Chapter 2

Chris’s POV

“Would it be alright if I came by your place later?” I asked Hailey.

“No, I have a lot to do today and can’t find the time to just roam around,” Hailey stated.

“Roam around? Hailey, we haven’t seen each other in months and you don’t seem disturbed about it,” I noted.

“Of course I worry about it but unlike you, I can keep my emotions in check,” she retorted.

“Don’t you miss me?” I asked.

“I do, every minute of the day, I am just so busy with work. I don’t expect you to know since all you do is sit at home all day and look at your laptop…” she started to say.

“I am a travel writer, Hailey,” I corrected.

“Still the same thing. Now, I have to get back to work now while you continue to look at your laptop. Maybe, try finding a real job today, eh?” she added with a scoff.

“I have a real job Hailey. This is what I love to do. I hoped that you will understand passion seeing as you put everything into your work as much as you do and…” I was saying and the line went off.

“She hung up on me,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

I wondered what it was that bothered her. I knew she loved me, I was sure of it. She just must be going through a lot of things these past couple of months. Perhaps I should surprise her, help her get out of this mood. Surely, she can’t be avoiding me for nothing and visiting her can’t cause any harm, can it?

“Ah, I will just go see her,” I finalized.

“I’m coming for you Hailey. Just you wait for me,” I yelled to no one in particular but my empty room.

The doorbell rang. “Who can it be?” I questioned.

“Give me a minute,” I said.

“Jake, I didn’t know you were in town, you should have called me,” I said, hugging him.

“Well, I didn’t know you’d be in town either seeing as your job requires you to always be on the road,” he stated.

“I haven’t had much of a job in months now. I fear I’m going to be bankrupt one of these days. When that happens, I will be reaching my breaking point and God help me if I know what happens after.”

“You shouldn’t have thoughts like that, I have some goodnews,” he said with a smile.

“Let’s hear it then. Lord knows it’s been a long time since I had any goodnews,” I said, a small smile passing my lips.

“You remember me telling you about a boxer I met during one of my travels?” he asked.

“Yes, I do remember you telling me about it. You were very excited when you met her and talked about it for days,” I affirmed.

“That is by the way. I must have chipped in your name a few times during one of our conversations and she just reached out, saying they might need your services,” he explained.

“What exactly am I supposed to do?” I asked, wondering why a boxing agency would need me for anything at all.

“I’m not sure but you are supposed to attend their events and probably write a thing or two about it.”

“But I am a travel writer. What part of my job description do you not understand?” I inquired.

“It feels the same to me. Look, who cares anyway? A writer is a writer for all I know,” he added.

“Well, you’re going to call her back…” I started.

“I knew you would love it.” He shrieked.

“Let me finish. You are going to call her back and tell her that I won’t be taking the job for the agency and they should be looking at other alternatives,” I corrected.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why? You don’t even know what I do, yet, you claim to be my friend. And you sit there and ask me why?” I yelled, trying to keep my voice down or maybe I was trying to calm myself down.

First it was Hailey, then Jake. I was surrounded by people who didn’t care or knew what it was I actually did for work.

“Look man, I am sorry about that. Forget everything I said and look at the brighter side,” he noted.

“What brighter side is there to it?” I questioned.

“The fact that you need this job more than anything right now. You said it yourself, you are going bankrupt and don’t know what will happen to you when you reach your breaking point. You shouldn’t reach your breaking point before you reach a decision. Besides, the weigh-ins is tomorrow. All you have to do is just go there and check it out. If it doesn’t suit your taste, you can back out,” he finished.

I was mute for a few seconds. I knew he was right. I needed this job very much, anything to get me out of this state or the state I was currently in. And who knows, maybe Hailey would see me in a new light when she finds out about this.

“What time tomorrow?” I asked Jake, finally giving in.

“Yes. I knew I could get you to do it. You owe me one and make sure not to forget me when you start rolling with all those celebrity boxing champions,” he stated.

“You wish,” I added with a scoff.

“How’s Hailey doing?”

“I was about to go pay her a surprise visit before you stormed in.”

“Surprise visit? Is it her birthday or your anniversary?” he asked, wide eyed.

“No, I just feel like she’s been hiding something from me,” I noted.

“Then, trust your instincts and don’t pay her that visit,” he warned.

“Too late, I already made up my mind.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Jake added and reached for the door.

“Hi, I’m here to see Hailey…” I began as I spoke with the receptionist. It felt weird to do this but I had to.

In my hands was a bouquet, not like she would appreciate me bringing her flowers anyway. A small smile passed my lips when I remembered when I had to force her office address out of her. She had said she wanted to keep our relationship private for reasons I could not quite understand.

“The Hailey?” she asked.

“Yes, why?” I inquired.

“Who are you?” she retorted.

“Well, I am her…” I was saying before she cut me off.

“Never mind, I’m guessing you’re someone of no importance to her then or she would have told you,” she stated.

“Tell me what?” I asked. At this point, I was clearly confused.

“She took her leave to go on a vacation with her boyfriend,” she blurted out.