Divorced, But Not Broken
Divorced, but Not broken Chapter 48

"Hey, ready to go?" I looked up, James standing in the doorway, and I nodded smiling, I was ready to get out of here, eat and sleep, oh that was all I wanted to do right now.

"Yep, just sign these and we can call it quits today." He smirked when he walked up, signing the papers fast and just putting them down on my desk again when I got up, stretching the slightest, feeling my body being worn and older than I was.

"Andrea, you should take more breaks, you know that I can see who moves around the breakroom and you are never there, ever." He made a concern face that I ignored, so what? I wanted to get my shit done, James deserved me working harder, giving everything, I had into this position he got me.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, and I don't want to be in the breakroom. I bet they are waiting for me with fricking pitchfork and torches after the... incident today...." I made a smirk when he looked guilty, like he hadn't helped me, but made it worse, maybe he did. I didn't care, just that he was there for me, being my friend was enough, even if it was super inappropriate since he was my boss.

"Shit... I should have just told her to stay quiet, not bring up that she was screwing someone married, she didn't need to be called out..." he was really looking like he regretted it and I came around the desk and put my hand on his arm, trying to be comforting when he looked up and smiled at me, like it felt better, just me standing here with him.

"She's a bitch James." I just said that when he started to laugh and I smiled more when I let go off his arm and we started to walk out to his car, ignoring the eyes of everyone that was employed when we got out to the parking lot, and I got into his combi. It was nice inside, more room and not like Jonah's stupid sports car that was like trying to get into a canned jar, being the sardine for me.

"It's not too hot, is it?" he was controlling the AC when I just shrugged, I was fine, the heat wasn't bad in the store and his car was not bad either.

We talked about work when we were riding back, making me chuckle when he got out and I got hard stabbing pain in my heart, seeing the house that I was no longer going to stay in when he came around, seeing me paralyzed for some reason.

"Andrea, what's wrong?" he had his hand on my arm and I just shook my head trying wake up from the nightmare of leaving my home for eight years that was flooding me like a goddam freight train in my head.

I

"Oh god I miss living in a house....." I didn't even know why I said that. I was happy with Jonah, in the apartment...or when I got furniture back... just being her these last two weeks had made me realize that I missed living in an environment that I was used to, my safe space.

He didn't say anything, just held his hand on my arm and gave me a sad smile making me feel worse, I was really being a complaining bitch right now, wasn't I?

"I'm just going to get my stuff and I be out of your way James, oh and I'm still paying this month's rent, I swear." I made a smile when he rolled his eyes at me smiling still, he didn't care, and I knew that, he was the best guy ever.

"No rush, and don't worry about the money Andrea, I told you that I didn't see you as a tenant..." he smirked walking up the stairs and me blushing at his teasing, I was going to miss that too, the version of James, here, at his home, where he was casual and relaxed. I was getting my shit which was basically nothing when my phone started to go off and I looked down at the angry snap that was from Jonah's unblocked private account, well how good for him to be nice enough to do that for me.

"Where the fuck are you Andrea, I been waiting here for thirty minutes!?" I made a small gulp, shit! I didn't know he was going to pick me up, never said a word about when he dropped me off and I just assumed that I would take the bus to James's place or home when I was done.

"I'm at James house, just getting my things, I will be back soon...." I made a heart, I know it was silly since he was probably going to sneer at it when he saw it, thinking I was stupid or corny when I put it down again, taking my bag on my shoulder and the only box I had and walked out when he snatched it from me, like it was heavy. It wasn't. but I didn't fight him when he smiled at me walking along outside again to the car.

I was closing the door to the backseat, box placed back there, and we looked at each other, I was feeling awkward again, and the sadness was drowning me. it was stupid, but I felt like I was leaving my home, the one that I had shared with Ryan, and it was f*****g killing me.

"You ok?" he was looking worried when I swiped the tears fast from my eyes and gave him a brave smile, I was okay.... Just emotional...

"Yeah... I'm fine... just tired and you know...tired...." I made a small laughter that he didn't share making me feel even worse, great. he was pitying me; I really didn't want that.

"I should get going...." I was opening the car door when he stopped me, staring into my eyes and I just froze, because I knew that look he was giving me, like he wanted to say something, but couldn't, just like Jonah. "Andrea.... Just...look, f**k. I care for you, and I like you..." he got quiet again when I raised my eyebrows, did he just curse and confess he liked me?! Oh shit.

"James.... I'm sorry...." I didn't want to say anything more, he knew why I was. I didn't feel the same way for him, and even if I did love living here, laughing with him, my heart was already taken by an arrogant nineteen-year-old guy that was angry at me right now. "No...no... don't be... its stupid anyway... shit... it's just that, women don't get me Andrea...or they think I'm to hardass as people say around work. I just felt that we had some kind of connection and ...." He stopped when I looked even more sad, we did have a connection, just not the one he wanted.

"I do care about you James, I really do, but just as friends..." oh god when did I become a fucking heartbreaker?! I wasn't used to this, I was more used being the one that was trampled on by my ex-husband that sucked and not being adored by two guys at the same time, it was insane.

He looked up, giving me some weird look that disagreed again making me believe I was crazy when he just smiled painfully and I felt my heart sink even more, I didn't want me and James to stop being friends, I really didn't want that.

"I guess I can live with that, being friends, I mean...." He smiled more and I just nodded, sure, I wanted that too, him and me still hanging out, even if it might be weird... oh god I really hoped that it wasn't going to be like that.... "See you tomorrow?" I made a bigger hopeful smile that he just nodded to, giving me some hope that things weren't going to change, when they already had.

"Yes. Bright and early." He smiled and looked more like he was my boss, and I got that f*****g lump back in my throat, feeling him pushing me back, even if it just had been 2 minutes since he confessed to liking me.

I didn't answer that, just got inside and started to drive off, he didn't stay this time, just started to walk back inside and I made my first sobbing sound from seeing his house disappearing in the distance.