“You were our last interview. We’ve had a lot of really qualified applicants, but I could tell everyone in there liked you and the presentation.”
As we headed toward the elevator, I tried to read between the lines and decipher what he was saying. Was he letting me off easy or was he telling me I got the job?
“We should have a decision by tomorrow,” he said.
BLOWING OFF THErest of the day drinking wasn’t usually my style, but I had nothing else to do. I was a worried sick about my mom, who was spending the evening with her best friend.
Walking up the hill, I passed the Star Wars bar. I hadn’t been in there in a while. I didn’t recognize any of the bartenders. I sat on the tattered red vinyl stool.
“Two fingers? Scotch right?” the bartender asked.
“No, I’ll just have a beer. I’ll take that Belgian on tap.”
The bartender shook his head. “I thought you were a whiskey guy. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”
I had never seen the guy in my life, but I did think it was funny that he was dressed as Princess Leia. They usually didn’t cross-dress at the Star Wars bar.
“What’s your name?” he said.
“Lucian.”
“I’m Zack.” He shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you, man.”
“So what brings you in?”
“I live close by,” I said. “Just wanted to pop in for a beer.”
“Ah, I see. Well, welcome.”
I sat in that bar, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. Princess Leia wouldn’t take his eyes off me. He kept shaking his head and making me feel really uncomfortable, so I decided to call it quits after two beers and head home.
I WOKE UPto my phone ringing at eight sharp. It was my mom.
“I’m clear. No cancer. Nothing. Just some benign, old lady crap.”
I rubbed my face. “You’re not old, Mom, but geez, I’m so relieved.”
“Do you want to do brunch? You can tell me about the interview.”
“I don’t think I’m going to get the job. Just fair warning,” I said, before rolling out of bed and heading to the kitchen to make coffee. Spotting a framed picture of Laura and me in Rome, I rolled my eyes. What a waste of seven years.
“Why don’t you think you’ll get the job?” she asked.
“Just haven’t felt lucky lately.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not about luck.”
“I’m grateful for the good news I’ve already gotten today. Nothing could ruin that. Believe me, even if I don’t get this job, I’ll consider this a good day.”
“Okay, honey, well, you’ll keep trying if you don’t. Let’s go have a good meal. I feel revived.”
I was smiling when I left my apartment to meet my mother. My phone started buzzing from my pocket. It was Bradley from the design firm. My heart sank a little, but I pulled it together, popped into an alley, cleared my throat, and answered.
“Hello, Lucian Bertrand.”
“We all want you on our team. It was unanimous.”
