A light knock on my open door saves me from answering. A woman, probably in her thirties, with short blonde hair, wearing a gray pantsuit, stands in the doorway. Her striking blue eyes stare at us awkwardly. “I’m sorry.” She lays her hand across her chest. “I’m looking for a Mr. Daniels.” Avery stands and saunters toward her.
“Well, hello there.” His million-watt smile spreads across his face, and I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh.
I knew this would be trouble. It’s never an easy task to have a woman on a construction site. I knew the risks, but I didn’t think trouble would start this soon. My crew acts as if they have never seen a woman in their life anytime one walks by.
Shoving my chair back to stand, I say, “Yes, I’m Clayton Daniels, and you are?”
She peers around the tall man in front of her before focusing back on Avery. She lifts her brow, taking a small step toward me. His shoulders noticeably deflate as he steps aside.
Sticking her hand out, I shake it. “I’m Brianna Martin. I’m here for the job interview.”
Avery gives two thumbs up behind her, and I rein in my urge to roll my eyes at his childlike behavior as he closes the door behind him. I bring the coffee mug to my lips and swallow a mouthful before starting the interview to see if she might be the right fit for putting our customers at ease and showing them possibilities.
Three hours and six applicants later, I’m exhausted. No one felt like they would be a perfect fit. The first one, Brianna, is the closest one to impress me, but she still isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. I can’t bring just anyone in. I have to be able to work well with them, and they need enough people skills to do well with our customers. I’d also like them to be an eighty-year-old woman or a man so Avery gets actual work done, but I was less impressed with the male applicants. They didn’t have the vision we need. What I need is someone whom I can work with, and only one person comes to mind who fits that description.
The light on my phone screen pulls my attention away from the resumes on my desk. Mike’s name flashes across my screen, and I answer right away. “Mr. Thompson.”
“Clayton, how were the interviews?”
I went to his house this morning to tell him I’m hiring someone and to get his advice. He didn’t say much other than he thought it was a great idea. He’s always been supportive of my ideas. But he also isn’t afraid to tell me when he thinks I’m wrong, except when it has to do with his daughter. That matter, he won’t say a single word about.
“They were rough.” I take a sip of my now cold coffee.
“That’s unfortunate.” I hate letting him down. If anyone has an idea on whether or not Rylee would consider working for me, it’s him. “I did want to thank you for getting Rylee home safely. I just got off the phone with her, and she’s been resting all day.”
“No problem, sir.” I grimace at my covered desk of resumes. “So I might have an idea, and I want to run it by you.” I tuck the phone between my cheek and shoulder and put all the papers into my manila envelope to take home with me.
“What is it?” Hope returns to his voice.
“Do you think Rylee would consider helping temporarily?”
He chuckles. “I think she could be persuaded. I know youand Rylee have your”—he pauses—“issues. But she could be the help you need.”
“When I saw her house, I was amazed by the work she’s done to the place, and I know she made all the design choices.”
“Yeah. She’s pretty great.” There’s pride in his voice whenever he talks about his daughter.
“But do you think she will?”
“I think you two need to have a good talk and work through your issues together. You were best friends . . . once.”
“Yeah. Easier said than done.”
He audibly exhales. “Nothing will change unless you try.”
We may have been best friends, but I’ll never forget the look on her face when I told her I was going to follow a different path from hers. It was like I saw the waves crashing in her deep blue eyes as the world she had planned hard for crumbled around her. We had plans, and I fucked it all up. I couldn’t even blame her for hating me, but my world shattered long before I ruined hers.
13
RYLEE: THEN
Rylee:17 years old
Sitting on my bed, I flip the page of the first book in the Twilight series, reading the same scene for what I think is the fifth time. I’ve lost track. I can never get enough, and I’ve switched back and forth between Team Edward and Team Jacob.
“Rylee. There’s mail for you,” my mom calls from downstairs.
My ears perk. I’ve been waiting to get college acceptance letters, and there’s one I’ve been dying to open. The University of Georgia is the school I have my heart set on. It’s also perfect for Clayton, and I want nothing more than to study design while Clayton figures out what he’s going to study. He still doesn’t know. I bound down the stairs and see mom holding a large envelope with a big smile across her face. I grasp the envelope in my hand and see that it’s from the University of Georgia.
