Aunt Helen and Uncle David have been offering me a new job every week since Christmas Eve. Steve offered me a job helping him break horses, and Amanda Saddler tried to hire me to manage their resort. I swear, if I get one more pity offer, I might go all Xolotl and murder someone.
Meanwhile, my super hot boyfriend, who’s even hotter now that he got his hair cut, lucks into the perfect job within two weeks of retiring from his last. I guess that’s why they tell college kids to work over the summers. Everyone wants experience.
Though I doubt Helen or David would appreciate Xolotl’s past experience, even if his last job is the reason he speaks so many languages. He’s also been letting them know when he has an inkling some of their business contacts may not be long for this world. Helen’s taken to calling him ‘Whitney’s little psychic,’ but I think she knows something’s up.
“You’re nervous,” Xolotl says. “I can tell.”
“How?” I stop in the middle of my room, a pair of socks clutched against my chest. “I’m not nervous.”
“You’ve carried that same pair of socks from your drawers to your bed three times.”
“Shut up,” I say.
He tilts his head. “Don’t be nervous.”
“I—” He’s told me three times that any money he earns is my money, but saying it doesn’t make it so. “You know I can’t take your money.”
“You take your mom and dad’s money,” he says. “How’s that different?”
“It just is,” I say. “It’s not like we’re married.”
Xolotl stands. “You said you didn’t want to get married until after Izzy does. You said it would be stealing her thunder.”
I shrug.
I’m a woman.
I say things that are stupid sometimes. But I did say that, so I can’t very well contradict it. “Listen, this interview just really matters.”
“Can I ask something?” He looks nervous for some reason. He’s not going to propose right now, watching me pack to leave, right? That would be so lame.
“I guess.”
“If you’re wearing those high heels to the interview, why do you need socks at all?”
I blink. “Right.” I carry the socks back to my chest of drawers. “Are you sure you can portal me over for the interview?”
Xolotl nods. “No problem. I don’t have any translations to do until later this afternoon.”
“Okay, well, thanks. That saves me a lot on a plane ticket, which this stupid company did not offer to comp.”
“Comp?”
“Compensate me for,” I say. “Pay me back.”
He frowns. “That’s not a good sign.”
Before I can say anything else, Gabe bursts through my closed door. “Dude, remember our deal? We can do it tonight.”
“Thanks for knocking, loser,” I say.
Gabe sighs heavily. “Sorry, whatever. But seriously, I saw it on the schedule. And I borrowed that thing we need from that friend I told you had one.”
Xolotl doesn’t look confused at all, which is really annoying.
I drop my hand on my hip. “What’s going on?”
“Why are you packing a bag?” Gabe shoves my backpack a few inches forward on my bed. “Isn’t Mister Incredible taking you via air-drop to the interview and picking you up later?”
