The Wake-Up Call

by Beth O'Leary

I know why Izzy’s so surprised to hear me talking about the hotel as a family: she thinks I don’t care. That I’m heartless. But if I am, then why does my chest hurt at the thought of letting this part of my life go?

All’s fair in love, war and petty workplace feuding, right?

We are all misled and misdirected from time to time. Perhaps there really is no shame in that, as long as we wake up to it before it’s too late to change.

‘Some things are important enough to cause a little drama.’

What would I have thought, in her position? I would have trusted Mandy’s word too. I would have assumed the worst of Izzy, because it’s easy to believe someone would laugh at you. Easier than believing they’d love you back.

‘If I could have fired you from being my friend, Drew, I’d have done it, but that’s not a thing, so I’m taking what I can get.’