Page 35 of Talk About… History

My last job interview wasn’t half as nerve-wracking as this. Maybe there was more to lose here because I was so passionate about this project.

I had a list of things for the family bar, but this one let me find my love for Rockwood Valley again. The interviews, mock up of the web page, and everything involved took pieces of things I’d learned in University and my old job and mixed it with home. It was familiar, but new and exciting, and gave me a sense of stability I was craving.

A knock on my window had me letting out a startled cry, wild eyes focusing on Cohen who gave me a sheepish smile.

I pushed open the door and stepped out, smoothing out the dress pants I was wearing.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, giving him a smile.

“Sorry, I just wanted to help you pass the time, offer some reassurance if you wanted. I can go,” he trailed off, taking a step back but I shook my head and reached out, gripping his arm in my hand and letting the feel of him steady me.

“No, stay,” I begged, closing my eyes and willing my heart to stop racing erratically. “I swear I’m not always a mess.”

“Avery, I don’t think you’re a mess,” he said calmly. The way he spoke, gentle and low, had my omega perking up. It soothed me in a strange, new way, and I clung to it now.

Breathing in his rosemary, herb, and citrus scent and feeling his warmth under my hand chased away the worst of my panic and I gave him a wobbly smile.

“They’re going to reject this entire thing if I pass out in the conference room,” I muttered, loosening my grip and shaking out my arms.

“This is how I felt when I took the first steps of opening my own shop,” he chuckled. “Terrifying on its own, but worse because you want it so damn bad.”

“Look how that worked out for you,” I said, clinging to something positive. “You’ve got an amazing shop now.”

“And you’ll land this amazing job.” He sounded so calm and confident that I couldn’t help but let the waves of reassurance wafting off of him sink into me.

“You’re good at this pep talk thing,” I teased. He hesitated for a second before pulling me into his arms. I nuzzled into his chest, breathing him in as his strength surrounded me.

It was too intimate for near strangers but I couldn’t find it in me to pull away. I needed this and he was willingly giving it.

I wished I could give him everything he deserved in an omega, open up and let him in on all my darkest secrets and share everything that makes me who I am, but I wasn’t ready for that.

For now, this was everything.

When I pulled away, it felt like I could finally breathe again.

“Don’t you have a shop to run?” I asked. “I didn’t mean to pull you away.”

“You’re more important than the shop. I put up a lunch break sign, it’ll be fine,” he said. “You needed me and I wanted to be here.”

“Thanks,” was all I could manage to say. Sidney had given me a lot of tough love at lunch the other day and since then I’ve found myself more eager to embrace this life and not hide away. Closing myself off from my friends and family wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

Cohen continued to wait with me until I had fifteen minutes to go. I gathered the portfolio I’d created and my laptop case before taking one last deep breath.

“Alright, I’m going in,” I said. “Thanks for being here.”

He stepped forward and brushed a kiss on my forehead. My chest warmed at the gentle gesture but he didn’t linger, stepping back and holding the door for me.

Town Hall was a stereotypical government building. All white walls, generic furniture, and tiled floors. They’d tried to spruce it up with some plants and artwork, but it was fairly clinical inside.

The lobby had a glass sliding window and a woman pushed it open as I approached.

“Hello, you must be Avery,” she chirped with a motherly smile. “Mayor Adams is expecting you. In fact, everyone is here a little early if you want to head straight in.”

“Thanks,” I said, not expecting to dive right in but refusing to get back in my head. She closed the window and a moment later a nearby door swung open and she beckoned me forward.

“Right this way,” she said as she took off down the hall. Her heels clicked on the hard wood as we moved deeper into the building. She stopped outside a room that had a plaque outside labeling it as the council chambers. She poked her head in. “Avery is here.”

“Send her in,” Mayor Adams answered, sounding excited. At least he was likely willing to hear me out.

---