Page 12 of Sack

As promised, she’d spent the day researching Colt’s Kids, and discovered its online presence was sorely lacking. Other than a bare-bone website and an unimpressive Facebook page, there was nothing else. No Twitter. No Instagram. No LinkedIn. Ivy was amazed he got any funding at all.

“Where are you off to so dressed up?” Jason came stumbling out of his room in a pair of basketball shorts, no shirt, and mussed hair.

She had a flashback to when they were teens. He’d been just as lazy then as he was now. And not for lack of their parents trying. Growing up in the suburbs with parents who made decent money, they’d had every advantage. They’d been constantly on Jason to try out for sports or to join a club, but he wanted no part of the high school social scene. Jason liked to blame his lack of fitting in on his sexual orientation, but Ivy knew better. He just lacked motivation. Not that she could talk, she hadn’t been Miss Social Butterfly herself, but at least she’d participated in school activities—even if they were of the nerdy variety. Computer lab and yearbook committee had been her claim to high school fame.

Things hadn’t improved in college either. He went from lazing around the house to partying all night. To this day, Ivy wasn’t sure how he ever graduated. If it hadn’t been for Charlie, he probably wouldn’t have. He had kept Jason on the straight and narrow, for a time at least. Until shit had all come crashing down and Jason had reverted to his unproductive ways. Charlie had been a love story and a tragedy all rolled into one and someone who was never talked about.

“Have you been sleeping?” It was hard to miss the accusation in Ivy’s tone as she eyed him up and down.

He went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and came out with a beer. “Don’t look at me like that,” he said after taking a long pull.

“You’re supposed to be looking for a job.”

“And I did. This morning. Before I came home and took a nap.” He shrugged as though that explained everything.

And to Jason, it probably did.

“Just promise me you won’t give up.”

“I don’t plan to. I have an interview lined up for tomorrow.” He eyed her again. “You never answered my question.”

“I have a business meeting.”

His brow rose. “This late?”

“Yes, unlike you, the person I’m meeting with works all day.”

“Fuck you. Why the bitchy attitude?”

Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a long breath. “I’m sorry.” And she was. “You know I get quarrelsome when I’m nervous.”

“What’s to be nervous about? Either you get it, or you don’t.”

And that attitude right there was the reason she’d gotten upset he was sleeping and not out looking for a job. “This is a big deal. If I land this account, it could pave the way for bigger things in the future.”

That got his interest. “Yeah? Who’s it for?”

“P. Colton.”

Both eyebrows raised at that revelation. “Are you shitting me?”

Ivy shook her head. “He’s looking to up the media presence for his charity, Colt’s Kids.”

“Never heard of it.”

Ivy wasn’t surprised, but it did make her wonder how many others never have either. “But you have heard of Colt and how influential he is so you get how big this could be for me if I land the account.”

“Colt, now, is it?” That damn one eyebrow again.

“You know it’s nothing like that.”

“Why not? He’s a good-looking guy, and you’re passably cute.”

“Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ivy rolled her eyes.

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