But something is wrong. The other employees are shifting uncomfortably, avoiding Derrick’s gaze. A few of them are already shaking their heads.
“Who’s the client?” someone asks.
Derrick hesitates. “Tolin.”
The reaction is immediate. Scoffs. Eye rolls. A muttered “hell no” from somewhere near the back. Keisha actually laughs, sharp and humorless.
“Absolutely not,” she says. “That grumpy asshole? I’d rather clean toilets at the bus station.”
“There’s a snowstorm coming,” another woman adds. “I’m not getting stuck up there with him. Forget it.”
I don’t understand. Double pay is double pay. Whatcould possibly be so bad about this guy that everyone is turning down that kind of money?
“He’s offering double,” Derrick repeats, a note of pleading in his voice. “Come on, someone has to?—“
“I’ll do it.”
The words are out of my mouth before I fully think them through.
Every head in the room turns toward me. Keisha’s eyebrows shoot up. Derrick looks like I just told him I’m planning to wrestle a bear.
Which, apparently, I might be.
“I’ll do it,” I say again, more firmly this time. “I mean, it can’t be that bad, right? It’s money. I’m not turning down double pay.”
Silence. Then Keisha smiles, slow and satisfied.
“Well, well.” She turns to Derrick, spreading her hands. “Looks like you’ve got your volunteer.”
“Imani—“ Derrick starts.
“You’ll probably miss the Winter Solstice celebration,” Keisha cuts in, her voice dripping with false concern. “The whole town turns out for that. It’s a big deal around here.”
I shrug. “So?”
She blinks, clearly expecting that to land harder than it did.
No boyfriend. No friends. No family nearby. No one waiting for me at home. What do I care about missing a town party? I’d just be standing on the edges anyway, watching everyone else have a good time.
Around the room, the other employees are already grabbing their things, heading for the door. A chorus of “hell no” and “good luck with that” trailing behind them. Even the ones who didn’t get assignments seem eager to escapebefore Derrick can change his mind and assign them instead.
Keisha grabs her coffee and pushes off from the wall. “Oh no, Derrick. She said she’s got it.” She pats my shoulder as she passes, her nails painted a glossy red. “Good luck up there, honey. You’re going to need it.”
She disappears into the laundry room, leaving me alone with Derrick and the sinking feeling that I just volunteered for something I don’t fully understand.
“Is it really that bad?” I ask.
Derrick doesn’t answer right away. He sets down the clipboard and runs a hand over his face, looking suddenly tired.
“Tolin is a good friend,” he finally says. “But he’s... difficult.”
“Difficult how?”
“He’s a bear shifter. Grumpy as hell. Runs off every employee I send up there. Some of them don’t even last a full day.”
I think about the cash in my shoebox. The green velvet chair in the window at Cozy Corner Furnishings. The empty apartment waiting for me to turn it into a home.
“What’s the trick?”
