Chapter 1 #3
“You know…I have an idea that I think would be an answer to all your prayers,” Kelsey said, interrupting her thoughts.
“Really?”
“Yup! I think you need to come to the wedding and apply for a job at the resort! How great would that be?”
She nearly choked on her own saliva. “Are you out of your ever-loving mind? Why would I want to do something like that? Are you forgetting that I have a history with one of the owners and that I would then have to see him all the time if I worked there? I mean…what are you even thinkings, Kelsey? That’s just cruel. ”
“Okay, I knew you’d use that as an excuse, but Connor’s not going to be working at the resort for long.
Last I heard, he was planning on opening a restaurant in town, and he’s building a house too, so I doubt your paths would cross at all.
And think about it. If you worked there, Jonah could be in all the children’s programs that they offer.
Real estate up in Harbortown is cheap, and you’d be able to find affordable housing or even ask about the possibility of staff housing.
Maybe one of the cabins? Heck, we have one that’s reserved for me and Jace, and it’s a two-bedroom one, but we’d gladly let you and Jonah stay in it until you get on your feet. ”
Lexi shook her head. “I don’t think so. I just don’t see myself going to work for…well…any of them.”
“It’s just Connor that you have an issue with. Walker, Slater, Axel, and Milo are all great guys. Hell, if you reached out, I’m sure Milo would help you get a job too. He owns a major tech corporation and you know he’d hire you in a second.”
“To do what? I’ll admit I was good with tech stuff and all that when I was in college, but I never got to put it to use.”
“I’m just throwing out ideas because I want to help you.”
“I know, and I really appreciate it. I’m just…like I said, I’m overwhelmed, and every suggestion right now is going to only add to it.”
“I’m not giving up on this idea,” Kelsey said after a moment. “We’re all your friends, and we all want to help you. I know if I called Walker right now, or his fiancé Harlow, they’d have a job for you to start right away.”
God, it would be so easy to say yes, but the thought of Connor Winslowe seeing her at her absolute worst was almost more than she could bear.
“Will you think about it? Please?”
“I will. I promise.”
But I’m not going to change my mind. I can’t.
“Okay. Good.” Kelsey paused again. “And where did we land on the wedding? Slater would fly you there himself. He’s an excellent pilot, and it wouldn’t cost you a dime…”
“Kelsey…come on. Let it go.”
“I can’t. This is too important. I hate that I live so far away because right now I just want you to come over so I can hug you.”
And that’s when the tears fell again in earnest. “I really could use a hug…”
“Oh, sweetie…I hate this,” Kelsey said, and Lexi could tell she was crying now too. “Please let me help you. I know I can’t fix everything, but I know I can help with a lot of it. Please.”
She was already shaking her head, even though she couldn’t make herself speak.
Kelsey let out a long breath. “Alright, we can cry or we can find a solution.”
Sniffling, she silently nodded, knowing her friend wasn’t going to let this go.
“If I can find you a job—either with Milo or at the resort—I promise you we will get you moved and settled. You won’t have to do it alone, okay? And wouldn’t you rather be around friends right now? People who care about you and only want what’s best for you and Jonah?”
Swallowing hard, Lexi forced herself to reply.
“I know that you’re close with everyone again, and I think that’s wonderful.
But I haven’t spoken to any of those guys since…
since…you know. It’s been almost fifteen years.
I doubt they’d want to jump in and help me.
Hell, I doubt most of them even remember me. ”
“Oh, stop. You know they all do. We were inseparable for countless summers. Just say the word and I’ll make all the calls. You won’t have to do a thing.”
Except sacrifice my pride…
But then she had an idea that might solve this awkward conversation. Shifting in her seat, she decided she had nothing left to lose.
“If I say yes to letting you call Walker,” she began, “I have some…conditions that are not negotiable.”
“Okay! Lay them on me. Whatever they are, I’m sure they’ll agree to.”
She almost smiled.
First, she gave a salary amount that had to be met.
“I guess it would depend on the position they offered you,” Kelsey replied.
“It’s what I need for myself and my son to survive,” Lexi countered.
“And housing. Right now I don’t have the means to give a month’s rent and a month’s security to make a move.
Adam hasn’t paid child support in months, and I’m essentially living paycheck to paycheck.
So if they’re serious about helping me, I’m going to need a place to live immediately. ”
“Mm-hmm…okay. What else?”
Seriously?
“Childcare. Depending on the position and when I’d start, I’ll need help with childcare until I get on my feet. Maybe even a food budget for a week or two since…you know…I’m broke.”
“Um…sure. I can definitely ask about that.”
“And my moving expenses would need to be covered,” she added. “I know you said you’d help with my move, but I assumed you meant you and Jayce.”
“I did, but I think it won’t be an issue.”
Crap. She hadn’t expected Kelsey to be so optimistic. She needed one more thing that would put her over the top for not getting Walker and his team to offer her a job.
And that’s when it hit her.
“I’m sure this will be a deal breaker, but…I don’t want to work with Connor. At all. So whatever position he has, I refuse to have any part of it.”
Kelsey’s nervous laugh was her first response. “I’m sure they won’t put you in the restaurant, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see him. No one can guarantee that. He’s one of the owners, so…”
“I won’t report to him for anything,” Lexi stated firmly. “He made it clear years ago that I wasn’t good enough, so I don’t want to be put in a position where he’s my boss or anything. I won’t do it.”
Silence.
And that silence had her praying that Kelsey was going to let this go.
“Mommy! Can we go to the park?” Jonah asked as he came running up to her. He rested his little head on her lap, and Lexi gently stroked his cheek.
“I need to go, Kelse. I think we’re going to spend some time at the park so this little guy can burn off some energy.”
“Well, give him a big kiss from me. I miss him!”
“He misses you too. Maybe after the wedding, you and Jayce can come for a visit.”
“Or…maybe we’ll be seeing you sooner rather than later.”
“Kelsey…”
“Okay, okay. Go and have fun at the park, and I’m going to make calls. I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything.”
“Um…great! Thanks!” As soon as she put her phone down, she lifted Jonah onto her lap. “Hey, buddy. So you want to go to the park, huh?”
“Yup!”
Giving him a big hug and kissing the top of his head, Lexi got them both on their feet. “Okay, let’s go find your sneakers, and then I need to get changed.” So Jonah ran to his room while she went to hers to change out of her pajamas.
“I got my sneakers!” he called out.
“Did you brush your teeth after breakfast?” she asked as she began heading his way.
“No…”
“Come on. I need to brush mine too.”
By the time they were ready and heading for the door, over twenty minutes had passed. Lexi grabbed a couple of bottles of water, her keys, and phone, and was about to open the door when her phone chimed with an incoming text.
Walker Bradshaw: Hey, Lexi! I just got off the phone with Kelsey, and we have the perfect job for you here at the resort! Call me as soon as you get the chance!
Walker Bradshaw: And welcome back to the Lakeview Harbor Resort!
For a moment, all she could do was blink.
Jonah tugged on her shirt. “Can we go now? Please?”
“In a minute, sweetheart. I need to do just one thing.” The logical thing to do was call Walker right now and figure out how he could have possibly agreed to all her terms. But then she considered maybe calling Kelsey and making sure she really gave him all the terms.
Unfortunately, if he really agreed, she was kind of stuck accepting the job.
Her heart raced, and her stomach lurched a bit at the thought of seeing Connor. In her mind, she always imagined that if she ever saw him again, she’d be so confident and living her best life that he’d regret ever letting her go.
But this version of herself? Uh…yeah. He would probably take one look at her and say a prayer of thanks that he had dodged a bullet.
On the flip side, she asked for more money than she actually needed, and having the help with Jonah would be a major blessing.
She was so tired of doing everything alone.
And she always loved Harbortown and the resort.
So maybe this wasn’t the worst thing in the world?
And if Connor planned to open a restaurant in town like what Kelsey mentioned, then she wouldn’t be seeing him hardly at all.
Hopefully.
When her phone rang, she already knew it was Kelsey calling to gloat.
“Hello,” she murmured.
“Mission accomplished! So when should Jayce and I come to help you move?”
#Resort Bliss—coming March 24, 2026!!