31. Celeste
Celeste
The Zoom window opens, and my boss’s face fills my laptop screen.
“Hey, Lance.”
“Hello, Celeste.” He adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “How are things in New Jersey?”
“They’re great.” I tilt my laptop to face the window at my side. “The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful October day.”
He tilts his screen, and I make out the gloomy Seattle weather outside his window. “No change here since you left.”
I chuckle. “Can’t say I miss it.”
Lance straightens his laptop and folds his hands on the desk in front of him. “Listen, Celeste. I’m going to cut to the chase here. You know I don’t like to beat around the bush.”
I sit up a little straighter. “What’s going on, sir? Your email sounded urgent.”
He heaves a sigh. “The president of our agency has been arrested for embezzling money.”
My eyes widen. “Shit. That’s not cool.”
“No, it’s not.”
Nerves dance their way up my spine. “So, what does that mean for the company?”
He clears his throat. “We’ll have to downsize and focus on our high-profile clients so we don’t lose them.”
Downsize.
My stomach twists. “Okay…”
“I’m going to have to let you go, Celeste.”
My chin jerks back. “What?”
The corners of his mouth pull down. “I’m sorry. I truly am. But we just can’t afford to keep you on right now.”
I’m being let go.
Lance drones on, giving me the practiced speech that he’ll go on to give others after he ends the call with me, saying words like severance package and benefits.
But I don’t hear any of it.
After devoting the last six years to this agency, starting out as an intern, and working my way up, I’m being let go—all because some douchebag executive had to go and steal money that didn’t belong to him.
I’m back at square one without a job.
Panic claws its way up my throat, and I need to get off this Zoom before I start crying. “Look, Lance, I have to go. Send me everything I need to sign.”
“I will. I’m really sorry to see you go, Celeste.” He offers me a tight smile. “You’re a good agent.”
I can’t help the sardonic laugh that escapes me.
Obviously, I wasn’t good enough.
Story of my life.
I close my laptop and stare blankly out my window.
I’m unemployed.
Fuck.
I reach for my phone, and as I’m in the midst of typing PR agencies into Google, Kourtney’s name flashes on my screen. I swipe my thumb across it and prop up my phone on my desk for FaceTime.
“Hey, girl.” I force a smile. “What’s up?”
“I’m about to grab lunch, and I’m near your apartment. Want to meet up?”
“Can we go somewhere that has margaritas? I’m feeling the need to be day drunk and forget about all my problems right now.”
Her eyebrows compress. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you once I have some tacos in my belly. Meet me at Juanito’s.”
“Tacos and day drinking? Sounds like an emergency. I’ll see you in five.”
I slip into an oversized hoodie and twist my hair into a messy bun, and then I’m out the door.
As soon as we’re seated at the bar, I order a mango margarita and down half of it when it arrives.
“Easy there, tiger.” Kourtney swivels on her stool to face me. “What the hell is going on?”
“I just got fired.”
“Fired for what?!”
“Let go is the appropriate term.” I roll my eyes. “The owner of my agency got caught embezzling money, so now they’re under new management and they’re cutting half the staff.”
Kourtney’s eyes widen. “Shit, that really sucks. I’m so sorry, Celeste. I know how much you loved that job.”
“All that work for years, and they just cut me in two seconds.” I raise my glass. “Fuck me, I guess.”
“No, fuck them.” She rubs my back in soothing circles. “You don’t need them.”
“Maybe not, but I do need money.”
I have a nice chunk of change saved up, but I’d hate to dip into that if I don’t have to.
“You’ll find something. You have an amazing resume. Plus, Trent will go with you wherever you end up. That’s a pretty big carrot to dangle over an agency’s head.”
I hike a shoulder. “Not anymore. Now that he’s married and settled down, he really doesn’t need me anymore.”
Kourtney frowns. “Well, still. Any agency will jump at the chance to get you on their team.”
I down the contents of my margarita and signal the bartender. “Keep ’em coming, buddy. And don’t stop until I can’t feel my feelings anymore.”
He arches a brow as he takes my empty glass. “Damn, has your day been that bad? It’s only twelve-thirty.”
I point my index finger at him and close one eye. “Hey, don’t tempt the universe to throw any more shit my way.”
He smirks. “Sorry. How about I make up for it with some chips and salsa? You’re going to need something to soak up this tequila.”
“Throw in some guac while you’re at it.”
Guacamole is the glue holding my life together at the moment.
Kourtney
“You have to be fucking kidding me.”
Celeste’s landlord, Marc, grimaces. “We’re going to take care of it, Ms. Gentile.”
I lean out of the passenger window of Jason’s car. “What’s wrong?”
Celeste cups her hands around her mouth. “Apparently, they found mold in the apartment building.”
Jason and I exchange glances before we get out of the car and walk over to the group of people standing outside Celeste’s building.
“How long does it take for mold to be properly removed?” Celeste asks.
“We’re treating each apartment before we allow anyone back inside. I’d say we’re looking at three weeks.”
“And where are we all supposed to go for three weeks?” Celeste plants her hand on her hip. “Will you be putting your residents up at another location?”
“Yes, of course.” Marc clears his throat and adjusts the brim of his hat. “We’ve already spoken to the Mystic Inn just down the road and—”
“The Mystic Inn?” Celeste coughs out an incredulous laugh. “That’s hardly comparable.”
“It’s the only place we could get on such short notice.”
I lean forward and grasp Celeste’s elbow. “You can stay with me and Jason.”
She shakes her head. “Not for three weeks.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s too long. No way.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I turn to Marc. “Is she allowed to get her things out of the apartment?”
“Of course.” Marc waves his arm. “You have an hour to get anything you need. Once we start working, you’re not allowed back inside.”
Jason walks into the building ahead of us, but Celeste rushes after him. “Jay, stop. I’m not staying with you.”
He ignores her and disappears inside the apartment building.
“Jay.” She glances over her shoulder at me. “Dude, come get your husband.”
I chuckle as I follow them inside. “The only way he’s leaving is with you and your bags packed, and you know it.”
She grunts as she stomps into the elevator. “I’ll stay at a hotel. It’s not a big deal.”
“You’re not staying at a hotel.” Jason leans against the wall and folds his arms over his chest. “And you’re not staying at the Mystic Inn either. We’re your friends, and you’re staying with us. End of conversation.”
Celeste steps in front of him, toe to toe, lifting her chin. “I know you like to be the boss, but you are not the boss of me. I’m not staying with you two, and that’s the end of the conversation.”
“Why not?” I ask. “What’s so wrong with staying with us?”
“You two fuck like rabbits. I don’t want to cramp your style.”
“Jason isn’t even home half the time.” I lean against the wall next to Jason. “Plus, we can find plenty of other places to fuck, and you know it.”
The elevator door slides open, and the three of us stand there at a stalemate.
“I don’t want to impose.” Celeste shakes her head. “I can find somewhere else to stay.”
“The last thing you are is an imposition. We have plenty of room, and it’s only for three weeks.
We know you’re a big girl who can take care of herself, but that doesn’t mean your friends can’t help out every now and then.
” Jason spins her around by her shoulders and whispers in her ear.
“Now stop being a brat about it and go pack your shit.”
A frustrated growl leaves her throat as she blows past us in the hallway.
And I smile as I thread my fingers with Jason’s.
Twenty minutes later, we head back to our apartment with a moody Celeste in the back seat.
It sucks for her to be displaced from her apartment—especially right after losing her job—but after the conversation Jason and I had the other day, I can’t help but feel excited at the idea of living together like this.
The three of us.
Though tonight doesn’t seem like the best time to bring that up.
When we arrive home, Jason and I leave Celeste to get settled into the guest room with her things. I hop on the kitchen counter and watch as Jason makes his infamous chili.
“Her parents really did a number on her, huh?” Jason asks.
I nod. “She never really had anyone looking out for her, so she prides herself on being independent.”
He frowns as he slices into a crisp green pepper. “I hate that she thinks she can’t ask for help. We’re her friends. That’s what we’re here for.”
“Hey.” I tug the sleeve of his shirt and pull him between my legs. “She knows we’re here for her. She just needs to throw a tantrum first.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Sometimes, I think it’s me she doesn’t want to be around. She has no reason to be uncomfortable in front of you.”
“That’s not true at all, babe.” I cup his face. “She loves you. She just doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
The guest bedroom door flies open, and Celeste strides out into the living room. “I’m here for twenty minutes, and you’re already fucking on the kitchen counter.”
I laugh as Jason goes back to chopping. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t sit your ass right down and watch us if we were.”
“You can save that for the camera.” She hops up onto the counter beside me. “Whatcha cookin’, Boss Man?”
“Chili and cornbread.”
“You lucked out finding a man who can cook for you.” Celeste leans over and steals a pepper slice off the cutting board. “Did Kourtney ever tell you about the time she almost burned down our apartment?”
Jason grins. “Just one time?”
I scoff. “Yes, just one time. And at least I didn’t set my hair on fire like this one.”
Celeste cackles. “I don’t know why they let kids play with open flames in school.”
“You weren’t supposed to play with it.”
“Okay, well, sorry I wasn’t a science geek like you.”
Celeste’s smile fades. “I can’t believe I lost my job and my apartment in one week. Bad things happen in threes, you know. Something else is coming down the pike.”
“Hey, we happen to be a trio, and we’re pretty awesome.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. The universe is setting you up for the next phase in your life. Shit always gets worse right before it gets better.”
She laughs. “You’re reading too many of those manifesting self-help books.”
“Maybe I am. But I’m serious.” I turn to face her. “I have some news.”
“News?”
“I talked with Jason about the website, and I’m going to move forward with it.”
“That’s fantastic.” Celeste beams. “I’m so happy for you.”
“You were right: My parents don’t ever have to know what I’m doing. I can still work for them and run my own business on the side.”
She flips her hair over her shoulder. “When will you learn that I’m always right?”
“And so modest.”
Celeste laughs. “Fuck, I thought you were going to tell me that you’re pregnant.”
My head jerks back. “What?”
“You said you had news. I don’t know.”
Now I’m the one laughing. “Oh, god no. Jason and I aren’t going to have kids.”
Celeste looks between the two of us. “Never?”
I shake my head. “We talked about it and decided we didn’t want children. He got a vasectomy a couple of years ago.”
Celeste raises an eyebrow. “You got neutered, Jay?”
He chuckles. “I did.”
“Damn. Now I’ll never be the hot auntie.”
I shrug. “Maybe Trenton and Cassidy will have kids.”
“Ah, there’s still hope.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you, Kourt. You’re going to do great things with this website.”
“You should run it with me.”
She pauses. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s do this together. You just lost your job, so what better time to start the business we always used to dream about?”
I watch her face as the thought settles in her mind.
“You can do all the marketing for it. Spread the word on social media. You’d be amazing at it,” Jason says.
Celeste’s head moves in a slow nod. “I would be.”
“I think it’s the perfect plan.” I hold out my hand. “What do you say?”
Celeste slips her hand in mine and gives it a firm shake. “Let’s fucking do it.”