I hadn't been dreading Thanksgiving...until I realized I was going to have to answer all of the questions from my family as to why I wasn't a nurse anymore.

I knew they would ask the same questions my parents did.

Why did you feel like nursing wasn't right for you anymore?

What are you going to do instead?

Why would you take a job that pays less in the meantime?

Like I did to my parents, I was going to give as vague of answers as possible, as it really wasn't anyone else's business.

I needed something that diminished my stress, and working at Hollis so far had done that. Yes, I made less money. But I made enough, and I have money saved from when I worked as a nurse.

Ever since I was young, I've gone to my Aunt Karen's house for Thanksgiving. She lives about a half hour away from me, in a big home that can house the 20 some people she has for Thanksgiving. My Aunt Karen is my mom's sister, and like my mom, she hasn't worked in over 20 years. Her husband, my Uncle Dan, is an anesthesiologist.

Addison picked me up and we went to Thanksgiving together.

"I'm not exactly looking forward to this," I said to her in the car.

"Why, because of all the questions you'll get about you not being a nurse anymore?"

"You hit the nail on the head."

"Only say as much as you want to. Don't let anyone force you into saying something you're uncomfortable sharing," Addison said to me, "I know it's a touchy subject."

I nodded, "It is. And I don't want to get into it with anyone."

For the past few years, my aunt has hosted a sober Thanksgiving, so I wouldn't even be able to have a glass of wine to get me through it.

However, I'd much rather there be less temptation for my father to drink.

As Addison drove us the rest of the way, my mind drifted to Kori.

I wonder how her Thanksgiving is.

I just wonder how she is in general...

"Ash, are you there? I've said your name twice."

"Oh, sorry," I looked at Addison, "I was in a daze."

"What were you thinking about?"

I know I mentioned Kori to her a while back. Do I tell her more?

Hmm...I think I'll keep it to myself for now.

"Just wanting to get this over with, that's all."

Addison nodded, "I understand. We'll get through it together."

Thankfully, the attention was barely on me at dinner. My cousin Morgan, who is my Aunt Karen's oldest daughter, announced she was pregnant, and that stole the show.

Morgan is taking after her mom. Her husband makes a lot of money, so she doesn't work, and she is just as materialistic.

I couldn't help but notice that Alyssa seemed a bit dejected after the pregnancy announcement. She smiled and cheered, but I could see in her face that something was going on.

I pulled her aside in the kitchen as I was putting my plate in the sink.

"Lyss, are you okay?" I asked her, "I may be wrong of course, but you seem a bit down."

"You can read me well," Alyssa looked at me, "Look, I'm happy for Morgan, incredibly happy for her. But...it's a bit tough for me to hear. Damon and I have been trying to get pregnant, and we've had zero luck. I'm going to a fertility specialist in a couple of weeks to see what might be going on."

"Oh, Lyss," I said, "I'm so sorry. Remember, you were on birth control for a really long time, and you just got off it not long ago. That can make it take time for you to get pregnant."

"I know," Alyssa smiled at me, but it didn't quite reach her eyes, "I appreciate it, Ash. I'll keep you updated. Just...don't mention it to anyone else, alright?"

"Of course I won't," I said to Alyssa, "It's safe with me."

I got a few questions from family members about my career change, but nothing I couldn't handle. Trey even texted me asking how my family was being, and I was pleased to tell him that they weren't that bad.

Rachel worked the next day, but Trey forced me to go out Black Friday shopping with him at the mall.

"Why the fuck did I let you convince me to come here?" I said to him as we browsed through H&M, "There are way too many people here."

"Because I'm your best friend and you love me," Trey said, and he held up a maroon shirt, "I like this. Colin would think I look hot in this, right?"

"Trey, what matters is that you think you look hot in it."

"You're right. Plus, I think Colin thinks I look best with nothing on."

I couldn't help but laugh, "Is it still strictly hooking up, or developing into something more?"

A small smile appeared on Trey's lips, "We'll see what happens."

After being at the crowded mall for a few hours, all I wanted to do when I got back to my apartment was chill for the rest of the night. I put on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie and sat up in my bed. It was a bit after 9 PM, and I was planning on starting a new book that I got at Barnes and Noble earlier in the day.

That was, until my phone started vibrating, and when I saw who was calling me, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Kori?

I answered, "Kori...were you meaning to call me?"

There was a small pause before Kori's voice came through, "Yes, I was. Is it a bad time?"

"Not at all. Um, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to see how your Thanksgiving was."

I asked jokingly, "Do you call everyone in the department and ask this?"

"Uh, most certainly not," Kori responded, and her adamant tone made me laugh.

"Sorry, I was just messing with you," I said back, "My Thanksgiving was okay. How was yours?"

"Just okay?" Kori asked me, brushing off me asking how hers was.

"Yes. I mean, I thought it was going to be a lot worse. I thought that I was going to get heavily questioned by my family as to why I stopped being a nurse, but thankfully my cousin announced she's pregnant and all of the attention was on her."

"Answering to people, especially family, can be the worst. I remember when I quit my nursing career, my parents were furious."

"I would hope they're fine with your decision now."

"I'd like to think so, considering it was about 12 or so years ago. How did your parents react?"

"They weren't mad, per say. More confused than anything. I...didn't give them much of a reason as to why I quit."

"And you don't have to. It's a personal decision."

"You're correct about that. You didn't answer my question though, Kori."

"Which question?"

"How was your Thanksgiving?"

"It was nice, I do the same thing every year pretty much. I go to my best friend Christa's house. She's married with twin boys, and they love it when I come over with my dog, which I do every Thanksgiving."

"That's so nice," I said back to Kori, smiling to myself, "I thought you were going to tell me you spent it with your sister and niece and nephew."

"No, they went down to Florida to spend it with my parents, they live in Fort Lauderdale. I haven't spent the holiday with my family in God knows how long."

"You've always spent it with Christa?"

There was a pause, before Kori said, "I knew this would come up at some point, it's not like I was going to hide it. I was married. I've been divorced for six years now, but I used to spend it with my ex's family."

"Well, I definitely appreciate you telling me," I said to Kori.

"You don't sound entirely shocked."

"I mean, hm...I'm trying to put this in a way that doesn't sound rude. A lot of people who are 40 have likely been married at least one time," I said back to Kori.

To my surprise, she chuckled and said, "Ashley, are you making fun of my age?"

"No! I'm just saying, it's- "

"Calm down, I'm just fucking with you," Kori said, with another chuckle.

It's kind of weird hearing her curse so casually. I'm not used to that at work.

"Well in that case, yes, I was making fun of your age," I said, with a laugh.

"Knew it," Kori said back, and I could tell she was smiling.

I then asked Kori, "What made you decide to call me right now?"

"Well, I told you that I would be thinking about you, and I wanted to show you that I was. I've been thinking about you...and our conversation. A lot."

"So have I," I said back to Kori, "It's been pretty much all that's on my mind."

"Which is why I'm glad I was able to speak to you right now," Kori said to me, "I wasn't planning on keeping you for long...but I'm glad that I called you."

You can keep me for as long as you want, Kori.

I wanted to say that, but I didn't.

Instead, I said, "I'm glad you called me as well, Kori."

"It's nice being able to speak freely with you," she said back to me, "I hope you have a good rest of your night, Ashley. I'll see you on Monday."

And now I have a reason to not absolutely dread going back to work on Monday after my short break.

Kori stayed on my mind for the rest of the weekend, and unlike the past couple of weeks at work before our conversation, I was looking forward to seeing her.

Even if I couldn't show it.

Regardless, going back into the office on Monday was still tough. I once again almost ran late, but I somehow was able to make it to work on time.

When I got up to my desk, Grace walked over to greet me.

"How was seeing your family in Oregon?" I asked her.

"It was great!" Grace said to me, "Thank you for asking. I love being able to see them, and where they live in Oregon is beautiful. I'll show you some pictures. How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Nice," I said, "I spent it with my family, my aunt hosts dinner every year."

At that moment, Kori walked by the department. She didn't stop, she walked by holding a stack of papers, and she looked like she was in a bit of a rush.

My heart still skipped a beat when I saw her.

Grace noticed Kori as well, because she said to me, "I wonder how Kori's Thanksgiving was. She's such a mystery sometimes."

I know how it was. But of course, I am not saying a damn thing.

"She is," I nodded in agreement.

"It wouldn't surprise me if she maybe spent it with Lisa, one of the senior accountants here."

...what?

I turned to Grace, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Why wouldn't that surprise you?"

"Oh, supposedly her and Kori have had a thing going on. I just heard about it before break."

???

I felt my stomach drop, and I said, "Oh, interesting."

I tried to keep a straight face and concentrate as Grace kept speaking to me, but all I knew was one thing.

I was asking Kori about Lisa the second I could.

She can't be playing me.

Right? 

A/N: Thanks so much for reading these 3 chapters I just posted! I hope that you enjoyed. <3 more to come very soon!