18. Chapter 18
A few days later, my friends and I had barely started on the famous Bennie’s appetizers when the dreaded questions came.
“So tell us all about your new job and the agency!” Viviana said, dipping her crusty bread into the artichoke dip that she’d claimed for herself.
“Yeah, we’ve been dying to hear more,” Jack chimed in. “What’s the name of the agency?”
I dipped my tortilla chip into the salsa that had won Bennie’s a local foodie award three years in a row.
After taking my time to savor each bite, I exhaled slowly.
“I was hired at Franchersantz, but the company is being acquired—” At the sharp look of concern on both my friends’ faces, I paused.
“No, my job is fine, it seems. He said—I mean, they said everyone’s jobs are safe, and they’ll probably expand the staff rather than downsize.
Anyway, I’m an assistant to two literary agents, one of whom I really, really like.
I’m going to have to introduce you sometime because she’s becoming a great friend already.
The job is … amazing. I love it so much. ”
“That is so wonderful, Annie,” Jack said, his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I knew you’d find your niche. ”
“I’m so excited for you!” Viviana said, smiling. “I never heard you describe work as amazing before, so this is huge for you. So, was it hard to break into this field? I always imagined it would be, but you weren’t jobless for very long and … well, you do have that Annie charisma.”
I grinned. “Aww, thanks. Well, I had help. Rainn already worked there, and he had a good friend in HR too.”
“Ah,” Jack said, nodding as he speared another piece of vegetable tempura. “It helps when you know people.”
My smile faltered a bit, thinking of the person at the agency I wished I didn’t know, or at least I wished I didn’t have to face him there nearly every day. “It does, though I think my instant connection with Sofia helped. She’s the agent I made quick friends with.”
Jack took a long swig of his drink and then crossed his arms over his chest. “So tell us about this acquisition. How does that even work anyway?”
I bit my lip. “It’s actually a New York agency that’s been acquiring smaller agencies around the country.
He tried to sell it to us as a positive for our regional agency, that we’ll have better access to bigger publishers and more power in the collective.
That remains to be seen, but I suppose it makes sense.
” I sighed. “Still, such a massive shakeup at the company almost right after I start a new job—a new career— is a bit harrowing, you know?”
“Who’s he?” Viviana asked.
“What?”
“You said ‘he’ tried to sell this vision of the acquisition as benefiting you guys … Who? The acquirer? Or your agency’s old leadership?”
My cheeks heated. “Oh, uh, I guess both.”
Viviana peered at me closely. “Annie, are you OK?”
“I’m fine,” I rushed to reply. “Well, I, uh—”
“You don’t look fine,” Jack said in his usual gentle tone. “But if you want to talk about something else, that’s OK.” He turned to Viviana with a pointed look. “We don’t mind. ”
My gaze swung from Jack to Viviana and back again before sighing in resignation. “Oh, why not? I’ll probably have to tell you eventually,” I muttered. After a deep breath, I raised my chin and began, “Viviana, do you remember Kylan Quinn from college? The guy I was kind of serious about?”
Her eyes widened and lips parted, and she nodded slowly. She and Jack exchanged a strange look.
“Well, he’s the acquirer. The big New York agency is his.”
Silence.
“He’s what? ”
“Yeah.”
“That’s impossible!”
“It’s not.”
“How could he … how could anyone go from nothing to … to such a prestigious position in, what, five years?”
“Four.”
“It does sound quite impressive,” Jack finally weighed in. “And how are you doing with that, Annie?”
I pressed my lips together, full of resolve. “I’m fine. I obviously moved on, long ago.”
Viviana nodded, with an approving smile. “Good. And so has he, I’m sure.” When my lips quivered a bit, she added softly, “He didn’t deserve you anyway.”
“I’m not sure about that. It seems like the other way around, actually. He’s the big shot, and I’m the lowly assistant.” I forced a laugh and flipped my hair back as though it mattered not at all.
Viviana raised her eyebrows. “What? No. He may have a fancy job title now, but that doesn’t mean he’s good enough for you.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter because I–I, well, I’m not interested in him anymore.
It’s just a temporary work situation that we have to endure, and then he’ll go back to New York and …
” I paused. My friends were studying me intently.
What could I say? I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
I’d just focused on how much I wanted him out of my life because …
it was excruciating. But did I really want him out of my life?
Could I handle saying goodbye again? Losing him again?
He’s not yours to lose .
“And that’s that,” I finished with a shrug.
Viviana opened her mouth to speak, but Jack’s hand entwined with hers. “Vivi and I are here for you if you ever want to talk, but it sounds like you’re handling everything just fine on your own. I’m really excited that you’re so excited about this new career. You deserve that, Annie.”
My friend nodded slowly, reluctant to give up the subject of Kylan.
“Just … be careful. He’s the boss now, and this job means a lot to you.
Jack’s right, you totally deserve an amazing career that you love.
And I want to hear all about what agents do.
After all, I’m going to need one at some point myself! ”
My brows were scrunched together in confusion. “Are you going to write a book?”
“I am!” Viviana said, a brilliant smile lighting her face. “I have, actually.”
“Viv, that is amazing! I can’t wait to read it.
I didn’t even know you were interested in writing.
I mean, I knew you were writing for the feminist magazine now, which by the way is awesome, but writing a novel?
That’s just … wow. I can’t imagine the diligence that would take. So when can I read it?”
“Well …” She looked at Jack. “I was just talking to Jack about how I probably need some beta readers. I’ve gone through a few drafts myself, and Jack’s read it, but he’s so far from impartial it’s laughable.
” At my questioning look, I added, “The book is loosely based on our own love story. It’s Austen-inspired. ”
As the two of them stared at each other for an awkward length of time, I cleared my throat and forced out the words. “Of course. Austen.”
“Well, you know Vivi,” Jack said, smiling as he tore his eyes away from her.
“Would you like me to beta read?” I heard myself asking. “In a totally non-professional capacity, of course. I would not be your future agent. I imagine that would be a conflict of interest or something, at least at my early career stage, but I’d love to help you out as a friend.”
“You would?” Viviana’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be so, so great if you did.”
I laughed. “I mean, I can’t promise that my feedback is worth anything anyway, but I’d love to read it.”
“I’m going to send it right now,” Viviana said, pulling out her phone and typing away on the screen.
“Oh,” I said, surprised at her haste. “OK, sure.”
“Vivi’s just a bit eager for readers,” Jack said with a laugh. “So, Annie, are you still working at the bookstore and dance school too, or did you quit to make time for the agent role?”
“I’m doing all three. I just came from ballet before this, actually. I almost had to cancel because my ankle was killing me, but some ice and a wrap fixed it. I’m only hobbling now.”
“All three?” Jack’s eyes were wide. “Wow, you must have … zero time.”
“I did scale back on the dance classes, and the bookstore events happen only whenever I decide to do them, so I can plan them at a relatively slow pace. But yeah, I’m pretty busy,” I conceded.
“I like it … or maybe I need it, right now. I was sort of in a dark place a month ago, and becoming busy really helped, you know? I’ll probably have to scale back eventually, but for now, it works for me. ”
Jack nodded, sympathy in his clear blue eyes. “I’m glad it’s helping.” And then he added softly, “And I hope the darkness has passed.”
I smiled. “Mostly, yeah. It sounds crazy, but finding myself in this new job is … well, it’s everything.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy at all,” Jack said.
“I only caught the tail end of that,” Viviana chimed in as she set her phone down, “but it doesn’t sound crazy to me either.
I’m so much happier after finding a new job, exploring new options.
” She rose from her seat and sank down next to Annie’s seat to embrace her.
“Oh, Annie, I’m so happy we’re both so much happier now! ”
I hugged her back. I was probably happier, it was true. Not as happy as Viviana, who’d found her true love. But that was OK. Not everyone could have that, and that was fine.
It was fine .
When Viviana had returned to her place next to Jack, her face lit up. “Annie, you should come over tonight and watch rom-coms. You haven’t come over for takeout and wine for, like, forever!”
“That sounds fun,” I lied. Watching a rom-com as a third wheel with these lovebirds? No, thank you! “But Rainn and Raf have been complaining that they never get to hang out with me anymore, so I promised I’d be around tonight.”
Viviana frowned. “But they’re your roommates. Surely they see you a lot more than we do—”
Jack put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. “We’ll take a raincheck. Annie, it’s been really fun catching up. We should do it more often.”
Viviana extricated herself from his embrace and went around to hug me again instead. “For sure. I missed you, girl.”
My eyes filled with tears, inexplicably, and I hugged Viviana tighter as I tried to covertly wipe my eyes. “Same.”
A gentle tug on my hand came before the faint, feminine voice. “Annie … hey, girl.”