Chapter 25

• It was barely seventy-two hours into his vacation and Cory was already missing the job. He was so used to his routine, but most importantly, being around Jasmine. He had made sure to check on her at least twice every day since the start of his leave. Each time he called, he could hear how disinterested she sounded, almost like she only answered his calls because she had to, knowing he was only adhering to the prepared security protocol.
• He hated feeling this way, but he knew this was something that had to be done. She was with Josh and he couldn’t help himself from feeling that she would one day come back to her senses and realize she was just fooling around with him.
• He couldn’t put his job on the line for something that could suddenly end up feeling hurt and in so much pain. His last conversation with Jasmine was something that haunted him; how she was trying hard to reach him, to talk to him. He noticed how much effort she had put in and he wanted to move closer to her and hold her, tell her that he was sorry he had made her feel that way, and kiss her to show her that he meant every word.