Chapter 6
Indy
Everything I owned could fit inside two duffels and a backpack. How sad was that?
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I burrowed my face into my hands as I fought against the tears burning my eyes. Everything felt so goddamn hopeless.
I was homeless.
Car-less.
And if I didn’t get to work by noon today somehow, I’d be jobless too.
I really hoped this was rock bottom because if things got worse than this, I didn’t think I could handle it.
“Indy?” Dylan called from the living room. “You got a minute?”
I gave a wet sounding sad laugh. Oh, I had a minute. I had loads of minutes but nothing else.
Standing up, I scrubbed my hands over my eyes and willed them not to leak. After giving my sad pile of possessions one more glance, I left the room.
Dylan stood in the living room in front of the tv, shifting his weight like he had ants in his pants or something.
“Everything okay?” I asked softly. I really couldn’t deal with another psychological blow this morning. I couldn’t handle much more.
Oh god.
He wasn’t kicking me out, was he?
“Whoa.” He raised his palms and gave me a tender look that somehow calmed my racing heart. “Everything’s good. You got nothing to worry about. In fact, I found you a job.”
“What? How?” I sank down onto the couch since I felt light-headed. Maybe I should’ve eaten more of his breakfast this morning.
“We need a receptionist at the shop.”
My eyes widened. “So I’d be working for you guys? At the place I tagged last night?”
“Yeah…” Dylan squinted. “How about we keep that last part between the two of us?”
I nodded dazedly.
“Great.” He clapped his hands as a huge grin swept over his face. “It’s a pretty basic job, really. You answer the phone. Keep the fangirls out of the shop and filter the legitimate clients from the crazies. Easy as pie.”
I blinked a few times then nodded again.
Dylan winced. “You might have to be on camera occasionally. But that means you’ll be getting two paychecks—one from us and one from the network. I can already tell you that they won’t pay you great, but it’s extra money, so that’s good, right?”
“No, yeah. That’s…great.”
He studied me like I was a flight risk.
And maybe I was.
My brain was snapping connections together like crazy. Relief that he wasn’t kicking me out. Confusion that he magically had a job for me. Uncertainty over how much I was relying on him.
I was so freaking tired.
“It’s a real job?” I finally asked. “This isn’t something you’re making up for me?” Because that would somehow be worse. I hated the fact that I was such a huge charity case. Maybe I’d feel differently if we were friends first, but given our history, this was so crazy.
And honestly, it was starting to make me feel bad. It was hard to hold a grudge against someone who didn’t know about it and was also being so incredibly sweet and giving.
“It’s a real job. We’ve been looking for someone for a few months.
Hell, how long has it been since Sabrina left us?
Six months at least?” He looked at the ceiling for a moment then shook his head.
“Anyhow, we’ve test-run a few temps and held a really fucked-up interview for the cameras, which was really just a casting call full of wannabe starlets.
It was a shitshow, really. So please believe me when I tell you that you’ll be helping us out a ton. ”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath as the world seemed to right itself. This was good. This would help me and didn’t sound like a handout. I could do this.
Although it did soften my feelings toward Dylan somewhat, and I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“And we’ll talk to your college and figure out your schedule for next semester. I’m sure we can work around your class load. But that’s Future Dylan and Future Indy’s hassle.”
I smiled slightly. “And this is okay with your brothers?”
“Yeah, I just talked to Nathan. He’s happy to have someone who doesn’t want to be famous and can respect that the rest of them are in committed relationships.” He waved a hand. “I’m paraphrasing there, but the last girl tried to corner Austin in his office and it got…awkward, let’s say.”
My eyes widened. “Yeah, you don’t have to worry about that with me. I’m all good in that department.”
“I, uh, never thought to ask. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What? No.” I shook my head like that was a stupid question. Because it kinda was. Did he seriously think I’d be sleeping in a stranger’s spare bed if I had a boyfriend?
“Ah, then you’re…okay. Sure. No more, uh, that is… Right.”
I frowned. “What? What’s going on right now?”
“Nothing. I just, I didn’t…” He sighed. “I have no problem with different sexual orientations. So if you want to have your girlfriend or whatever over—”
“I’m not gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I just, I don’t… I like guys, okay? Not that it matters.”
He nodded jerkily. “It doesn’t. I don’t care if you like guys or girls or trans or…you know, I’m just going to shut up now.”
I had to bite my lip to keep my laughter in. And it was a losing battle. After a long second, I erupted in giggles. “If you could see your face right now!”
He grunted and stomped off into the kitchen. But his cheeks were flaming. Cabinet doors thumped, and then I heard the faucet turn on.
I turned slightly on the couch so I could see into the kitchen. Dylan stood over the sink drinking water from a clear glass. His strong throat bobbed with the action and his firm, square jaw flexed.
His shirt moved as he set the glass down and an arc of black ink appeared just below his collar.
This time it was my turn to look away in embarrassment.
So much awkwardness. It was getting hard to remember that I wasn’t supposed to like him. He’d betrayed my dad and the club. He was the reason my dad was sitting in a jail cell. I wasn’t supposed to like him let alone wonder about his tattoos.
Dylan Burns was the enemy.
Although it was getting harder to see why.
“Sorry.” Dylan paused and cleared his throat. “I just…was surprised that you were so adamant about not hitting on my brothers. Everyone hits on them. It’s embarrassing really.”
I shook my head. “That’s sad. People should respect when someone is in a relationship. They’re off limits. It’s pretty simple.”
“Yeah. It is.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Besides, they’re so old. I doubt I’d be into them even if they were single.”
Dylan coughed so hard I got up off the couch to check on him.
He waved a hand at me as I approached. But he continued to cough. After a moment, he managed to say weakly, “I’m good. Just went down the wrong pipe.”
“Okay. Um, I’m just going to go…unpack. Thanks again, Dylan. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
He gave me a weak smile, still clutching his chest.
“And I guess I should call my boss and let her know I won’t be in today…or ever again come to think of it.”
He cleared his throat roughly. “Sounds good. We’re glad to have you.”
I nodded then gave him another small smile before walking away.
I felt so much more optimistic than I had this morning. I had a place to stay. A new job that would pay me more than taxes took out. Things were starting to look up.
The only downside was that it was all coming from the same place—Dylan.
That thought filled me with so many conflicting emotions, I couldn’t even begin to untangle them.
I was too damned tired to try.
* * *
When I tiptoed down the hallway a few hours later, everything was quiet.
Once I stepped into the living room, I realized why. Dylan was asleep on his couch. The remote rested on his chest. He looked so peaceful and normal.
The tv was muted but a 49ers game played on the screen.
I wasn’t big on football. Or any sports, really.
But then, growing up with my grandma, we didn’t watch any sports or go to any games.
I think I went to maybe three high school football games and that was mostly just to be seen.
I’d never understood the rules or even cared to learn.
I shifted my weight. I was hungry, but it felt weird to go through his fridge without permission.
We hadn’t talked about rules, so I didn’t know if it was okay.
And I didn’t have a car, so I couldn’t go to the store myself.
I didn’t know the neighborhood and didn’t know what was within walking distance, if anything.
I guess I wasn’t that hungry.
I’d turned to go back to my room when the door behind me ripped open, and a woman’s voice said, “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t—”
“Hey, Maddie.” Dylan’s voice was froggy with sleep. “Sorry, I fell asleep there for a second.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” The brunette in the doorway waved her hand. “I didn’t know you had a new girl.”
“She’s not my girl,” Dylan protested at the same time as I piped up with, “I’m not his.”
Dylan’s eyes slammed into me, and he frowned before shaking his head. Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair. “This is Indy. Indy, this is my best friend, Maddie.”
I gave her an awkward wave.
Maddie’s gaze ping ponged between me and Dylan. “Okay. I’m confused. So you’re not together…”
I shook my head furiously.
Her eyebrows went up. “Okay. Uh, it’s nice to meet you, Indy.” She turned to face Dylan. “I just need to grab the rest of my things. I’m officially moving in with Nathan.”
“I thought you already moved in with him. I haven’t seen you around here in…I can’t remember when.”
“That was unofficial. But he just asked me, so I’m gonna grab the rest of my stuff and get out of your hair.”
“I don’t know what if anything you still have here, but have at it.” Dylan waved a hand. “Still can’t believe you’re shacking up with that asshole. I thought you had better taste, Mads. I really did.”
She rolled her eyes as she walked over to the end table and pushed a few things around.
Picking up a book, she turned and looked around the room.
“You’re just jealous. And as the last standing Burns Brother, you know you have big shoes to fill.
The network is gonna want you to play up the whole bachelor thing. ”
“Eh, I’m not worried.” Dylan’s eyes were locked on the still silent tv screen.
Maddie’s eyes darted to me, and I knew she wanted to know what the heck I was doing here but didn’t want to be rude. I just gave her a half smile and headed into the kitchen so I’d be out of her way.
“Can I make you a sandwich, Dylan?” I asked, trying to be helpful.
“Shit, you’re probably starving, aren’t you, kid? Sorry.” He jumped up off the couch and bounded into the kitchen.
I stepped out of the way as he opened the fridge and peered inside.
I tried not to let the ‘kid’ label bug me…
and mostly failed. I hated that I felt so less than, especially in front of his fancy female best friend.
She looked so classy in her bright wrap dress and killer shoes.
Meanwhile, I was in my two-day-old black jeans and shirt that I’d spraypainted in last night.
I still had some crusty paint spots on my pants.
I definitely felt the differences in our stations.
Maddie bopped around the apartment, collecting the most random things—books, a comb, athletic socks.
“What happened to the bag I had in the corner over here?” She asked, pointing at the far end of the dining area.
Dylan looked around dazedly then shook his head. “Um, I think I put it in the spare room after I finally installed the Murphy bed. Should be in the closet.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “I move out, and you finally get a second bed? Seriously, Dyl?”
Dylan bent over his sandwich ingredients and didn’t answer. Maddie huffed and stomped down the hall. I just stood there, feeling so damn awkward. I didn’t know their dynamic and felt a little weird about her going into ‘my’ room, but what could I do?
A beat later, Maddie popped back into the living room. “Uh, do you mind if I look around what appears to be your room, Mindy?”
“It’s Indy,” Dylan snapped. “Like Indiana Jones’ nickname. It’s short for Indigo. In-dee.”
Maddie’s eyes widened. “Indy. Sorry. Do you mind helping me look for my bag in your room? It’s a gray roller bag.”
So awkward. But I nodded and fast walked down the hall to the bedroom. Entering the room, I walked over to the closet and pushed my bags out of the way.
“I really am sorry about the name. I honestly thought he’d said Mindy. Or maybe my brain filled in with a more common name. But it’s a nice name. Great even.”
I grunted as I pulled a gray roller bag out of the far side of the closet. “It’s fine. I’ve heard it all before. The Indiana Jones jokes. The ‘are-you-sure-you’re-from-Ohio’ jokes. The ‘did you say Cindy’ questions. It’s fine.”
Maddie nodded slowly. And when she didn’t reach out for the bag, I pushed it on its smooth wheels toward her.
“Um, did you leave anything else in here?” I asked when she continued to look at me with that discerning, thoughtful expression.
Finally, she shook her head with a small laugh. “No. Dylan never bothered to make it into a spare bedroom for me when I was staying with him.”
I looked around the room with new eyes. The art supplies now shoved into a corner, the Murphy bed against the far wall with the bed still pulled down. “Oh.”
“You must be someone special to him.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no. Just in the right place at the right time. I…Dylan’s been great,” I finished lamely. I didn’t want to tell her all the gritty details.
Maddie cocked her head. “Dylan is great. I’m glad he has someone in his life who sees it. Maybe he’ll finally stop punishing himself for his past mistakes.”
And with that enigmatic statement, Maddie gave me a smile, grabbed her suitcase handle, and walked away, pulling her suitcase behind her.