TWELVE
KELLY
It takes twenty minutes in the shower before I'm in any fit state to rejoin our guests. Time spent lathering myself more than was necessary, and something I held Zac responsible for.
It was while dressing that my thoughts strayed to whether our relationship was all just physical for him. Seeing him with Audrey yesterday had been horrible, letting me know how I'll feel when Zac leaves me for someone else.
As he's bound to. I can't kid myself on that front. Is he staying here because of the flood, or because he wants to? That it's because of the flood makes more sense to me.
What are the chances that as soon as he can move back home, he'll be gone with as much speed as that flood had arrived? Not a happy thought with which to start my working day.
But not just yet. "Audrey, Clive, are you ready?" There wasn't a chance I was letting them walk into town to pick up their rental car, which they'd been talking about over breakfast.
Zac had offered, but with him ready to leave before the rental car company was even open, I said I'd take them instead. With them having fussed with their appearance in readiness to meet the folks, they'll not want to be all hot and sweaty when they do so.
It's not until we're on our way into town, with Clive in the back and Audrey riding shotgun, that the pair start their interrogation.
Not since my first interview at MC&S have I been this under the gun, with the pair taking it in turns to fire questions at me. How long have we been dating? How did we meet? Where did I see it going?
I'm doing my best to foist them off with half-truths when Audrey goes in for the kill. "It must be serious for you to be living together."
My response to this is garbled and full of the flood, and just helping and other pathetic excuses. I then glance to the side and see Audrey is grinning. I've had no one tease me like this since I was a kid, leaving me unsure how to deal with it.
In the end, she takes pity on me. "It's okay Kelly, I'm just surprised. Zac was a heartbreaker before I left. I'm not sure my brother is the settling down kind. And yet …"
It's then all I can do not to slam on the brakes, grab her by the shirtfront and grill her on what comes next. It'll be more than I know. However, Audrey remains close lipped, not offering any other insights.
After she and Clive get out at the rental place, Audrey leans back into the car. "Kelly, just be careful, okay?"
Of all the things I've been expecting, Audrey warning me to be careful around her brother, wasn't one of them. Isn't she supposed to be telling me that if I hurt her brother, she'll hurt me?
Back at the house, I check to see if Brian Mackey has replied to my blunt email. Was Jason still working at MC&S, or had karma bitten him on the ass as he deserved? Until I know, I'd be a fool to even consider the ECD job.
Several hours later and I've still not heard from the president, or even from one of his minions. This has me firing off emails to anyone I'm still in touch with at the agency to see if they know anything. The only response is crickets.
I can't chase it up with Brian Mackey, because if I do, I'll be showing I'm interested in the job. Never a good idea when negotiating with a man as cut-throat as him.
I've no sooner thought this, than I'm questioning if I'm even still interested in the job. Or is this more about retribution? Of knowing Jason had found out first-hand what it's like to be cast aside?
Or could my being interested in the job be because I'd worked toward it over the years? You can't just drop a long-held goal like that. At least, I can't. Of course, that was before I had a significant other in my life, if I can call Zac that?
And that's my problem. I have no clue what I've got with him. Is it enough to turn down the ECD job if Jason has moved on or, better yet, been fired?
That's a question only Zac can answer.
Unable to decide if I hadn't shot myself in the foot with my initial email, I park it for later. Maybe if I dither long enough, the universe will decide for me as it had in the past.
It wouldn't be the first time Brian Mackey had left someone hanging to soften them up. Deciding there's nothing more I can do about it, I turn to the latest brief from Caroline Burt.
Still, as I work away on updating the design of her company website, my mind keeps straying to what it would be like to be ECD. Much as I'm enjoying the minor projects Caroline is sending my way, they're not enough to survive on.
Nor can I put my freelancing on hold while I wait to hear more from MC&S.
If I end up turning down the ECD job, I'll need more clients than just Caroline. Another four or five at least, and that'll be no simple task. Tough enough to have me concentrating on smashing out the website designs for her and firing them through early.
This out of the way, I double-check everything on my freelance website. I want it to be as sharp as possible. The last thing I need is to approach new clients, and then have them spot a typo, low-res image, or for there to be a broken link.
So engrossed am I that I almost miss my phone buzzing away deep inside my purse. And as long as I take to unearth it, I come close to missing the call. It's Zac with the timber of his voice and the background soundtrack telling me I'm on speaker phone. Note to self, no sexy talk.
