Page 103 of Forgotten Romance

“I assume so. They should just give it to you though.”

“Me?” My cheeks flush. “What about you?”

“Well, I don’t want it. Even if I did, I don’t do half of the things around here that you do. What was the newest idea you started this month?”

“Coffee and cakes?”

Tonya rolls her eyes. “Who else would have gotten Art de Almeida to agree to delivering a coffee and cakes order for the group meetings we have here. We have three orders today.”

Is it stupid that something so simple makes me excited? The cleanup will take longer, but knowing that people genuinely like my idea gives me a boost of pride.

“You really don’t want the manager position?”

Tonya hurries to shake her head. “I like the limited hours and lack of responsibility, thanks.” She looks like she wants to say more.

“What is it?”

“Well … how would Davey feel if you were working full-time?”

“He’d support me.” I’m sure about that because he doesn’t know how to be any other way. “It’d mean putting Van into care a few more days a week, and I’m … I’m torn on that.”

“Well, we’ve had to wait for Rhonda’s dead aunt/uncle/whoever to drop dead for this position to come available. I don’t think you can count on that happening again.”

“I know …”

She leaves, and I’m left to stew in my thoughts. The whole point in Davey working the way he does is so that I don’t have to overdo it and can make sure our kids are raised by us and not someone else. We’re so fucking lucky that we have that option. But this position … I want it. I’d be amazing at it. It would mean working five full days a week though, which not only takes me away from Van through the day, and both of them some afternoons, but it also means no more one-on-one time with Davey when he’s home.

Am I understanding how conflicted he could be over work and family? I sure fucking am. I groan and press my fingers into my eyes. If only this job paid better and I could take over for Davey for a while, but even full-time, it wouldn’t stretch to all of our expenses.

Sure enough, that afternoon, Rhonda’s resignation announcement comes through. I’m thrilled for her, but she doesn’t say much about how the position will be filled or who will take over for her or anything. What if my new boss ends up being a total dick?

Rhonda always left us alone for the most part. She, Tonya, and I are like a little family, and sure, there are two other people who work here on the weekends, but I rarely see them. It’s always the three of us.

My need to cling to anything familiar and resist change is coming in strong.

I force it away.

That night, after jerking off and telling Davey I love him, we’re both lying there, me in cold pajamas, on either side of our phones, a peaceful silence settling around us when I say, “Rhonda quit today.”

“Rhonda … your boss?”

I nod, not looking at the screen. “Yeah … Tonya thinks I should apply for her spot.”

“Do it.”

I glance up at his immediate eagerness. “But?—”

“Do it.”

I huff a laugh. “You’re amazing, but there’s a lot to think about. To work out. What do we do with Van? And Kiera? When would I even see you during the times you’re home? And am I even good enough? I don’t have formal training—some people go to college for this stuff, but I was hired off the street.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” he teases. “Look, there are always, always reasons not to do something.” He pauses to allow for a steadying breath. “But do you want it, Mack?”

“I … I think so.”

“Then apply. Maybe you don’t get it, but maybe you do. It’ll happen the way it’s supposed to, and if you get the job, we’ll work out the rest.”

“You’re amazing. You know that?”

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