Page 23 of Worth the Fall

She laughed. It sounded so free and joyful. And I was instantly happy that I hadn’t known her when she wasn’t either of those two things. I had a feeling it would have made me very angry to see her shine dulled.

“No. I don’t have an issue with alcohol. It was all Bella’s fault anyway. She was practicing her new drink recipes on me and my best friend, Lana.”

I’d known Bella since she was a kid. Her older brother was one of Matthew’s closest friends. It was crazy to think about Bella not only being old enough to drink alcohol legally, but to serve it as well.

“She’s a good kid,” I said.

“Not really a kid anymore.” Brooklyn grinned.

“Well, listen, I am very sorry for accusing you, judging you, and being unreasonable earlier. If you can give me more than ten minutes, I’d like to conduct a proper interview now.”

“Better get started then.”

That damn mouth.

POSITION ACCEPTED

BROOKLYN

Iwas insane. Certifiably not thinking clearly. It was the only reason why I would have accepted the job on the spot the way I just had. Thomas and I shook hands, and then I was in my car, heading to my job at Kleinfeld’s, where I was about to give my two weeks’ notice.

Thomas O’Grady was as infuriating as he was hot. Which was saying a lot because that man could set fire to an igloo. And as much as I wanted to despise him for all the verbal jousting we’d done, it kind of thrilled me. It was the most excitement I’d had in my life in months. And that fact was embarrassing all on its own.

I refused to read into the personal questions he’d asked me and the way that he’d taken my side when I answered. It was all too overwhelming to even think about, so I shoved it somewhere deep down inside of me, where I could obsess over it later.

Putting my car in park, I shut the engine off and sucked in a steadying breath before heading through the glass doors of Kleinfeld’s office. I didn’t have specific office hours, but I still feltlateand knew that I’d be judged for it. I rarely came in after ten, unless I had an appointment off-site somewhere. My boss, Felicia, would know that nothing was on my calendar for this morning since she had access to it.

“Brooklyn,” she said as I entered, glancing at the watch on her wrist.

“I know. I’m sorry. Do you have a second to talk?” I said, hoping my voice wasn’t coming out as shaky as my knees currently were.

Why is quitting a job so damn terrifying?

She gave me a questioning look before waving a hand toward her office. I entered first, sitting across from her pristine white desk. It was a stark contrast to the one I’d just been sitting in front of only a few minutes earlier. When Felicia sat down facing me, neither one of us said anything.

“Well, out with it,” she insisted.

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