“Huh. Does your vouch mean a lot to Evie?”
“Yes. It does.”
The last thing I need is to get my hopes up. Evie told me where she stands, and Everett’s opinion doesn’t matter. I want this to beherchoice.
“Good to know. I need to find someone by the end of the week. If she reaches out to me by then, the job is hers.” I peel off a piece of crust and pop it into my mouth.
The company has our annual trip coming right up, and we’re more than willing to train her, but we have to get started before then. I need my assistant.
“Look,” he says, “I’m not telling you to hold your breath—I want to make sure you’re serious. This could help her. You have no idea.”
“I am serious.” I lean in. “You know how serious I am about helping people, especially people you care about.”
“That means a lot to me.” He fixes me with a sharp look, one I know to take seriously. “Even if she doesn’t take the job, I won’t forget you offered.”
“Stop.” I lean back in my chair and shake my head. “You’ve already done a lot for me. Too much.”
How Everett looks out for me may not be as apparent to others, but hedoes. He invites me to every event, ensures I get out of the office, and sometimes even reminds me to take a break and feed myself. If I can give his sister a job with a livable wage, even for the summer, it will only be a tiny dent in making up for the way he’s helped me keep my head on straight.
Being that kind of friend comes effortlessly for Everett. He doesn’t understand that it’s something I have to work for. I’ve always been alone.
“I haven’t done enough.” The chair scrapes against the wooden floor as he pushes it back. “I know I can’t trust you enough to set you up on a date anymore, but work? That’s one thing you’ll never fail at.”
My lip tugs up in a half-smile. “Doesn’t exactly feel like a compliment.”
“It only sort of is.”
“I’ll take it.”
I silencemy phone at nine o’clock every evening. That’s my non-negotiable wind-down time. Even if I work my tail off until then, I won’t answer a single damn call after.
Today is an exception. It’s eleven, and I’m still in the office, up to my ears in paperwork. Still, my phone is on silent. I can keep one boundary, even if I’m breaking down another. I’m breaking it bad, too, knowing I won’t be able to go home until the sun is rising.
I’ll be lucky if I get even three hours of sleep tonight.
An unknown number pops up on my phone. There’s no ringer, but the text catches my attention.
Boundaries be damned.
Unknown Number
It’s Evie!
My heart races. After the talk with her brother, I wasn’t expecting much, but… I’ll be damned. There she is.
Evie
Are you still available to discuss the position you mentioned at the party?
Suddenly, she’s so formal. I laugh to myself, shaking my head as I lift my phone.
Theo
Very available.
Can I call you?
It’s too late to make that kind of offer, but I press send before I can second-guess myself. Shit. Well, maybe this is a good thing. If I can find someone to take the job, I won’t have to worry about the upcoming interviews… or finding more people to interview.
