Chapter 20. Brynn
brYNN
Been doing this commute for two weeks now. You’d think it’d get easier. But the subway hates me this morning. The first train zooms by without stopping. No one exits the next one, which is stuffed to the brim with passengers.
Beyond late, I arrive at my printer desk with my mom’s cotton wrap dress sticking to me. I’m about ready to rotate under one of the bathroom hand dryers.
“Brynn.” Micah tilts his head, his lips pressed together.
My insides turn to liquid when he says my name. What is wrong with me? I’m about to get chewed out for something—either being late or not getting along with Donovan. It could be my aversion to team bonding nights. I have yet to get anyone coffee or clean a conference room, and my time here is up.
We step into the office where I interviewed. Kind of fitting that I’ll get fired here too. I was hoping he’d let our initial arrangement slide.
He faces me in a wide stance, his arms folded over his white dress shirt and charcoal-colored skinny tie. “Close the door.”
My stomach drops.
He stares at the floor; his eyebrows pull into the center of his face.
“Meredith and I agree that your copy ideas have potential.” His head snaps up, his eyes meet mine.
“With these new pitches this summer, your fresh-out-of-high-school perspective will be useful. We’d like you to continue working with the team as a paid intern. ”
In the morning sunlight, his soft, brown suede eyes dissolve me. His lips. Those well-shaped lips. Under his top teeth, wet from his tongue. The color of burgundy, ready to drink.
Wait, did he say paid intern? I’m going to get paid? Hallelujah! Without thinking, I take an eager step toward him, my hands ready to grip either side of his arms.
His eyes expand into saucers.
I take a sharp inbreath and hug myself instead. My cheeks burn.
He shuffles his weight between his feet, blinking. “That a yes, then?”
I exhale, my heart thundering. “Y-yes. Thank you.”
“Conference room in five.”
My body floats over to the communal coffee pot. I can’t stop smiling. My hand trembles through the pour. I retrieve my laptop and the used flip phone I got for next to nothing on my way home last night off my desk and head to the meeting.
Priya and Donovan sit bent in conversation when I arrive.
“I’m here if you need me,” she says quietly, squeezing his shoulder.
I watch the two of them, hoping to hear more, but they break apart when they see me.
Micah sails through the door and takes a seat at the far end of the table, facing the door. He opens his notebook. “Before we begin: Brynn’s been invited to stay on through the summer.”
Meredith smiles my way.
I need to thank her later.
She turns in her seat, facing me. “Now that you’re staying, you could be in the running for a permanent position in the fall . . . unless you have new college plans you haven’t told us about?”
“Nope, I’m here.” I grin. You’re not getting rid of me now. “How many summer interns get an offer?”
“It depends.” Her eyebrows lift. “Maybe you should present the Quotagian ideas, since Donovan seems less than enthused about the client.”
He glares at me.
“I didn’t say a word.” I put up my hands.
“Your attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed, Donovan.” Meredith’s saucy smile brims with satisfaction—perhaps payback for the snide comment he made about her needing to work out more? “Besides, we have other accounts requiring your expertise.”
He nods, his jaw tense.
Meredith glances at her phone.
Donovan scowls my way again.
Watch it, dude, I’m coming for your job. I look back at Meredith. “Can we contact Quotagian for more information about the app? I have some questions.”
“Sure, tell me what you need. I’ll call them. Give me your cell so I can add you to our team’s group chat. You must have gotten your phone back by now.” She brings her Starbucks Venti to her lips.
“What?” I’m only half listening, still pinching myself I’m going to get a paycheck soon. One step closer to getting a permanent position this fall.
“Your cell number?”
My stomach nosedives. “Yeah, um.” I don’t move. Not about to wave this relic in front of everybody’s fancy iPhone. Wait, does Priya have a SpongeBob case?
“Everyone, I’m updating our group text for this project. Brynn, text me so I can add you.” Meredith bugs out her eyes at me.
Micah’s eyes are on me too, his gaze intense.
Yes, I could share my number like a normal person . . . if I knew it. The muscle in my jaw twitches. Do not look his way.
“Text it to my number.” She flashes her phone.
Cradling the phone, I fumble through the unfamiliar icons as sweat drips down my back. At last, I hit send.
Meredith presses her thumb to her screen, swipes up, and repeats.
Their phones ping, including Micah’s. Their heads drop on cue, like synchronized swimmers.
Priya scrunches her face. “Your number looks so weird. Where’s this area code?”
I bite my lip and hold up my phone. “It’s, um, a prepaid phone and not an iPhone.”
“Is that a burner phone? Girl, you get more interesting by the minute.” Donovan rubs his hands together and the corner of his mouth pulls into a sly smile, as if he’s uncovered one of my secrets.
Lucius’s dark eyebrows shoot up and he studies me, stroking the trimmed hair on his chin.
“Not a burner phone, just a refurbished one.” I swallow. “I lost my phone last weekend and needed a quick replacement.”
“I thought you only broke your screen.” Meredith purses her lips.
“Been a rough couple of weeks. This one doesn’t even get Internet.”
“Such bad luck.” She shrugs. “Okay, update me when you get a new one.”
I smile, breathing easier. Maybe my luck’s changing. I can dig myself out from my parents’ debt and start a new life all on my own.
I gaze over at Micah at the same time he looks at me. I squeeze my thighs together and look away.