Chapter 19
Justine expected her day to go terribly.
It didn’t disappoint.
She spent the morning doing her best to catch up on all her work so she could take the time to look over her new job. All the while, she tried to figure out how to explain this to Katie without Katie having a meltdown.
She grinned, remembering her time with Xavier the previous night, where people had literally melted down and spazzed in gory ways on TV.
What an amazing guy. A true friend. He’d listened, not making any moves at all while accepting her need to cuddle.
She wondered why just being with him, minus all the hot sex, felt as intimate as time with Xavier without her clothing.
So odd, yet exhilarating. Xavier remained a bright spot while in her dungeon of an office she shared with other prisoners.
Heck, no one looked all that happy today, all of them hunkered behind cubicle walls.
At least the day passed swiftly, probably because she did her best to avoid facing Frank. The two times she’d spotted him she’d deliberately walked the other way. She didn’t care if he knew she was upset; she just couldn’t face him yet.
Couldn’t face her own disappointing behavior at letting him step all over her.
By the time the day ended, she’d promised to join Katie for a quick drink at a nearby coffee shop.
She met Katie there. To her surprise, an old friend from design school sat with her.
“Oh my gosh. Kenzie?”
Kenzie stood and smiled. “Justine Ferrera, still hanging out with this one?” She nodded at Katie. “You poor thing.”
Justine laughed and gave her old friend a hug. “How the heck are you?”
As Kenzie filled them in on her life, now married and eight-weeks pregnant, she admitted to still working with her best friends, who, in Justine’s opinion, were even wackier than Katie.
“I know. It’s incredible that I’m still with those same idiots.” Kenzie snorted. “And ‘idiot’ is a compliment. You should hear what they call me.”
“So a husband, a kid, your brother who still lives with you, and your business, which just got a huge mention?” Katie pulled out a copy of a popular trade magazine and showed it to Justine.
“Oh yeah. I read that. I can’t believe how great you’re doing! I mean, I can. You’re super talented. But you have just taken off.”
Kenzie nodded. “We got an account with a new vegan place that has gone viral. My peeps are hot on several social media platforms, and it shows. We’re busier now than we’ve ever been.”
Katie looked from Kenzie to Justine. “You looking for any employees?”
Justine wanted to throttle her friend. “Katie.”
Kenzie laughed. “Not quite yet, but we’re getting there. I still don’t know why you never went private, Justine. You know how to engage clients and their customers. Katie and I were talking about the company. We did some freelance work for Mayze. It was, well, it was interesting.”
Katie snorted. “That’s business-speak for sucky.”
“You said it. Not me.”
Justine shrugged. “What can I say? I’m stuck in a job I hate but not sure where to go if I leave. And no, that’s not a poke to see if you’re hiring, Kenzie.” She shot Katie a look.
Her friend cringed. “Sorry. I’m just putting a line out there for you.”
“Never a bad thing to do.” Kenzie agreed.
“Look, if I hadn’t needed a flexible schedule due to raising my troublesome teenage brother, I would probably have taken the offer a prominent PR firm gave me way back then.
But I had to do things my own way. I’m not saying that’s better than working for a company. ”
“You mean working for ‘The Man,’” Katie said.
“‘The Man,’ right.” Kenzie chuckled. “I’m just saying working independently fits me and my friends. But it’s not without its own problems. Finding and keeping clients, having your own insurance, no paid sick or vacation days.”
“But you’re happy,” Katie said.
“Yeah. Like I said, it works for me. Have you guys thought about doing your own thing?”
Katie nodded, to Justine’s surprise. “I have. I ended up getting a great boss at Mayze or I would have quit. I keep telling Justine she needs to branch out on her own.”
“But it’s scary,” Justine said. “Just as you said, no more benefits, no more schedule, no more clients.” She sighed. “All the freedom of being my own boss and all the risks.”
“That’s the truth.” Kenzie paused to drain her water bottle.
“I totally had—and still have—those same fears. But the more work we do, the better we get.” She studied Justine.
“We’re overflowing with needy clients. If you want to start freelancing, I can totally divert some work your way.
Just let me know.” She checked her phone.
“Dang it. I have to go. Evan’s freaking out about dinner. ”
Justine had a pang of envy, that her friend seemed to have everything Justine wanted. But Kenzie had gone through a lot of negative experiences to get there. Her parents dying, raising her brother on her own. Friends but no family... Except it seemed like Kenzie had a family in her friends.
Kind of like Xavier and Katie. My friends who feel like family.
At least, Katie did. Justine still wasn’t sure what to make of Xavier.
Kenzie left them with promises of a future lunch date, and Katie turned to Justine. “Okay, woman. Tell me exactly how your review went. I heard from Rebecca, who said you didn’t look happy after leaving Frank’s office.”
“I’ll tell you, but only if you promise to just listen and not tell me what I should have said or done after my review.”
“Oh boy. I’m going to need something stronger than tea for this.” She left and returned with a plate of sticky buns. “You eat too, or I’ll feel guilty.”
“You don’t have to twist my arm.” Justine took a bite of sugary goodness and explained how awful her review had gone.
After, they sat in silence while Katie drew a finger through the leftover cinnamon sugar from the plate and licked her finger clean. “Am I to understand you now have two jobs for less than the price of one?”
“Yep.” Justine tried to keep a straight face.
Katie studied her. “Oh, Justine. I’m sorry.”
She teared up, though she’d been doing so well throughout her day. “Me too.” She blinked to clear her vision. “I’m still thinking about how to handle this.”
“So you’re not just going to take Frank’s bullshit.
Good.” Katie glared. “I’m so done with that asshole.
He treats you like crap, and everyone knows he’s only golden because of the work he gets others to do for him.
The senior staff on the team know he can’t bully them, while you’re their punching bag.
” Katie took a deep breath then let it out. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
Justine patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I got carried away yesterday, trust me.” She finished off her latte. “I cried when I got home. Then guess what? My thirteen-year-old neighbor gave me a list of insults to use on Frank, and Xavier made me dinner.”
Katie sat up straighter. “Oh?”
“It was awesome. The food was incredible. I ended the night by falling asleep on him after we watched Retribution III.”
“I love that movie!”
“I know.”
“All that gore and violence. Five stars, totally.” A funny comment coming from a perky blonde who took cute to new levels. “Xavier’s quite the friend, hmm?”
“Stop it with that look.”
“What? What look?”
“We’re just friends.” At Katie’s smirk, Justine grumbled, “Yes, with benefits. But I’m calling the shots. In fact, I’m heading to his place tonight for game night with his twin sister and our neighbor. Want to come?”
“Nope. I have a hot date with Jon.” Katie’s eyes sparkled. “He broke up with Alan. I’m so happy but sad for him. So I have to practice looking as if I’m upset Jon ended things. How’s this?” She made a few faces, none of which looked genuine.
“I’m not believing any of those. But I’m confused. Why did they break up? They just got engaged.”
Katie frowned. “Yeah, well, apparently Alan got an invite to a fashion week in Venice. And he didn’t want Jon to come with him.
They argued, and it turns out Alan likes to sleep around with fellow professionals.
He calls it networking. Jon calls it cheating.
But Alan can’t bother to be tied down right now when his career is skyrocketing.
” She paused. “Poor Jon. He’s acting all mad, but I think it’s more that he’s hurt. ”
“Oh man. Want me to cancel and come over to offer moral support?”
Katie squeezed her hand. “That’s so sweet. But it’s okay. I’m picking up Jon’s favorite pizza and beer. We’re going to bond over sucky men. You go have fun with game night. And Xavier.” Katie wiggled her brows.
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“I love, ya, kid. But you have your own bullshit to deal with. You go have fun with Xavier and his friends. And don’t forget to contact Kenzie about some freelance work. You need to figure out your job situation. The sooner the better.”
“I know, and—” Her phone buzzing interrupted her. “Hold on.” She answered. “Hello? Mom?”
After a few minutes, Justine hung up and just stared at the empty plate in front of her.
“That didn’t sound good.” Katie stacked their dishes. “What’s this about dinner Thursday night?”
Justine groaned. “My mom wants to meet Xavier. She invited us for a family dinner.”
“Like I said, you have your own bullshit to deal with.” Katie shook her head. “I’m so glad my parents are low-middle class with only one kid who will probably never get married.”
“That’s you.”
“Duh. And I’m on the outs with relationships. Between your sisters, Jon, and my handful of one-date exes, I’m taking a break from the peen.”
Justine burst into laughter. “God, Katie.”
“Yep. Just me and the job. I’m only allowing myself one piece of trouble in my life at a time. You, girl, are juggling three.”
“Three?”
“Don’t forget, you’re only in your aunt’s place for the next two and a half months, unless she extends her vacation. So you have to deal with your sister’s wedding, your job, and finding a new place to live.”
“Thanks so much for reminding me.” Justine swallowed a sigh.
“Keeping it real for you. Enjoy game night with the hottie from 2C.”
“I think I will.” Justine stood and glared down at her friend. “After all, the rest of my life really sucks right now.”
“Exactly what I said. So if you’re smart, you’ll ride any part of the happy train and not look back. Now get out of here. I have to go comfort my other BFF about a loser ex-fiancé. Be grateful you get to go see Xavier and enjoy life while you can.”
“You have a point.”
“Don’t I always?”