I turned to find Ursula standing much too close for comfort. Though I towered over her, her stare made me feel about an inch tall.
“Follow me,” she said, then marched away from the group gaping at us.
I followed until she stopped dead in her tracks under a large aspen tree.
“Do you know why I want to speak with you?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest wrinkling her tailored pantsuit.
“Because Antonio and I were writing notes?” I put my hands in my pockets so my fidgeting wouldn’t give away my nervousness.
“Because you made a fool of yourself and a fool of this reservoir and a fool of the entire city.”
“By writing that I wasn’t falling asleep?” I tried to keep my voice as professional as possible, but this lady was making a huge deal out of such a small thing.
“Not by writing notes. By being in that snake video.”
Oh.
“I didn’t know the video would go viral. I was trying to do my job and the snake and the sandcastle and—”
She held up her hand. I closed my mouth. Damn verbal vomit.
“We paid you for an entire week of snake handling training, and you still couldn’t get it right.”
“I know. I didn’t realize how much harder it would be in real life.” Tears stung at my eyes. I would not cry. “Next time I’ll do better.”
“I certainly hope during your last month of employment there will not be another encounter with a snake. And if there is, it better not be in front of a camera.”
Did she think I wanted to be filmed making an ass of myself? That I wanted thousands of people to see an edited version of what happened so they could laugh at my expense?
“Are you saying I shouldn’t apply for the full-time position once it’s posted?” I asked, my voice shaky and quiet.
“I’m saying one more misstep will be cause for immediate termination. As far as the full-time position, I can’t tell you not to apply but—”
“Ranger Four, Ranger One?” Dusty’s voice came from the mic on my shoulder.
“Go ahead,” Greg replied.
“Naked man has been apprehended . . . again.”
I heard snickers come from the group of rangers behind me.
“Copy. Thanks.”
Even the thought of a naked man running through the park couldn’t lift my spirits. All my hard work trying to prove myself over the summer was for naught.
“Let’s go everyone,” Nikki called from behind me.
Ursula shot one last glare in my direction and marched away towards the lifeguards on the swim beach mumbling something about them losing one of the expensive rescue dummies. I wiped the tears from my eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to follow Nikki back inside.
Shayla and Antonio stood with matching looks of worry on their faces as I approached. I shook my head and walked past taking my seat back at the table.
“What happened?” Antonio whispered when he sat down next to me.
I didn’t dare look up from the papers in front of me for fear everyone would see my bloodshot eyes.
“Nothing,” was all I could manage to say.
His hand twitched as if it would move to comfort me, but instead, he clenched it into a fist.
Nikki returned to her rambling event speech. I tried to listen, but what was the point? It didn’t matter anymore whether I tried to be a good ranger. My days were numbered. I needed to find another job quickly, or else it would be goodbye car, goodbye freedom, and goodbye future.
“What did she say to you?” Shayla asked after Nikki had finished and the group had disbursed.
Antonio had tried to get my attention several more times during the meeting, but I didn’t want to give Ursula a reason to terminate me, so I ignored him. Thankfully, Ben pulled him away when the meeting was over before he could question me.
“She said I embarrassed the city and I shouldn’t even apply for the full-time position.”
“What? How?”
“The snake video.” A tear wandered its way down my chin. I swiped it away hopeful the guys hadn’t seen it. “She said I should have known how to handle it and if I made one more misstep she would fire me on the spot.”
“Holy moly. That’s terrible. I’m sorry.” Shayla put her arm around me and squeezed. “You could always apply for police academy with Brock and me.”
Police academy was an option, but my heart just wasn’t in police work. Deep down I was more the firefighter type.
“I guess it’s something to consider,” I said.
“Are you going to be okay closing tonight?” she asked.
“Yeah. Ben’s easy to get along with.”
“If you need to talk, you can call me.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a smile and headed to my truck. I needed to get as far away from everyone as I could.
13
“Okay people. Today is the day. Don’t screw this up.” It was the butt crack of dawn on Saturday morning, and Nikki had us lined up like soldiers ready to do her bidding.
“I need all of you exactly where we discussed.”
With everything that had gone on, I had failed to pay attention to my event assignment. That mixed with my searching for jobs until one in the morning left me with bags under my eyes too large for any concealer to touch.
I glanced to my right where Shayla stood with a look of exhaustion on her face. She had listened in the meeting. She’d be able to tell me what I was doing.
“Any questions? There shouldn’t be.”
I considered raising my hand but thought better of it. She’d likely chop it off.
“If you have an emergency, call me first.”
Or an ambulance.
“Now go.” Nikki turned and marched away to give the lifeguards their orders.
“Do you remember what I’m supposed to be doing?” I whispered to Shayla.
“You’re on the boat with Ben.” She looked at me. “Are you doing okay?”
I shrugged. “Yeah.” I had barely slept the night before and couldn’t wait for the shift to be over.
“You ready
