Chapter 6
I haveto take the job.
I mean, there’s no doubt about that. It’s ten THOUSAND per MONTH! That’s crazy money right there. Dream money. Get-me-out-of-debt-and-then-some money. I knew before I even left his office that I’d be taking the job.
So why didn’t I tell him right then and there?
Because saying yes would make my life infinitely more complicated for a variety of reasons. Reasons that I can’t possibly process on my own without the help of Chinese food and my one and only best friend.
“I still can’t believe your super-hottie Mr. TDC customer was my big brother this whole time.” Kiera shakes her head over her half-eaten take-out box of Kung Pao chicken.
My face flames as I remember all the ways I described her brother to her over the last few months. “Yeah… Sorry about that.”
She shrugs. “No big deal. You can’t help it if you have bad taste,” she says through a grin.
I shove her arm. She’s been teasing me like this ever since I got here.
We’re sitting on colorful pillows on the floor around her coffee table. It used to be our coffee table because we used to share this apartment. Her style is best described as bohemian chic. Pops of color, wicker furniture, gauzy fabrics.
Her new roommate, the one who replaced me, is out for the evening. Even though it was my idea to move out in the first place, I was a little worried when Kiera got a new roommate, as if they would become best friends and suddenly replace me. Kiera quickly made me realize how irrational of a worry that was. This roommate, Ashley, is actually not around much. She has a boyfriend and spends most of her time either with him or at her job at some veterinary clinic in the city. She’s with her boyfriend tonight so it’s just Kiera and me.
“So,” she says, nudging my knee with hers, “you’re going to take the job, right?”
I take an unnecessarily large bite of my Kung Pao chicken to give me time before I answer. “Um, I don’t know if I can…”
“What?” Her eyes widen. “What are you talking about? Why not?”
“SO many reasons!”
“Name them.”
“Fine.” I start ticking them off on my fingers. “First of all, I already have a job at Pete’s, and you know I’m trying to fix my resume. I’d only be signing a contract for three months. I’d have a huge crush on my boss. I’m barely qualified. Your mother boxed us into this situation, and I don’t think she likes me much. I’d have a huge crush on my boss. Need I go on?”
And that’s not counting the major scary point which is the fact that I’d be spying on the office for Owen, a fact I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to share with Kiera.
She rolls her eyes. “Pete is great, but you know he’d be ecstatic for you to move on to something bigger and better.” She pushes one of my fingers down.
Okay, fine, she has a point there.
“Yes, you’ll only be signing a contract for three months, but there’s nothing that says you can’t do your best and extend that contract past three months. Give yourself a new goal. Work for Owen for a year instead of at Pete’s.” She pushes another one down. “Working at a company like Em3rge will look way better on a resume than working at a coffee shop.” Push. “Mom boxed you guys in, but in all honesty, that’s probably a huge selling point for Owen.” Push. “You are more than qualified for this, so don’t sell yourself short.” Push. “And, last but not least, who cares if you have a crush on him? You said the money was good.”
“More than good. It’s too good.”
Again with the eye rolling. “Ugh, not this again. Junie, you are worth it. You’re worth all that money and more. Now quit looking a gift-boss in the mouth and accept the job already.”
I set my chicken down and start digging into the fried rice.
“Plus,” she says, winking at me, “if you accept the job, you’ll get the added benefit of seeing me every day! And isn’t that worth more than anything else?”
“Okay, but what about my crush?”
“Didn’t we already cover that?”
“We did, but…” I pause, feeling vulnerable. “I mean, it’ll be hard to work with him if I like him, won’t it?”
Kiera doesn’t answer for a minute. “It might not be as hard as you think.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kiera sighs. “Look, I don’t want to be one of those girls who tries to persuade or threaten her best friend away from her brother. Owen is great, really. He’s got a lot of positive traits. Plus, who wouldn’t want their best friend getting together with their brother? The thing about Owen is…you sort of have to dig deep to find those positive traits, and he’s not one of those guys willing to let anyone get close enough to let them dig. At least, he isn’t at the current moment.”
I sit back against the low, squashy, petal-pink couch, digesting this. “Oh.”
“Yeah. I mean, I love him, but the situation with our parents has done a number on him. You know how things like that can be.” She gives me a meaningful look, but I drop her gaze immediately.
She’s doing that thing. That thing where she tries to get me to open up and talk about my past and my issues by talking about other people’s pasts and issues first.
But that’s not going to work on me. Yes, I have my own parental baggage, but I’ve dealt with it. I’ve faced my demons, and they have no hold on my life.
I could talk about the fact that my mom left my dad and me when I was little. I could go on about how he chose to protect his heart by putting up walls, moving us from town to town, job to job, and how I’ve sort of fallen into the same pattern. But Dad was happier that way. I’m happier this way.
So there’s nothing to talk about.
“Anyway,” Kiera says once she realizes I won’t be adding to the conversation the way she wants, “I’m not saying you should stay away from him altogether. I just don’t want you to get hurt the way my parent’s weird dynamics have hurt me and Owen.” That’s when Kiera’s eyes get misty and a small sob escapes her lips.
Chinese food forgotten, I scooch around the coffee table and wrap one arm around her. Kiera is so strong and independent, so uniquely herself, I sometimes forget that deep inside, she’s as much a human as the rest of us. She doesn’t often share what she’s feeling when it comes to her rocky relationship with her mom or her strained relationship with her dad, but I hate seeing her hurt like this.
I rest my head on her shoulder, and she leans against me. It’s more physical touch than I normally like, but Kiera always somehow manages to get away with more.
“Hey, you’re pretty awesome. You know that, right? Like, if Chris Hemsworth asked me to ditch you and go on a date with him, I’d hesitate for a whole sixty seconds before saying yes. That’s how much I love you.”
Kiera chuckles. “Chris is happily married with children.”
“Liam then. Or the other one.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She sighs and goes back to her food. “How have you been feeling, by the way? Any pain still?”
She’s trying to change the subject, and I let her because I know she doesn’t want to talk about the other stuff anymore, and neither do I.
“A little pain, but it’s not bad if I stay on top of my medicine. Every day’s a little better. You know what we should do?” I say. “I’m in the mood for a movie.”
Kiera sniffs and grabs the remote, handing it to me. “Me too. Nothing romantic.”
“Ten-four.” I do some scrolling then type Mission Impossible into the search bar. I have some research to do after all.
“Oooh, I haven’t watched any of these in a while. Good choice.”
Later that night, after we finish our movie and I get back to my house, which is still a disaster thanks to the pipe bursting situation, I relegate myself to my bedroom. It’s pretty much the only area of my house that feels peaceful. I lie on my bed and pull out my phone.
My fingers hover over the keys for a solid minute before I start typing.
Junie:I’ll take the job, but I’d like half of the first month’s pay up front.
I wait for what feels like forever, heart racing, overthinking my text. It’s already eleven o’clock at night. I’m an idiot. He’s a businessman. He’s probably sleeping. He’s probably—
Owen:I’ll have my lawyer draw up the contract. When can you start?
Junie:Pete was cool with it. He says I can start as soon as you need me. I do have a request though.
Owen:Yes?
Junie:I’m in the process of trying to improve my resume. I don’t think it would look good if I only worked at Pete’s for a few months and then for you for a few months. I’d like the option of continuing my contract with you past the three month mark if you like the quality of my work.
There’s a long pause after my message is sent.
Owen:That can be arranged. Can you come sign Monday morning?
I chew at my thumbnail, reading his message over and over. Kiera’s warning rings in my ears. I try to picture myself working in that office every day. Answering phones, taking care of Owen’s calendar, socializing with the other employees and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, gazing at the handsome Owen all the time, crushing on him from afar…
I shake my head. It’s a little crush.
I can work with a little crush. And like Kiera said, working with her brother every day will probably show me more of his less-attractive qualities and the crush will fizzle out quickly.
I gaze past my open door. I can still see the cabinets sagging from water damage and where the flooring has been torn up. No further work’s been done on it because I can’t afford any further work. And any day now, those hospital bills are going to start showing up…
Junie:Yes. See you Monday.