It’s close to midnight when my phone light blocks the gray shadows of tree branches dancing across the living room wall. I get my hopes up for a second until I realize it’s a message on LinkedIn:Summer, I got your application. I know this is last minute, but would you be available for an interview at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning?
I click on her picture. The app takes me to her profile page.
Emma Dawson, J.D., Senior Associate at Ford Law
I got the interview at the law practice, and the attorney is Rhett Dawson’s sister.
11
SUMMER
The living room wall rattles with thethwapof the front door. I attempt to lift my head off the dilapidated hunk of cotton Jules considers a throw pillow and groan.
I should have never fallen asleep on this couch. The kink in my neck is evidence of that. So are yesterday’s clothes as my braless chest comes face-to-face with Julia’s ex in the entryway.
Jake’s hands are planted on his hips as if he’s commanding a room full of people. “Where is she?”
I snatch the ring from the carpet, fold my arms, and cross the room “Hello to you too. I’m going to wager she’s where I find her every morning at this time of day.”
It’s a small dig that I know her schedule better than he does. A sizzle sparks from the kitchen, and his eyes dart in that direction.
“Thanks for the help.” He follows the sound.
Jake’s aware I’m not his biggest fan. To clarify, I like him as a person, but I don’t appreciate his choices. The day he starts showing up for Henry and Julia, I’ll happily give him a free pass.
I close the door to Julia’s office—my room.We managed to squeeze a twin bed in here, but I share it with a desk, Henry’s bearded dragon, and a sewing table. Not to mention the pile of laundry belonging to me that litters the floor. It’s a lot cozier than I’m used to, which is probably why I didn’t give a second thought to sleeping on the couch. I toss my phone and ring on the desk and minutes later, when the paper-thin walls do nothing to mask their conversation, I give in and let myself eavesdrop.
“Did you think about it?” Jake asks.
I hear a clatter. A spatula maybe? Julia is the most even-keeled person until Jake comes around. He drives a motorcycle and has a sleeve of tattoos. Julia wears cardigans that button to her collarbone. They are the epitome of opposites attract.
“What are you doing here, Jake?” she demands.
“I can’t come see my son?”
“That’s not why you came. Your first question answered that.”
“It’s been over a month, and you still haven’t answered me,” he says.
Julia keeps her feelings for Jake pretty private. I know they’re still there, but she’s also a strong independent woman who doesn’t need anyone. She’d rather be on her own and stuff away her feelings for him than let him weigh her down. I respect the hell out of her for that.
“I thought this was all too much for you,” I hear her say back.
My stupid phone interrupts this intriguing conversation.
The interview!I replied before falling asleep and forgot to set an alarm. I read her message:Great! See you soon!before checking the time. Twenty minutes. That’s all I have before I’m expected to be there.
I don’t have time to shower, so I gather the only clean outfit I have left—a patterned pair of flowy pants and a hot-pink bodysuit. I’ve never worked in a high-profile setting before. I have no idea if it’s dressy enough, but it will have to do.
With an armful of clothes, I sneak into Julia’s room across the hall and grab a pair of nude heels from her closet. When Henry tolerates going, she attends church sometimes. The heels might be a tight squeeze, but I have small feet for my height. Hopefully she doesn’t mind if I borrow them. It’s not like I’m about to interrupt this intense conversation happening in the kitchen to ask her.
I slip into the guest bathroom, apply a swipe of deodorant, brush my teeth, and put on the outfit. I brush the tangles from my hair and twist it up in a clip before glancing at myself in the mirror one last time. Between the heels and the hair, it elevates an otherwise casual ensemble.
The hallway carpet muffles the clack of the pointy shoes. Jake and Julia don’t hear me coming.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t feel something,” he whispers.
My eyes shoot to the kitchen where he’s covered her hand on the counter. His body language is screamingkiss me now.
