the strongest magnets. I grab my sandwich for lunch and head out the door.

When I get to the store, I'm not surprised that Jake isn't here yet. I get everything set up for opening and find a note from Jess.

Got swamped today.

Jake decided he wants the hammers moved to aisle 4's end cap.

Sorry! -Jess

"Of course, he does," I grumble.

In between helping customers, I manage to get everything moved and set up when Jake finally arrives. He takes one look at my work and turns on his heel, headed toward his office. No thank you or nice job.

The day passes with little fanfare, and I'm waiting for Seth to get here to relieve me. He's always at least half an hour late for every shift and comes in reeking of marijuana. But he's Jake's best friend, so he gets away with it.

While I wait, I text Jess to tell her I finished the display before asking her to take my Wednesday morning shift. I offer to trade with her if needed but she tells me she could really use the hours, and I'm happy to help. I can understand financially struggling. I've known it my whole life.

And Wednesday morning, that's all going to change.

Jess has always been a good person, a friend to me. She's sweet and supportive, and I plan on doing something nice for her now that I'll have the means to do so.

"Bella," Seth greets as he swaggers in with glazed, bloodshot eyes and a giant bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. "Where the hell have you been, loca?"

"Here, waiting for you to decide when you wanted to come in."

Seth just giggles and starts to head to the back of the store to Jake's office.

There aren't any customers at the moment, so I quickly count down my drawer and gather my stuff. I find the two of them joking and laughing like the jackasses they are.

"I'm leaving," I announce, and they both sober up. "I have an appointment on Wednesday, so I asked Jess to cover my shift."

Jake crosses his beefy arms. "No."

"No?"

Seth slinks out of the room, and Jake leans back in his chair with a cocky grin. "Jess already covered for you on Saturday, and she's walking a fine line between part-time and full-time."

"Everyone aside from me is part-time. This appointment is important. Maybe Seth can cover my shift."

"He doesn't work mornings, and it's not going to happen. What's so important you need to miss a shift?"

"It's none of your business."

Jake sits back in his chair and twirls his finger around. "Not my business, hmm. Let me remind you that all of this is my business. So, reschedule your important appointment to a time when you aren't working and show up for your shift or—"

"Or what?" I snap. "You'll fire me?"

"Charlie doesn't run this store anymore, Bella. You either show up Wednesday morning at seven on the dot, or I'll can your ass without a second thought."

Adrenaline rushes through my body, angry tears brimming and hands shaking as I dig through my bag for my store keys.

Jake jumps back as they land in front of him with a loud thump. "No need. I quit."

His face turns an odd shade of red. "You quit?"

"That's literally what I just said. I'm not going to cancel or reschedule, so I'm not going to be here. This saves us both time."

"Stop being a child, Bella. You can't quit on Charlie like this."

"Do I need to remind you that you just said this was your store? I'm not quitting on Charlie, Jake. I'm quitting on you."

I turn and head for the door, and he pounds his fist on the desk. "You know you can't collect unemployment if you quit, right? What are you going to do? How are you going to live?"

I turn back around, my voice laced with venom. "Neither you nor Charlie have given a damn about me for most of my life, Jake. Don't start caring now."

"I don't!" he mutters, jaw tense.

"I figured." I nod. "But don't worry about me. I'm going to be just fine."