20. THE ONE WHERE THEY’RE TRENDING #2
“What’s your budget for social media?” I hear Joey ask, growing more annoyed that I can’t be the one to answer.
“Why are you asking all these questions if you’re not even staying?” The words are out of my mouth before I realize I’ve asked them.
Kell stops slurping the last of the milk in his bowl when Joey scrunches her brows and turns to me.
Pretty sure everyone in the room can hear me swallow and no one breathes.
Joey doesn’t look mad, but she’s masking her emotions again, not allowing anyone to know her next move. It’s Hex who’s looking at me right now, not Joey. “Well, West, I’m asking questions because if I’m to consider the offer, there needs to be an offer.”
I open my mouth to rebuttal whatever sass she gives but stop and snap my jaw closed, reopening only to ask, “huh?”
Enzo sighs, but I pay him no mind because I think I heard Joey say she’s considering staying?
Her chuckle makes me shiver. God, this woman! I feel like she’s put my brain inside a tornado and set it loose in my head.
“For the right price and percentage of the brand deals I’ll inevitably get you, I’d consider taking the position.
” She takes a sip of coffee, and adds, “I womaned up and checked the severance package I’m receiving from my former employer, and it’s worse than laughable, but it’s not worth wasting the money to take them to court for more when they’re flat-ass broke.
So, if this is a job offer, then make an offer. ”
I’m not sure how she’s so calm during a conversation like this because I’m sweating worse than I did during my run. I can only imagine what I look like right now… Probably pale, hair stuck to my forehead, eyes wide, panting like I sprinted a marathon.
“What’s your bottom dollar?” Enzo asks calmly.
The stare Joey levels on Enzo isn’t one I’d like to be on the other side of. I see the VP now. “What’s your top dollar?” she counters with an almost light and playful tone.
Enzo’s lip twitches in the corner. He likes Joey too… Maybe not as much as I do, but he hasn’t slept with her.
And he won’t. I glower at the thought.
Fuck, focus West.
“Should I draft up the contract, or have you?” Enzo asks. “I’d like to see what you’re thinking before we make any decisions.”
“Of course.” Joey uncrosses her legs and leans onto her knees, reaching over the breakfast table to pull her laptop from her packed bag. “I have a standard one we can build on.” Her eyes catch mine for a millisecond before she settles back in the seat and opens her computer.
“Why?” I ask on a breath, unsure I can go another second without knowing what changed her mind.
Joey pauses and looks up, the room back to a still silence without the sound of her fingers against the keyboard.
Her green eyes are soft, calling to me like a siren luring me to a sea of death.
I know she knows what I mean without having to explain myself by the look on her face.
“Because you were right.” Those aren’t easy words to say, but Joey does it with a shrug and continues. “This doesn’t go away when I get home.”
Enzo asks what we’re all thinking. “Have you looked yet?”
I know the answer before she shakes her head. “I don’t need to. My email is flooded with brand deals, and I’m sure West’s is too.”
Enzo nods, adding another check to the list of things I didn’t know. “A lot of them mention you too, wondering how they can get in touch…”
Joey tenses, and I’m not sure Enzo or Kell notice. It’s the smallest clench of her jaw, followed by a look she blinks away. “If I do this, if I come on tour…” She pauses, looking at me when she finishes her thought. “There’s no way we’re going to beat the dating allegations.”
“Definitely not,” I agree, talking for what feels like the first time in years. My voice is deep and scratchy, strained from the lump of anticipation building in my throat.
“Which can change the way your brand is perceived,” Kell says, shocking us all.
Joey’s eyebrows draw together.
Enzo turns to stare at Kell.
And of course, my eyes stay glued to Joey until Kell talks again.
“I’m twenty-two, not twelve. I also have a degree in business, thank you.
” I’ve never said Kell is stupid. Careless and naive?
Yes, but never stupid. “For two years you’ve been known as the hot bachelor comedian with raunchy crowd work.
If women think you’re in a relationship, is that going to make them less interested in your shows? ”
Oh, Kell. Sweet, innocent, not-stupid but naive, Kell.
“You’re right about it changing his brand, but I don’t need to scroll through comments or check my social media to know that West and Hex are the number one trending topic across multiple platforms right now.
” She shakes her head like she can’t believe it either.
“Outranking The fucking Bachelor premier, a show where twenty-plus women date one man in hopes it’ll be their happily ever after.
I don’t think women are going to care if there’s speculation about him dating someone.
” Joey shrugs. “If anything, West Parker just became the most eligible comedian on the market. Ya never know, a couple months of the internet wondering if he’s fucking that one masked content creator might land him on the next season of The Bachelor. ”
I hate the way Joey talks about herself when she compares us, like I’m somehow more serious than she is when I literally tell sex jokes and make people laugh at it for a living.
I don’t like her delivery, but I do agree with what she’s saying. Women tend to get handsy when they think a shiny, pretty, and potentially rich toy is being taken away from them.
None of them stand a chance against the brilliant and a little bit mean woman staring at me from over her laptop screen.
“So, you tell people you’re dating?” Enzo asks, trying to follow along.
“We don’t have to tell them anything. Let them think and say what they want. As long as they’re talking about us, we’re making money, right?” Joey spins her laptop around, nodding to Enzo. He quickly slides into the booth across from her and starts reading with Kell looking over his shoulder.
Joey unfolds herself from the booth and stands. She’s back in her mid-thigh biker shorts and oversized Harvard sweater. She opens the pantry and grabs a water bottle before approaching me.
“What do you think, Hotshot? Should I stay?” Joey extends her hand, offering me the water. I prefer my water room temperature, even after an intense workout—sue me.
It took her forty-eight hours to notice.
Should she stay? I want to puff a laugh at the question.
I reach out and take the plastic bottle, careful not to touch her hand. I can’t afford my brain being scrambled any more than it already is. Twisting the cap off, I don’t take a sip yet, mesmerized by the way Joey’s staring at me—as if she thinks I might say no.
She’s nibbling the inside of her lip nervously.
I would have let Joey walk out. I would have let her return to her life and do what she could to forget any of this ever happened. I wouldn’t pressure her into something she doesn’t want, but now I know she does… I know because Joey doesn’t look this nervous because she’s hoping for a no.
Whether she wants me, money, or something else completely doesn’t matter. I’ll take whatever Joey’s willing to give me.
I feel the smile spreading across my lips, lopsided and real. “I thought you’d never fucking ask, Joey baby.”
Enzo clears the new contract after a couple adjustments, and we all sign. I don’t even mind that this one also mentions we shouldn’t have sexual relations.
Because shouldn’t doesn’t mean can’t.