Page 89 of Fierce-Zander

“The fact he works with his father and is close with his family is nice. Gives us a chance to see how the other side lives.”

“I see that plenty,” she said, laughing.

“I’m sure you see more breakups than cozy relationships.”

Her brother wasn’t wrong. “True. But I met Zander’s best friend and wife last night. We had dinner at their house.”

She went on to tell her brother about the dinner.

“Sounds like something you’d like,” her brother said.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that maybe I’m jealous. I don’t have any close friends like that. At least living here. Neither do you. Do you think we were just damaged by Mom and Dad?”

“Kellen,” she said. “Don’t go there. I’m not damaged and neither are you. Are they calling and giving you a hard time about the move?”

“No,” Kellen said. “I haven’t talked to them much at all. I think they are pissed.”

She smirked and wished her brother could have seen her face. “They don’t know how to get pissed. Why would you say that?”

There was silence to that statement. “Good point. Maybe I’m just feeling guilty about the move.”

Which was more like it. “Why?” she asked. “Do you not like your job?”

“I’m sorry. You called to tell me something good and now we are talking about me.”

“We can talk about you and then go back to me. I called you first because I wanted you to know about Zander. But I also want to know how things are going there.”

“As long as you talk more about you when I’m done,” he said.

“I will. I promise,” she said. “How is work?”

“It’s good. Challenging. I’m getting it but slowly. They do things differently and I feel as if it’s taking me longer. Everyone seems pleased though.”

“But you aren’t pleased with yourself?” she asked. “Are you sure you’re not being hard on yourself?”

“I think it’s that. I was at my last job for so long that I knew what I was doing with my eyes shut.”

“This is like school, which you hated. Learning something new?”

“I’m sure that is a huge part of it. It’s a big company. There are groups and cliques of people. I’m the outsider. I never have a problem talking with people.”

Her brother was more outgoing than her and always had been. “That’s right. So what is the issue?”

“I think I’m not fitting in as quickly. Or maybe it’s the fact I don’t know anyone here. If I started a new job at home, I still had friends to go out and do things with.”

“That’s right,” she said. “You’ve always made friends quickly. I don’t have that in my nature and never did. Why not ask someone you like there to get a drink after work one night?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. I’m getting a feel for who is married or single. I don’t want to be the guy to ask some married dude out and get him in trouble with his wife.”

She laughed. “Not sure why you are worried about that. I’d think they’d say no if they can’t.”

“I’m not doubting my move. Don’t think that,” Kellen said.

“But in the back of your mind it’s such a major change that you are wondering why you did it?”

“A little. It will be fine. Tell me more about you and Zander.”

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