Bruce turns to face me, and I mirror the same baffled expression. I'm not about to admit I know every detail and he doesn't.
"There will be another job coming up—"
Amelia interrupts him with an abrasive tone. "There won't be any other jobs, Dad. This wasthejob. I'm shocked that one was even posted."
"But, I'm sure—"
"No, you don't understand the industry. I'm going to be serving coffee for the rest of my life."
"There's nothing wrong with—"
"Dad, stop!"
I'm familiar with her snappy tone, but I'm typically the one on the receiving end. Even Bruce is shocked he's getting a taste of the back-talk usually set aside for me.
"Maybe you can—" I begin, but she interrupts me with the same aforementioned anger.
"I need to be alone."
"Okay, if you need to talk to any of us, we'll be around," Bruce offers.
Walking back to my own room, I'm able to read her well enough that I decide she can come to me when she's ready.
Noonebotherstoask me where I'm going when I make my escape in a hurricane of rage. Even with the slammed doors and huffing and puffing to my car, everyone leaves me alone. Smart move.
I arrive at Benny's house after texting him I need someone to talk to. Theo has been my confidant as of late, but I can't confide in him now.
Benny lives so close to the ocean that I can taste the sea salt in the air when I park.
He and Chase wave from their balcony, and he directs me to the stairs along the side of his beachy cottage to join him. This isn't my first time here, but the familiarity of the house I remembered is gone.
"Did you extend the front porch?" I ask as his husband hugs me.
"We've done a lot since you've seen it last," Benny says.
"Mimosa?" Chase offers.
"I'm okay. I need to be sober so I can figure out what the hell I'm going to do with my life."
"We're so sorry you didn't get the job," Benny declares. "I won't even make my selfish joke about you being here longer. I know how badly you wanted this."
"Nothing else might come up?" Chase inquires.
"It could, but I'm not counting on it. I'm shocked I even got the interview. Do you know how difficult it is having this dream in your head and failing?"
They're sympathetic and frown at my rhetorical question.
"Why is this so hard to accept? The rejection?"
"It's never easy feeling like you're not good enough. It's okay if you need to feel that for a while."
"Thanks, Benny. I'm sorry to come over here and ruin your brunch."
"We love having you here. We only have mimosas; no brunch food to provide."
"I can make some eggs?" Chase offers.
"No, no, don't do that. I'm going to admire the view, and when you're not looking, move into one of the rooms in your house."
