I gasped. “You what?” Forgetting how to form sentences, I waited for her to repeat what she’d just said.
“I fought to get you a fair offer which should come out to a bit more than your current hourly rate, plus benefits, so I hope you’ll accept the offer when it’s made.”
I smiled. “Oh, my God, Kate. That’s…” How could I explain what a relief it would be to focus solely on the one job I loved? “Thank you.”
Spring semester started mid-January. I’d just need to continue to tread water. I didn’t even want to think about pulling money from the vacation fund to cover my expenses. Chelsea would murder me if I told her we had to go to Virginia Beach because I blew plane fare on rent.
“You’re so welcome. Oh! I forgot. I also wrangled you a desk in one of the TA offices. It’s the best I could do on short notice.”
I had to laugh. An office? I’d be hanging out with the MFA students? “It’s perfect.”
“While the provost gets your paperwork in order, why don’t you go ahead and come in on Monday. I have a lot of administrative work I’d like your help with. I’ll compensate you at your freelance rate, of course.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Next week?” Finally, there was an end in sight to all the scrambling. “I don’t know how to thank you, Kate.”
“Just keep doing your excellent work.”
I choked back a sob. “I will.”
Unlike with the newsroom interview, I didn’t even have to pretend. I’d proved myself over and over.
“You deserve this. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.”
Maybe that job at the station hadn’t been for nothing. Maybe Kate had needed a serious threat to her resource to offer me a position. And Evan. He hadn’t done anything but say the words I’d been too scared to voice.
Let that be a lesson to me. From here forth, I would always speak my mind, ask for things I wanted, and not assume the answer would be no.
I checked the time. I still had ten minutes before I needed to be at the bar. I practically skipped to the coffee shop, unsurprised to find Chelsea helming the register. She’d been working extra hours to bulk up on vacation funds. Hell or high water, she’d get away from here, even if it was only temporary.
She straightened and blinked herself awake at the sight of me. The place was dead, but that wasn’t unusual for a Wednesday afternoon. “What can I do for you, madame?”
“Nothing, my liege. Just came by with some news.” My face felt like it might break from grinning.
She eyed me, assessing my expression and concluded. “You’ve won the lottery.”
“Close! It looks like I’m getting promoted.” I made a frog face, likecan you even believe it?
“She’s never had to worry about actually losing you before.”
“Yeah. Weirdly, having the newsroom job gave me a better perspective on that. And Evan encouraged me to be a little braver.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“Sure, but when have I ever been?” The admission surprised even me. In our friendship, I was the sunshine to her grump. I was the comic relief. The buoy to keep her from drowning. I let out a heavy sigh. “What am I even doing with my life?”
“You’re meant to be writing.”
Was I, though? “Then why am I not writing?”
“Because you put too much pressure on yourself.” She pinched a chain at her neck and dragged out the pendant she’d made years ago. “Remember what you told me when I wanted to sell jewelry, but I didn’t even know where to start?”
We’d been living together then and barely had enough space for an extra table, let alone a whole craft hobby. “I think I told you you’ll be thirty some day with or without a jewelry business.”
“That, yes. But also, you said every piece of jewelry I made didn’t need to bethe one.”
“You sure I wasn’t talking about men?”
She sniffed a laugh. “Probably. You always did speak in metaphor.”
