"Because he just got dumped," I decided. "And I'm not mixing business and pleasure. If I'm offering him a job, it makes me his boss. Ash, you know what a mess that would be."
"Pretty sure that if anyone could make it work, it'd be you," he teased. "But, yeah. I get ya. I also think that if you and Cy fell apart, we might lose him forever. Don't think he's real close with the other colors."
"He and Teal talk sometimes," I said. "Pretty sure he's run into Crimson once or twice, but I know what you mean. Cy just kinda grew up and went his own way."
"But he's always there for you," Ash reminded me. "I guess that's the thing you don't get. You, Violet, are the last tie most of us have to our real home. Gran might be gone, but we still have you."
"And I have Southwind," I said, knowing what he meant. "I'm kinda hoping that if I offer Cy a job, then we'll bring him back."
"Yeah." He pulled in a heavy breath. "So if you can get him down there, I'll come suck up my pride and work things out. I'm not sure you should tell him that or he might not take the job, but if you think it's a good idea, I'll fly down again."
"No hard feelings?" I asked, just to be sure.
"Plenty," he said, "but not between us. Cy and I have to work out our own shit. Just kinda wish we still had Gran around to mediate. And that I hadn't waited so long to even try." He laughed once. "So call the guy back. I'll talk to the board and make sure it's all legit, but you know they'll agree. Offer him a job, Vi, and take care of him. He won't say it, but he needs you as much as I do."
I was barely off the phone with him before I was scrolling through my contacts for Cyan. When I tapped it, the phone rang a few times too many. I was bracing myself to leave a message when he picked up on the last ring.
"Vi?" he asked, sounding out of breath.
"Shit, I'm sorry," I told him. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything!"
"No!" He laughed. "I'd just gotten out of the shower. About busted my ass on the tile running to grab the phone, but you're fine. What's up? Everything ok?"
I decided to just throw it out there. "I need a psychiatrist, Cy."
"You ok?" he sounded worried.
"No, for Southwind." Which meant I was screwing this up. I was also nervous, and that wasn't something I was used to. "I'm reopening the place, and that means I need a licensed psychiatrist on staff. Pay's not that great, but comes with a room, and the main house is the only one that's worth a damn right now. I kinda don't want to move someone in that I don't know, and since you said you were thinking about moving, and needed a job, I just..."
"Yes," he said almost immediately. "Shit. Yeah, I'll take it. How soon do you want me?"
"Tonight?" I teased.
"Gonna take me a couple of days to pack, but..." He paused. "I quit my job the day after I left Kindle. Long story, and I'll tell you about it in person. I'm just about out of money, and there aren't a lot of job openings here. I'm not ready to open my own place, so the truth is, I need it."
"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked. "Cy, you know I'm always there for you!"
"Because I'd much rather be the one swooping in to save you for once. I'll take the job, now tell me what I'll be doing?"
"Helping me get this place licensed again, and then you'll be the one working with the kids. The guy they can talk to about all their problems. There's just one little catch. Cats Peak isn't very open-minded, and they're doing everything they can to keep us from opening back up."
"Fuck 'em," he decided. "Believe it or not, I can play this game. My suits may not be as fancy as yours, but together? We'll make it happen. Just..." He paused for a little too long. "Vi, how is he?"
I knew he meant Ashton. "He wants you to take the job."
"You tell him about Kindle?"
"Told him you broke up a while ago." I almost left it there, but this man didn't deserve to be blindsided. "You know he'll visit, right? He's been helping me set the place up."
"And you two have been inseparable since you ran off to Europe together." Cy chuckled once. "I know, and it's ok. Believe it or not, I miss him. I've always missed him, but I figured he wouldn't want to see me again."
"I think he's scared of seeing you," I corrected. "I think he's going to be an asshole when you two are in the same room, and I think you know him well enough to call him on his bullshit. Cy, we're older, but I'm not sure we're that much wiser."
"You are," he assured me. "And I'll text you tomorrow with how soon I can be there. Believe it or not, this works out." I thought he was done, but just before I could tell him bye, he added, "I've missed you as much as him, Violet. Just as much. Even if I didn't need the job, I'd drop everything to keep Southwind going. It's ourhome."
Chapter Nineteen
Ispent Sunday making sure everything was in place to finalize Cy's new job. Of course, Ash made it all work, and the board was thrilled to have more Southwind alumni on the staff. As soon as I texted Cyan the good news, he replied to let me know that he'd be down on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the drive. He felt that the sooner he was out of his place, then the sooner he could start fixing his life back up.
