Fiona
To take the job, or not to take the job. That is the question. It is the thing that keeps me up at night.Well, thoughts of torturing Gideon Titan were there, too. I pressed my palms to my eyes and rubbed them. Maybe that would relieve some stress. No such luck. Now I had raccoon eyes and a headache.
“You look like you need some good whiskey, or some good dick.” Michelle walked out of her small room and joined me at our quirky kitchen table. I’d found it at a garage sale and it was the perfect fit for us. Each chair was a different vibrant color. We had almost every color of the rainbow except for yellow. It was on my list, though.
“Don’t brag because you’ve been with Mr. Magic Penis the past week.” I eyed her and ended up smiling. She didn’t even deny it. She had a small smile toying at her lips, her sex-hair going in all sorts of directions.Lucky her.
“Mr. Magic Penis. God. I love it.”
“Is he going to visit our humble abode anytime? Or will he remain mysterious a little longer?”
“Definitely mysterious a little bit more. I’m not sure if I like him or just his magic stick. It’s hard to say.”
“I bet it’s realhard.”
She burst out laughing. “Thank you for putting it into perspective. You’re such a hoot.”
“I’ll add that to my Tinder.I am a hoot.I’ll get all sorts of invitations.” I had no qualms about my dating life—I had no time. But self-deprecating humor was good for the soul. If I couldn’t laugh at myself, then I would be miserable.Like Mom. Like Amanda. Like Bea.Yeah—my mom and sisters were one bad story away from being a Lifetime movie. They preferred dating awful men and loved talking about their misery. I shook off the thought and met Michelle’s gaze. “Anyway, I’m going to be spending the weekend with sixteen immature boys.”
“And Gideon Titan.” She grinned so hard it made her look creepy. “Think about him.”
“He was included in that. And, best part. We’re doing a team sleepover at his house. And I have to go.” I shook my head and took a long sip of coffee. “I meant it as a ploy to piss him off. Invite the boys to his house and I would get out of it. But he conned me right into it.”
“Holy shit. You’re going to be in Gideon Titan’s house.”
“Yeah, a week or two ago I might’ve lost my shit. Now, the magic is gone.”
“Hey, he could have a magic dick. Don’t assume.” She pursed her lips at me and I snorted. She technically was right. He could.
“He is a dick. His penis is irrelevant.” Even if he was sex on a stick.
“Fair enough.” She eyed the papers on the table. “What you working on?”
“Ah, well.” I flushed. We didn’t talk about the personal shit often, but I trusted her. I liked her. I could do it. “I’m making a pros and cons list of accepting a job offer for TTL.”
“Yeah? What position?” She leaned forward and paused. “Mind if I look?”
“Go ahead. I could use some advice outside my sisters and mother.” I bit the nail on my thumb. She didn’t make a sound or any facial expression.I am an idiot.
“Interesting.” She plopped back down in the chair and grabbed my pen. “What do you want out of your career?”
“Uh, stability.”That’s what Mom beat into my head.“Wait—no. I want to love what I do. I want a passion.”
“What do you like to do? Finance? Money? Coaching?”
“I like math. The whole numbers of things. I like how it fits.”Unlike our life growing up.“But I’ve had more fun working with these kids this week than I have in years of schooling for my major.”
“Would accepting the job with Texting Too Late provide you with the coaching aspect? From what I know about the organization, you’ll get to work with kids to help spread awareness about texting and driving, right? I picked up pieces here and there from you talking about it and the news but I never felt comfortable asking you about it. It sounds pretty amazing. I, uh, watched some of the videos of your speeches.”
“Yeah. I spoke at some schools last year.” I bit the hell out of my cuticle now. I tasted blood. “But it’s with family. It’s given to me. Does that make sense? I want to make it on my own.”
“Hm. I get it. But, girl, you are making it on your own.” She eyed our apartment, with its shitty decorations we’d found at flea markets. My mom gave me no money and I was proud as hell about it. “When do you have to let them know?”
“After the holidays.”Six weeks. Six weeks to decide my future.“I like to write things down. I know, I’m a weenie.”
“Nothing wrong with a pros and cons list. How do you think I agreed to the rendezvous with Mr. Magic Penis?”
“You made a list?” I about threw my pen at her. “That’s hilarious. What were the cons?”
