16. Gretchen
Gretchen
The thing I never would have expected was to like Zoe as much as I did. Not just the physical like, but the mental like. We just clicked, like two long-lost best friends.
Coming home to find her cooking dinner for me was a total mind fuck.
I immediately imagined coming home to her every day.
But as much as I reminded myself that she was only here temporarily, as much as I recited all the reasons we couldn’t work, that didn’t stop me from kissing her in the kitchen.
I was sending mixed signals. I knew that, but my body and mind were on totally different pages where she was concerned.
When I came home Tuesday Zoe was once again in the kitchen making dinner. The house smelled like tomatoes and garlic and for a second I let myself imagine that we were together and she cooked for me every day. I liked that idea.
“I’m trying spaghetti,” she told me proudly.
“It smells great,” I said.
“I watched a YouTube about how to jazz up jarred sauce and make it taste more homemade.”
The jazzing up worked well because the sauce was complex and delicious. She’d paired it with a loaf of garlic bread that she’d picked up at the store as well as a salad.
“I’ve got an interview tomorrow for that shelter job,” she shared.
“Oh wow, that’s fast. What are you going to wear?”
I hadn’t seen her in anything but jeans and tank tops.
“I have my bartender outfit with me.”
“Bartender outfit?” I asked in confusion.
“Nice black pants and a white button down. I think it looks fancy enough for an interview.”
“Sounds like it.”
After dinner we mapped out the bus route between my house and the shelter. I offered to loan Zoe my car but to my surprise she didn’t know how to drive.
“How is that possible?”
She shrugged. “When you live in a big city like Chicago you don’t need a car. There’s always a bus or a train coming.”
“Seattle has a decent public transportation system, but if you stay here you’ll probably have to learn how to drive eventually.”
“I’m just going to get through this interview and worry about everything else later.”
By the time I woke up the next morning Zoe was already dressed and ready for her interview, even though it wasn’t going to happen until ten thirty.
Her pants and blouse were neat and entirely interview appropriate.
She’d pulled her hair back into a tidy ponytail that trailed down her back and added a touch of lip balm that made her shiny lips look even more kissable than normal.
“Do I look okay?” she asked with a flash of vulnerability I wasn’t expecting. She’d been calm about the interview up until now.
“You look good, very professional. Good luck on your interview today.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes,” she promised.
As I drove to work I wondered if Zoe would stay in Seattle if she got the job. It was technically just an on-call position, but if Julia the shelter manager liked her she’d likely move her into a permanent role when someone else left.
I was receiving the month-end close reports when someone knocked on my office door and stuck their head in.
“How’s it going with your house guest?”
Our quality assurance manager Rochelle was one of my best friends at work. We both had a love of data and facts, and when I’d first arrived she’d been instrumental in helping me review protocols between programs and the finance department.
“It’s going well,” I said. “She’s looking for a job now and got an interview with Julia Montego over at the shelter today.”
“She’s staying in Seattle?” Rochelle asked in surprise. “I thought she was just here to visit her grandmother.”
“I think if everything goes well with her grandmother she’s interested in moving here to be closer to her,” I explained. “I don’t think she’s got a lot to go back to in Chicago.”
“Is she pretty?” My friend’s gaze turned calculating.
“Yes, I mean strictly speaking, she’s an attractive woman.”
“There’s something in your voice when you talk about her,” Rochelle noted. “A… softening I guess. Or maybe something tender. Do you like her?”
“She’s a great person,” I prevaricated, my hands straightening a stack of papers on my desk that didn’t need straightening.
“But do you like her romantically?” she pressed.
My face heated. “Yeah, I mean we’re attracted to each other, but we’re not a good match. We’re total opposites and there’s an age difference as well.”
Rochelle waved her hand dismissively. “Some of the most successful relationships I know are with people who seem to be totally opposite. You should bring her to the party Saturday so I can meet her.”
The agency was having an employee appreciation party this weekend, a family style picnic in one of the city’s largest parks.
This was my first year attending, but I’d heard it was a fun event with games, food, and musical entertainment.
Employees were allowed to bring partners, kids, or other guests.
I wasn’t usually one for forced socialization, but as a member of senior leadership, I had to attend.
I hadn’t considered inviting Zoe until Rochelle suggested it.
“Maybe I will.”
Zoe sent me a text just before noon saying that she’d finished the interview and she thought it went well, not offering any additional details.
I had to stop myself from texting her back demanding more details.
When I got home that night though she was visibly excited about the possibility of working for Julia.
“She’s really smart and I could see how dedicated everyone is to the program and its mission,” she said excitedly. “I also met this lady Chris who helps train the guests to find living wage jobs. She seemed great.”
“Chris and Julia are together,” I shared, not to gossip but because if she got the job she’d hear it eventually.
“You mean like romantically?”
“Yeah. They live together.”
“Hmm. I’m surprised that’s allowed.”
“Personal relationships have to be reported to HR,” I explained. “But as long as you’re not the same department or a position of power over someone it’s generally okay.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s the timeline for a decision?” I asked.
Zoe shrugged. “They said I’d hear something within a week.”
Julia didn’t make her wait a week though. She called the next day with a job offer. Zoe sprung the news on me the instant I walked through the door after work. She was bouncing up and down like a little kid, a huge smile on her face.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“I got the job!” she squealed.
I’d never seen her so excited. Not that I’d known her for long of course, but I had the sense that Zoe wasn’t this excited when she got waitressing jobs.
“The offer is contingent on background and reference checks, but I’m not worried about that,” she continued. “I’ve never been arrested or anything. If everything goes through I’m going to start training on Monday. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team.”
“Maybe you can meet them sooner than Monday.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“There’s this companywide picnic this weekend for all the staff and we can bring a date. Do you want to come with me?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I mean, don’t feel obligated or anything, but I’d love to have you be my date. I hate going to things like that alone. Plus, I can introduce you to your new coworkers.”
“That sounds awesome.”