4. Sabrina

CHAPTER 4

SAbrINA

Tired and still mildly amused from the disaster of an interview, I drag myself into the house and toss my bag onto the counter.

Lucy is kneading bread dough on the counter, her hands working it carefully back and forth, then around. “How’d it go?”

I drop into one of the barstools with a huff. “He hated me.”

“Hated you? Why?” Eyes wide, she lifts her chin and peers out into the main living space.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything that would embarrass Alyssa. He just… didn’t like me.”

She hums. “I need more information than that.”

Groaning, I force myself back up and fill a glass with water, adding a slice of lime for pizzazz. Normally Lucy keeps lemons in the house, but she’s apparently developed an aversion to them.

“Sabrina?” she prompts when I sit back down.

Plopping my head in my hand, I puff out my lips. “From the moment I walked into the room, he was checking me out. He was clearly attracted to me, and because of that, he didn’t want to hire me.”

“What?” She freezes, her hands squeezing the dough a bit too tightly.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure something out.” I snag a grape from the bowl on the island and pop it into my mouth.

“This job would’ve been perfect for you.”

“Apparently not.”

She transfers the dough into a bowl and covers it with a towel. “Maybe Alyssa can talk to him?—”

I hold up a hand. “Nope. I don’t need her to step in like a pseudo-mommy and try to solve my problems for me. I’m a big girl.”

Lucy frowns, washing her hands. “Maybe you could get a long-term sub position.”

“Maybe.” Every time the local district posts one, I apply, but time and again, I lose out to people who are more experienced.

Before she can continue her inquisition, I stand and pick up my water. “I’m going to change and go for a run.”

Running always helps me clear my head. The problem is I keep running in circles, ending up back in the same place.

Lu wants to argue, I can tell from the pinched set of her lips, but she lets me go.

I scurry away before she can change her mind. There’s no way this is the end of the conversation.

Upstairs, I trade my dress and boots for a pair of running pants and a tank top. As I lace up my shoes, the disastrous events of this afternoon haunt me. I didn’t think I’d get the job. I’ve learned by now not to get my hopes up. But the way he dismissed me so easily grates on me. I know I’m qualified.

Noah Baker is a pretentious asshole.

At least his daughter is sweet.

Earbuds in place, I put on my favorite running playlist. It’s heavy metal—yeah, not what most would expect from someone who wants to spend her days teaching young kids—but it soothes my racing thoughts while I run. And running, for me, is about escaping the torment of my own brain.

I use the first mile to warm up.

By the fourth, I’m running at a much faster pace. I never time myself. If I put too much emphasis on my pace, it’ll send me right back to thinking too much. Seconds don’t matter when all I want is to quiet my mind.

I’m on the sixth mile when my ringtone plays through my earbuds.

I’m hot and drenched in sweat and still about a mile from Lucy and Alyssa’s house. Tank clinging to me like a second skin, I slow to a walk and answer. It’s probably a spam call. Someone I can tell to fuck off. Now that I think of it, that may help my mood.

“Sabrina?”

I stiffen at the familiar voice, the one I’ve been trying to outrun.

Leave it to Noah Baker to try to ruin running for me.

Asshole.

“Yes?”

“Are you… did I catch you at a bad time?”

Why does he… oh, I’m out of breath.

“I’m on a run.”

“Oh.” He clears his throat. “I wanted to call you personally and tell you that the job is yours if you want it.”

I come to a stop and spin in a circle, searching for a camera poised to capture my reaction like I’m on Punk’d . “Why do I feel like you’re offering me the position under duress?”

“Because Fisher is sitting across from me, and he won’t leave until I make this phone call.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “At least you’re honest.”

“So,” he prompts, “what do you say?”

Nerves swirl in my belly. I want to say no based solely on the way he behaved this afternoon. But I’m not exactly in a position to turn down this job. Not when it pays even more than any teaching position I’ve applied for. Besides, the chance to travel to numerous countries and cities is enticing. And Maddie was a darling.

I’d be a fool to say no.

“Yes.”

He’s silent for so long I worry the call has dropped. Finally, surprised, he says, “Yes?”

“Yeah—but for the record, I’m doing it for Maddie, not you.”

He lets out a choked sound. “As you should. Fisher will send the contract and details over. He’ll also handle travel plans. We leave for Australia a few weeks from now.”

“All right. Great. Sounds good.”

I sound like a robot, but it’s the best I can do. It’s only now hitting me that before the end of the month, I’ll be in Australia. For the first time in my life, my feet won’t be on American soil.

I end the call, then stand on the side of the road with my hands on my hips.

“Holy shit,” I mutter.

I take off running again, going as fast as my feet will carry me, and burst into the house. Ripping my earbuds out, I shout, “I got the job!”

“What?” Lucy’s voice echoes from the family room.

I hurry that direction and find her on the couch with her legs curled beneath her and a book on the arm to one side like she just put it down.

“You got the job?”

“Yeah.” I put a hand to my forehead in disbelief. “Noah called me when I was on my run.”

Squealing, she hops up and throws her arms around me. “I’m so excited for you. This is going to be an amazing opportunity.”

Even as I grin at her, nerves skitter through me. Can Noah and I travel and spend so much time together without butting heads? It’s unlikely. But he’ll be busy with practices and tournaments. There’s a good chance I’ll only see him in passing, right?

Alyssa enters the room, having changed into a pair of leggings and a cropped hoodie. “What’s all this screaming about?”

Lucy bounces beside me, vibrating with giddiness. “Sabrina got the job.”

Her wife’s eyes widen and her lips curl up. “Congrats.” She hugs me. “You deserve it.”

“Thanks.” I head into the kitchen for a much-needed glass of water. “How do you know Noah, anyway?” I ask over my shoulder.

“A friend of a friend introduced us at a gathering,” she says, following me into the room. “We’ve stayed in contact. I might’ve tried to get him to do a commercial for the app, but he wasn’t into it.”

From what I saw of Noah, that doesn’t surprise me. The guy seems far too surly to agree to promote a dating app.

“You know what this means?” Lucy asks, her excitement distracting me from thoughts of my new boss.

I shuffle to the fridge, glass in hand. “What?”

“We’re going shopping. You need a new wardrobe.”

Eyes closed, I stifle a groan. “Lu, my wardrobe is just fine.”

It’s really not, considering I can fit every item of clothing I own into a duffel bag. Most of it is secondhand or from the clearance rack at T.J. Maxx.

In unison, my best friend and her wife shake their heads. “Our treat,” Alyssa says. “A celebratory gift.”

Slumping, I press my glass to the ice dispenser on the fridge. “I can’t let you guys do that.”

They will go overboard. They can’t help themselves.

Lucy laughs. “Nice try. You deserve this.” She sidles up next to me and throws an arm around my shoulders.

There’s no getting out of this. “Please don’t spend too much,” I beg.

Alyssa chuckles and points at her wife. “You try reining in that one at the mall.”

She has a point.

Releasing me, Lucy spins away. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

Alyssa sends me an amused look. We both know that means we’ll be shopping from sunrise to sunset.

“I better get a shower and eat some dinner, then.” I stalk toward the stairs, sipping my water. “I have to keep my strength up for all the vigorous shopping activities.”

Lucy darts my way, hand up like she’s going to swat at me.

I take off faster, my laughter carrying behind me as I head up the stairs.

The next few months are going to be an adventure, that’s for sure. Noah is clearly a curmudgeon, but after only a few minutes with Maddie, I know she’s the sweetest soul. And she’s what matters most. I can handle my boss. I’ve dealt with worse.

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