God, it would be so easy to say yes, but the thought of Connor Winslowe seeing her at her absolute worst was almost more than she could bear.
“Will you think about it? Please?”
“I will. I promise.”
But I’m not going to change my mind. I can’t.
“Okay. Good.” Kelsey paused again. “And where did we land on the wedding? Slater would fly you there himself. He’s an excellent pilot, and it wouldn’t cost you a dime…”
“Kelsey…come on. Let it go.”
“I can’t. This is too important. I hate that I live so far away because right now I just want you to come over so I can hug you.”
And that’s when the tears fell again in earnest. “I really could use a hug…”
“Oh, sweetie…I hate this,” Kelsey said, and Lexi could tell she was crying now too. “Please let me help you. I know I can’t fix everything, but I know I can help with a lot of it. Please.”
She was already shaking her head, even though she couldn’t make herself speak.
Kelsey let out a long breath. “Alright, we can cry or we can find a solution.”
Sniffling, she silently nodded, knowing her friend wasn’t going to let this go.
“If I can find you a job—either with Milo or at the resort—I promise you we will get you moved and settled. You won’t have to do it alone, okay? And wouldn’t you rather be around friends right now? People who care about you and only want what’s best for you and Jonah?”
Swallowing hard, Lexi forced herself to reply. “I know that you’re close with everyone again, and I think that’s wonderful. But I haven’t spoken to any of those guys since…since…you know. It’s been almost fifteen years. I doubt they’d want to jump in and help me. Hell, I doubt most of them even remember me.”
“Oh, stop. You know they all do. We were inseparable for countless summers. Just say the word and I’ll make all the calls. You won’t have to do a thing.”
Except sacrifice my pride…
But then she had an idea that might solve this awkward conversation. Shifting in her seat, she decided she had nothing left to lose.
“If I say yes to letting you call Walker,” she began, “I have some…conditions that are not negotiable.”
“Okay! Lay them on me. Whatever they are, I’m sure they’ll agree to.”
She almost smiled.
First, she gave a salary amount that had to be met.
“I guess it would depend on the position they offered you,” Kelsey replied.
“It’s what I need for myself and my son to survive,” Lexi countered. “And housing. Right now, I don’t have the means to give a month’s rent and a month’s security to make a move. Adam hasn’t paid child support in months, and I’m essentially living paycheck to paycheck. So if they’re serious about helping me, I’m going to need a place to live immediately.”
“Mm-hmm…okay. What else?”
Seriously?
“Childcare. Depending on the position and when I’d start, I’ll need help with childcare until I get on my feet. Maybe even a food budget for a week or two since…you know…I’m broke.”
“Um…sure. I can definitely ask about that.”
“And my moving expenses would need to be covered,” she added. “I know you said you’d help with my move, but I assumed you meant you and Jayce.”
“I did, but I don’t think it will be an issue.”
Crap. She hadn’t expected Kelsey to be so optimistic. She needed one more thing that would put her over the top for not getting Walker and his team to offer her a job.
