Page 91 of Crazy for this Girl

Jonah steps forward and wraps his arms around me in a tight hug. He’s taller than me, those football muscles and lifting weights able to take all my small punches and pinches. “You’re the best. Are you almost done with school, then?”

I shake my head, knowing this conversation was going to come but not at this moment. I don’t want to shred or make him believe that I’m quitting college because I’m handing him off my money. I’m doing it because it’s pointless.

“Why not?”

“Honestly, Jo”—I pull from his vices and peer up at him—“there’s nothing I want to do that requires a college education.”

“What do you wanna do, then?”

“I don’t know. I just want to make money and be happy. I’m going to Chicago in a few weeks to meet this famous Aunt Sharon that Mom keeps talking about.”

My brother’s eyes slit suspiciously. “For what?”

“Why not? She’s family. I could use a little vacay.”

“Mom’s not making you do this, is she?”

“Um, no. Mom could never make me do anything. She doesn’t wield that sort of power over me. She wishes, though.”

“Good.” Jonah bounces his head up and down. “That’ll be nice. When do you leave?”

“Not for a few weeks.” One of his friends call for him, and I jerk my head in their direction. “Go hang out with your friends. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Alright. See you in a bit.” He takes off, and I watch him march across the grass at the park where my parents threw his graduation party.

All Jonah’s friends showed up, causing me to look back and think that I didn’t have as many in high school. I was okay with that, never the social butterfly, but Jonah blossomed into a really good, well-rounded kid.

UNKNOWN: Laynee, you know you miss me. I can feel it.

UNKNOWN: You’re killin’ me with this. I literally can’t function without you.

LAYNEE: Sorry, you have the wrong number.

PRESENT DAY…ABOUT A DECADE LATER...

“It’s seriously not a bad job. Sometimes it’s a lot of overtime, but the perks are nice.” I narrow my eyes at my best friend as she plucks another fry off her plate and dips it in mayo.

She’s just freaking disgusting that way, and I crinkle my nose in pure revulsion.

“Didn’t you just complain two days ago that you hated how bitchy your boss and job were?” My eyes slit as I watch her bob her head but still follow up with a retort.

“It is, and she is. But you kinda have to be when there is so much competition.”

I shrug and sip some of my pink lemonade. Who knew blogs could be so cutthroat? “Doesn’t sound like my kind of thing.”

“It’s good pay.”

“I like my sanity, and I already have a job.”

“It has benefits.”

“So do I.”

“Yeah, but my boss didn’t just flip a switch and become a freaking psycho overnight.”

True…

I got a nice dose of whiplash from how freaked out my boss became over some news that hit his desk last week.

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