He rolled his eyes. “You had to know it was coming. You’ve dealt with people in the Rest and Recuperation programs, giving you plenty of experience.”
“With other people taking the lead! And…and, they weren’t just in an easier program, they weren’t new!”
“Surprise? I didn’t realize you were going to have a meltdown,” he said, and I swore he was enjoying himself. “I’m curious to see how you match up with him. Very curious.”
“I just felt a chill run down my spine,” I groaned, “and I have a bad feeling in my gut.”
He laughed and patted me on the back. “Look, take comfort in the fact that there is no way I would put a new Guide with a new guest in the Recovery Program unless I was confident the Guide could handle themselves and that both had a good chance of connecting.”
“What you’re saying boils down to, ‘I’m gambling,’ I hope you know that.”
He narrowed his eyes, clicked his tongue, and snorted. “Yeah, okay. That’s, uh...interesting. Anyway, yes, I think you’ll manage.”
“What’s interesting?”
“I’ll tell you another time. For now, I need you to focus.”
“You can’t say something like that and move on like it’s nothing.”
“I can, and Iam, because right now it’s work time, so suck it up, buttercup.”
“Ass.”
He grinned. “Good, you figured it out. Now, his name is Rowan. Business type, and I’ll warn you, he’s not totally sold on the program.”
“Oh great,” I groaned, running my hand through my hair. “This is getting better and better.”
“I already got him settled in for the day, and he’s been given the tour, but obviously, he’s going to need you to help get him acquainted with the ins and outs since he’s only been here a day.”
“A day. Oh God,” I said, eyes going wide. “That’s the guy I headbutted yesterday, isn’t it?”
“The guy you...excuse me?” he asked, blinking in concern.
I huffed. “It’s not like I gave him a Glasgow Handshake or anything, but I was in the intro room when you came in. I didn’t realize you had someone with you, and when I rushed out, I kinda ran right into him. God, he stared at me like I was theweirdest thing he’d seen all day and was ready to rip me a new one. Fantastic.”
“Don’t you know how to make a first impression?” Reggie asked with a chuckle. “Well, at least he’s got an idea what he’s dealing with.”
“Oh, you are so good at making me feel better.”
“Mmm, if I was good at that, I’d be a Guide.”
“Youwerea Guide. The first one at Arete.”
“Right, and then I got put into the boss position, so I don’t have to hold hands. So now, I’m not going to hold your hand. I’ve been doing that for the past two months of training. Now it’s time for you to put that training to work,” he said. “Come on, he should be waiting for us, or more specifically, you.”
Well, no time like the present. I nodded with a confidence I absolutely did not feel. I had learned a long time ago that life moved at its own pace, whether you were ready or not, and usually, no one was ready. Not that I was much better about handling things on my own. Bouncing between things had been the story of my life since I was eight and thrown into the foster care system. You got used to being bounced around a lot, and once I was an adult, it didn’t magically mean I learned to be stable.
Jumping between jobs and even majors in college had been the name of the game, and my friendships and relationships hadn’t been spared. This job was supposed to be my chance to prove I could stick with something. It was my chance to help other people and maybe help myself along the way. I had always been better about sticking to things when it was for the sake of others, so all in all, this job seemed like the best way to accomplish those things.
So it was sink-or-swim time, whether I wanted it or not.
“Hmm,” Reggie said as we reached the Thought Room. “You have a different look about you.”
“Confident?” I wondered, a little hopeful.
“More like someone who’s accepted they’re going to be executed and decided they’re going to march to the chopping block with their head held high,” he said with a laugh, touching the pad with a key and sliding the door open. “Which is good enough to work.”
Reginald Wentworth, master of comfort and expert in soothing everybody.
