A Happy Coincidence

Chapter 18: Epilogue

Silence.

"Hun?" I ask.

"I'm just, I'm in a bad mood. I want to come home."

"I know." I sigh gently.

"My secretary is sleeping with my CEO." She sounds exhausted and stressed. "And on top of that, my back hurts." She sighs. "And the heat is out in the building."

"It's winter." I say.

"Yeah. It's like, thirty degrees in here." She sighs. "And I don't want to fire the CEO, because that means somebody has to be here to fix the problem." Silence. "Which is me."

"Well, tell them either they stop their little game or they're fired."

"Tyler, they're in love."

I lean onto the counter, sighing.

"Then tell them they need to focus on work. If they don't, they're fired. Let them be in love."

There's a short pause.

"God, I have a fucking headache. It's so damn cold in here."

"I'm sorry, Sunshine."

"It's whatever." She sighs. "Alright, I'm gonna go. I really wanna get this done so I can come home."

"Alright." I say. "Carmen?"

"Yes?" she asks.

"Be careful, alright?"

"Careful?" she repeats.

"Don't walk in front of any cars. Drive carefully. I love you."

"Okay..." she trails off. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I say.

"Did somebody tell you something? Are you calling to check on me?"

"Yes." I say.

"Tyler, I'm fine." she says. "I'm just tired."

"Carmen, if you're too tired to drive home, I want you to get a hotel."

"I'm coming home." She says.

"Carmen." I warn.

I hear her sigh.

"Alright. I'll get a hotel."

"I miss you." I frown.

"I miss you too." She sounds upset.

"Alright. I love you."

"Love you t-"

The line clicks.

I hesitate, and then I call her again.

"Why are you calling her again?" Emily asks.

"She didn't finish her sentence." I say.

"She's probably fine." Emily says.

It rings three times, and then it stops.

"Yes?" she asks patiently.

"You hung up on me." I say.

"I have so much shit to do, Tyler." She says. "I need to go. I love you, okay?" she sounds annoyed.

I sigh. "I love you too. Bye."

"Bye."

She doesn't hang up this time, I hang up.

"You worry." Ethan says.

"Of course I worry." I say.

"Do you know if she's coming home tonight?" Emily asks.