“It’s a real job. We’ve been looking for someone for a few months. Hell, how long has it been since Sabrina left us? Six months at least?” He looked at the ceiling for a moment then shook his head. “Anyhow, we’ve test-run a few temps and held a really fucked-up interview for the cameras, which was really just a casting call full of wannabe starlets. It was a shitshow, really. So please believe me when I tell you that you’ll be helping us out a ton.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath as the world seemed to right itself. This was good. This would help me and didn’t sound like a handout. I could do this.
Although it did soften my feelings toward Dylan somewhat, and I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“And we’ll talk to your college and figure out your schedule for next semester. I’m sure we can work around your class load. But that’s Future Dylan and Future Indy’s hassle.”
I smiled slightly. “And this is okay with your brothers?”
“Yeah, I just talked to Nathan. He’s happy to have someone who doesn’t want to be famous and can respect that the rest of them are in committed relationships.” He waved a hand. “I’m paraphrasing there, but the last girl tried to corner Austin in his office and it got…awkward, let’s say.”
My eyes widened. “Yeah, you don’t have to worry about that with me. I’m all good in that department.”
“I, uh, never thought to ask. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What? No.” I shook my head like that was a stupid question. Because it kinda was. Did he seriously think I’d be sleeping in a stranger’s spare bed if I had a boyfriend?
“Ah, then you’re…okay. Sure. No more, uh, that is… Right.”
I frowned. “What? What’s going on right now?”
“Nothing. I just, I didn’t…” He sighed. “I have no problem with different sexual orientations. So if you want to have your girlfriend or whatever over—”
“I’m not gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I just, I don’t… I like guys, okay? Not that it matters.”
He nodded jerkily. “It doesn’t. I don’t care if you like guys or girls or trans or…you know, I’m just going to shut up now.”
I had to bite my lip to keep my laughter in. And it was a losing battle. After a long second, I erupted in giggles. “If you could see your face right now!”
He grunted and stomped off into the kitchen. But his cheeks were flaming. Cabinet doors thumped, and then I heard the faucet turn on.
I turned slightly on the couch so I could see into the kitchen. Dylan stood over the sink drinking water from a clear glass. His strong throat bobbed with the action and his firm, square jaw flexed.
His shirt moved as he set the glass down and an arc of black ink appeared just below his collar.
This time it was my turn to look away in embarrassment.
So much awkwardness. It was getting hard to remember that I wasn’t supposed to like him. He’d betrayed my dad and the club. He was the reason my dad was sitting in a jail cell. I wasn’t supposed to like him let alone wonder about his tattoos.
Dylan Burns was the enemy.
Although it was getting harder to see why.
“Sorry.” Dylan paused and cleared his throat. “I just…was surprised that you were so adamant about not hitting on my brothers. Everyone hits on them. It’s embarrassing really.”
I shook my head. “That’s sad. People should respect when someone is in a relationship. They’re off limits. It’s pretty simple.”
“Yeah. It is.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Besides, they’re so old. I doubt I’d be into them even if they were single.”
Dylan coughed so hard I got up off the couch to check on him.
He waved a hand at me as I approached. But he continued to cough. After a moment, he managed to say weakly, “I’m good. Just went down the wrong pipe.”
“Okay. Um, I’m just going to go…unpack. Thanks again, Dylan. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
He gave me a weak smile, still clutching his chest.
