“He was nice, and we hit it off.”
“How much younger than you is he?” Caroline narrows her eyes at me. I guess she has her reasons. I used to flirt with her brothers all the time once they were adults. At the time one of them was completely unavailable since he has a whole family, but the little one…I knew it got under her skin. So, I would do it for that reason alone.
“I don’t know,” I shrug and move to one of the shelves to lean against. “Early twenties? He was definitely old enough to be drinking, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Okay,” Caroline sighs, “that’s all I care about. I know they let eighteen and up in the bar, and I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
“I know how to watch out for myself, Care. It’s how I made it through college.”
I feel bad at the dig. It’s not completely her fault she didn’t go to college with us like we planned. She followed her heart even though it led to a horrific end.
“Point taken.” She raises her hands in surrender.
Samantha grabs one of the stools and takes a seat. “So, are you going to see him again?”
I want to say no. Hell, I know I should, but I don’t know if I will or not. I had fun with him last night. Even after we had sex, we were able to hang out and just live in the moment.
“I doubt it. Y’all, know I don’t get serious with anyone. He did leave his number on a piece of one of my magazines before he left.” I’m just grateful the piece didn’t have any important information on it.
“So, he left the door open for a possibility.” Emily takes a sip of her coffee.
“Yes, but…when exactly would I have time to date anyone. In case you haven’t noticed, we have our hands full with the shop.”
“I thought the same thing,” Caroline smirks, “and now I have a whole boyfriend who adores me and David.”
“That’s you, though,” I point out, “it’s never something I’ve really looked for. You saw how my parents were growing up. That’s not the type of life I want for myself.”
“You realize that’s not normal, right?” Samantha interjects. “It works for your parents, but that’s not how every couple operates. Not that I’d know, or want to, from personal experience, but you get the drift.”
“You can’t exactly preach relationship advice to me when you don’t do them either.” I laugh. She would have to actually be nice to people to consider dating. The only people I’ve ever seen her let loose around is us, and that took a long time to happen when we were growing up.
“Why are you getting relationship advice?” Kai walks into the warehouse. Great. Now he’s going to give me his input. Especially now that he’s in his own little happy bubble of love. This is not what I need.
Chapter Four
Xander
It’s been a week and Kate still hasn’t called. Maybe I overstepped my bounds when I left my number. Or, I could have pushed for hers, but I don’t think she would have appreciated that. She seemed to want me out of her apartment as soon as possible. She said it was work related and based on all the stuff on her coffee table, I believe her.
The sting doesn’t go away, though. I thought we hit it off pretty well. I mean who else stays up drinking while making fun of infomercials. I know it’s not something I’ve ever done before. There was a connection between us, and I don’t think I’m the only one who felt it.
“Xander,” Mom’s voice echoes around the house, “you better be awake.”
Ugh, this whole living situation sucks, and isn’t at all how I imagined life after college would be. My entire plan banked on having job offers after I graduated, but no such luck. The places I have applied have passed me over for more experienced candidates. I’m right out of college, how am I supposed to gain experience if nobody will give me a chance.
“I’m up,” I call out. I have been for hours, just like every morning for the past two weeks. The determination to find a job and get out of this house is strong. At this point, I’m not even paying attention to what the job is, I check to see if I meet the minimum requirements and fill out the form. Eventually one of these has to call me back, right?
There’s a soft knock on my door before it cracks open and my mom pops her head inside. “Any luck?”
Honestly, I don’t know if she just wants to help or wants me out. “Nope,” I close my laptop, “do you think it’s because I graduated in the winter instead of in the spring? Maybe that’s why I didn’t have any job offers.”
“I doubt that,” she walks in and sits on my bed. “You’ll find something. It just might take more time than you thought.”
“At least until then, I’m making a little something delivering pizzas. I just want something more stable.”
“I know, kiddo,” she pauses for a moment, “so, have you heard anything from that girl?”
This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I want out of this house. I love my mom, but between her constantly asking about the job search and asking about the woman I saw when I didn’t come home that night, I’m going bonkers. There’s no such thing as privacy with her. Which I can understand to an extent since it’s her and dad’s house, but I’m twenty-two. At some point she has to cut the cord, right? This is one of the few times I wish I had a sibling. Then they could share in the privacy invasion.
