He and Bea are both looking at us like we’ve lost our minds.
Understandable. I’m laughing my ass off, and Oliver looks like a puppy being teased with a bone.
“What’s the job?” Oliver asks. “I’m unemployed. Looks bad on loan applications for houses.”
Simon and Bea share a look.
“I’m not sure it pays well enough for the kind of house you’re probably looking for,” Bea says.
“Whatever. I don’t need a loan to buy a house. What do you need? Someone to pop popcorn? Run the reels? How many shows a night? How many shows a week? Any benefits?”
“Oliver,” I say between peals of laughter. “I work during the day. When will we see each other if you work every night?”
He stares at me, dead serious, without blinking. “Popcorn maker at a movie theater is on my bucket list.”
“Show starts in two hours,” Bea tells us. “Wanna ride along and learn the ropes? See if it’s for you?”
He grins. “Hell, yes. But I have to have Daph home before eleven. She has a boring day job.”
“I hear she’s dating a guy who needs help putting a massive fortune to good use,” Bea replies.
“Heard she’s pretty good at giving money away to good causes,” Oliver agrees, like they’ve planned this.
Like I’m not already halfway to agreeing to quit my job and help Oliver manage a charitable foundation.
I’m not afraid I’ll depend on his money and then lose it someday.
He’s Oliver. Not my family. He wouldn’t rip the rug out from under me.
And even if the very, very worst happened, if someday, somehow, we ran completely out of money—I’ve survived before. I’d survive again. Especially with him by my side.
But I’ll miss my coworkers at Beeslieve.
That’s the hesitation.
“Make her take you out for pizza and show you the video game with its own trust fund for upkeep sometime soon,” Bea says.
I look between them, then at Simon. “You gonna join in this pile on too?”
“Certainly not. I can’t take notes while I’m participating in the conversation. By the way, could Bea and I write a screenplay loosely based on your life? Very loosely. You won’t recognize yourself in the final product.”
“Dude.” I glare at him.
“Or not,” he says hastily. “Learned my lesson. That’s why I’m asking. I know no means no. I’ll find my inspiration elsewhere.”
“If you’re going to make a screenplay based on my life, I wanteveryoneto know it’s about me,” I tell him. “Donotmask a single thing if you want me to say yes.”
“Our parents would despise it,” Oliver agrees. “You definitely have to make it obvious.”
“But you have to make Margot look good.”
Oliver nods. “Nonnegotiable.”
“And I’m only in if Bea thinks it’s a good idea.”
“I wouldn’t argue with that even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. Daph’s favorite people are my favorite people. Our favorite people should be happy.”
My stomach growls.
