Kori was right in the sense that it wasn't difficult for me to catch on to the work she was showing me.

She gave me a sidelong glance after a little while and said in a calm tone, "See? You're getting it perfectly fine."

I glanced back at Kori, still very aware of how close we were sitting to each other, "Thank you. I will say, you're a great teacher."

I wasn't lying. Kori was very even-keeled and patient and answered all my questions without making me feel like I was a bother.

Kori's expression didn't change, but her tone was a bit warmer as she said, "Thank you."

At that moment, the one woman who worked in IT came up to us.

"So sorry to interrupt," she said, "Kori, can I get your help with something?"

"Of course," Kori nodded, and she then looked at me, "You're alright on your own for a few?"

"Yes," I nodded.

I started doing the work that Kori showed me, which was basically directing email inquiries to the correct person. She said after lunch I could answer phone calls.

I wanted to check my phone to see if Gabby by chance texted me, but I knew there was no chance at all that I could do that with Kori around.

Kori wound up helping a few more people on her team, and then sat back down next to me.

I had some questions for her as well, and she answered them all carefully.

At around noon, she asked me, "When do you usually go for lunch?"

"I've been going between 12 and 1."

Kori nodded, "Go ahead now, then. Meet me in my office when you get back, I'll be there taking care of some work."

I decided to walk to a nearby coffee shop for my lunch break, and I looked at my phone right away as I walked to see if Gabby texted me by chance.

To my surprise, she did.

I waited until I got my iced coffee and a small caprese sandwich, and sat down. Even though it was October, and already quite chilly, I can always go for an iced latte. Even in the dead of winter.

My heart raced as I looked at my phone to see Gabby's text.

My heart then dropped as I read:

Hi. I've been doing a lot of thinking and I think we should end things. If I haven't wanted to be official with you yet, I probably don't want to be. I also felt like you weren't supportive of me this weekend.

I felt my blood boil as I read the text from her. I was upset, but I was angry even more so.

So, she's going to break up with me over text and essentially blame it on me?

Insane.

I knew that if I responded then and there, I wouldn't respond well. I decided I was going to save it for later, and maybe even call her.

Tears started to prick my eyes and I felt a lump forming in my throat.

I knew I needed to get out of the coffee shop right away so I wasn't crying in the middle of it.

As tears started to escape, I quickly made my way back to the parking lot and to my car.

I would let it out there, and then try my best to make it look like I wasn't crying. I had some makeup in my purse, I knew I could easily cover it up.

I sat in my car and looked at the text message once more.

How dare she.

I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes, genuinely upset.

When I opened my eyes, I looked at my phone to see the time.

Fuck, I have 20 minutes until I have to go in. I need to de-puff my eyes.

I tried my best to make it look like I wasn't crying. I put on some concealer under my eyes as well as more mascara.

I'm not sure this fully worked. Great, if anyone notices they're going to think I'm dramatic and ridiculous for crying at work.

However, I had no choice but to go in...and meet Kori in her office.

All I wanted was to go home.

Instead, moments later I was at Kori's office door, knocking.

"Come in," she said from the other side of the door.

I walked in and put on a smile, "Hello."

Kori looked up slightly from the stack of papers on her desk, and she said, "Hi. Give me one second, I just have to finish looking over this document, then we can go to IT."

"Sure," I nodded.

About 30 seconds later, Kori set the paper aside and fully looked up at me.

She didn't say anything for a moment, but I could tell she was studying me.

Kori looked hesitant to do so, but she asked, "Have you been crying?"

Humiliation washed over me.

I said, trying to sound as confident as possible, "No, just allergies."

Kori looked at me and didn't say anything, but I knew she was unconvinced by the way she slightly raised her dark eyebrows.

I don't know why I continued speaking, but I did, "I- okay, fine. I was crying. But it has nothing to do with work."

Kori's piercing green eyes locked with mine, "Well, I'm glad it's not about work. I would hope a morning with me wouldn't make you cry."

"No, not at all."

"Do you need a few more moments?" Kori asked me. Her tone wasn't particularly gentle, but it also wasn't firm.

"I'm alright," I said, "It's just...girlfriend troubles. I'll get over it."

I noticed Kori's eyes widen ever so slightly as I said, "girlfriend".

Immediately after I said that, I felt completely embarrassed that I did.

Why would you say that, Ashley. She doesn't give a fuck.

Kori was still looking at me as she said, "Sorry to hear that."

"It's okay. Women can just...be impossible sometimes."

That got a small chuckle out of Kori.

"They sure can," she said, "I know firsthand, believe me."

She was telling me that she was a lesbian as well, even though I already knew.

I nodded, "Ah, gotcha. So we play for the same team."

Kori started to stand up and she said quickly, "Looks like it. Are you okay to head back out?"

"I am," I nodded.

I then followed Kori out to the IT section, and for the rest of the afternoon I tried to distract my mind. Kori came over occasionally and asked me if I was doing okay, or if I needed any help with work.

At the end of the day, I grabbed my bag and got up from the desk. Kori was in her office, so I stopped by to make sure I was okay to go for the day.

The door to her office was slightly open, and I stopped and said, "It's Ashley. Can I come in?"

"Of course, come in."

I opened the door to Kori's office, and then closed it most of the way.

"Everything alright?" she looked at me.

"Yes," I nodded, "I just wanted to make sure I was good to go for the day."

Kori looked at the Rolex on her wrist and said, "Oh, I didn't realize what time it was. You're good to go."

"Thank you. Have a good night, Kori."

"You too, Ashley. Good job today."

"Thank you," I said to Kori, with a small smile, and I then walked out of her office.

I knew that I wasn't going to text Gabby right away.

When I got in my car, I immediately received a phone call from my sister, Addison.

Addison is a year younger than me, 25 years old, and lives about 20 minutes away from me, closer to the city.

"Hi," she said, "My day has fucking sucked. Want to meet for a margarita and early dinner?"

"You know what...sure," I said back to Addison, "My day hasn't been the best either. Where are you thinking, Mariposa?"

"You read my mind. See you in 15?"

"Yep. See you then," I said to Addison, and we hung up.

Mariposa is a Mexican restaurant near me that has really great tacos and even better margaritas.

Addison was already there when I walked in, and she immediately waved me over.

Addison was wearing a light pink babydoll dress, and her strawberry blonde hair was curled and in a high ponytail.

I sat down across from her, and she said, "I already ordered you a mango margarita."

"Thank you, you're the best," I said, "Did you get yourself a watermelon one?"

"You know it," Addison nodded, "So. Why was your day bad?"

"Tell me why yours was first."

"The kids were awful today, and parents were bitching left and right. I'm just pissed, exhausted, and needed a drink. And to see my sister."

Addison is a Kindergarten teacher, and she overall likes it, but has rough days.

"I'm sorry, Addie. I know the parents can be the worst."

The server then walked over, put down our drinks, and we placed our order for tacos and chips with guacamole.

After the server walked away, Addison looked at me, "Now, tell me why your day sucked."

I sighed, "Gabby basically ended things with me. Over text. She didn't even have the decency to call me."

Addison made a face, "Fuck her! You know I'm not her biggest fan. She never asked you to be official, it was weird. What was her reasoning?"

"She said that if she didn't want to be official with me yet, she probably wouldn't want to be. We got in an argument over this on Friday, and she said she claimed I wasn't supportive of her and her lingering trust issues."

Addison rolled her light blue eyes, "Please. Fuck that and fuck her excuses. You deserve so much more than her. You deserve someone who makes it clear that she wants you."

"You're right. It just stings right now. I haven't even texted her back."

"If you do, don't be nice."

"I'll think about it. I want to be mature about it."

"Why am I not surprised about that? You're better than me. We need to find you someone new. What about your new job, any hot women there?"

My mind immediately drifted to Kori.

She's definitely hot.

"Your hesitancy tells me there is," Addison grinned.

"Okay," I said softly, "There's this one woman, she's the CIO. She's...pretty fucking attractive. And I know she's gay."

"Oooh, a CIO, sounds so official. Is she our age? Pretty young to have such a high up position."

I shook my head, "No. She has to be at least 10 years older."

Ashley's eyes widened, "I say go for it. What have you got to lose?"

"Um, my new job. There's no way I am going for it, no matter how hot I think she is. I also think she's not the type at all for romancing someone at work either."

Addison smiled, "You never know what will happen."

"I think I know in this case."

Addison seemed to be more relaxed after tacos and a drink. I felt a bit calmer as well, but still angry about Gabby.

I decided to call her as I was driving home. I wanted to get the conversation over with, if she even answered.

She did on the third ring.

"Did you get my text?" she asked me, which immediately pissed me off.

"Yeah, I did. I figured I deserved more than that."

"I don't want to start, Ashley. I thought I made myself clear in my text."

"Oh, you did. But let me make myself clear. I stuck around with you for close to 6 months because I liked you. A lot. I stayed as you strung me along. And you only have the decency to text me, and essentially blame it all on me?"

Gabby sighed on the other line, "Sorry. I am. But we should both try and move on."

Something about Gabby's nonchalant tone drove me insane.

"Gladly," I said back to her, "Bye, Gabby."

Before she could say anything, I hung up. I felt tears prick my eyes right away.

Here I go again, wasting my time on someone who didn't deserve my time.

When am I going to find something real, and someone who truly wants me?