Everyone sends us questionable looks.
“So, Stella, earlier you said you were excited about something but never told us about what.” Leonidas says too sweetly, trying to act innocent after all the trauma he just inflicted on me.
Side-eyeing him, I scrunch my face up when he finds my gaze and discreetly gives me the middle finger under the table.
She munches on the chicken Levi cut for her. “For the bus.”
Levi grimaces because sharing a tour bus with a handful of people is the worst part of being on the road for us.
“What about traveling the world?” Trinity asks softly.
She shrugs.
Amelia sits up and whispers, “How about all the cute boys?”
Stella jumps, throwing her little arms in the air. “Yeah!”
Laughing, I feel tension traveling to my neck. Groaning, I reach up to massage my muscles.
Leonidas raises a brow. “Sore?”
I gesture to all of them. “Whiplash.”
ELEVEN
LILY
“Our students would be lucky to have you as their teacher, but I’m afraid there is no open position right now, it was just filled before you got here. We didn’t have enough time to cancel on you.”
Another day, another rejection.
Nodding, I plaster a smile on my face when all I want to do is cry. “No problem, I completely understand.” Rising, I gather my papers. “Thank you for your time.”
“I will keep you in mind if anything changes. I hope you find a position. I wish you nothing but the best.”
I nearly choke at her grandmotherly kindness.
“That would be fantastic. Thank you again.” Casting her one last look, I make my way to my car.
Throwing my bag on the passenger seat, I let my tears fall and my forehead hit the steering wheel.
Why me, world?
In moments like this, I try to think of what my parents would tell me, and I know it would be not to worry.
How can I not?
If I don’t find a job soon, I will lose the only thing left I have of my parents.
I can’t.
Scrolling through my emails, I double-check that my meeting is still scheduled for tomorrow. Rolling my shoulders back, I wipe my tears and drive with no destination in mind.
“How many drinks did that guy buy you?” Thea giggles, bouncing off the wall when she trips on her own pair of shoes she just took off.
I mentally count them in my head. “Like, four.”
“Lucky girl,” she whines, following me to my bedroom. “And poor him. He probably thought he was going to get you in his bed.”
