Page 4 of Knot a Good Idea

“April. You said you did the math.”

My mom is right. She’s always been smart and business savvy, but the idea of letting my friends go…

“Devyn can find a job anywhere, April,” she continues.

I shake my head. “There has to be another way.”

“There is no other way, honey. I don’t want to do this—but we’re bleeding money. All of our costs have gone up, and?—”

“Then fire me.”

Mom blinks. “What?”

“Let me go, give Devyn my job, and just halve Jamie and Luke’s hours.”

“April, I’m not doing that?—”

“We both know I haven’t been a good manager since…sincethen.”

She shakes her head. “That’s not happening. You need the stability of this job, and Skylar wouldn’t allow it either.”

“I don’tcarewhat anyone allows. We can’t let Devyn go.” My voice cracks. “She’s done too much, and you know it.”

Mom sighs. “I don’t know how we could keep her, April. I promise, I looked for other ways. I’ve run it by the accountant, too. It’s not financially viable.”

A lump forms in my throat so big I’m unable to talk through it. I just shake my head and look away, blinking away tears.

This is my fault. Devyn had to step up while I was gone, and when I came back, I couldn’t drive sales enough to cover her payroll.

And Luke and Jamie have done more than pull their weight these last few months—letting either of them go feels awful.

“I’ll try again,” my mom says gently. “Okay? I’ll run the numbers one more time, and we’ll touch base about this again in a week.”

I nod, knowing it’s pointless.

The numbers will be the same a week later.

There has to be a way to save Devyn, Luke, and Jamie.

I just need to figure out how.

2

APRIL

“You need to get out more,”my therapist says. “And it’s not just a ‘you should.’ It’s turned into a ‘youneedto,’ April.”

I huff as I sit on the sofa across from Sandy, knowing she’s right but not wanting to admit it. I am grateful for her honesty, though—she’s possibly the most genuine person in my life right now. She’s an older Omega with greying hair, an olive complexion, and dark brown knowing eyes.

Sandy doesn’t take bullshit from me. Even from our first session, she was upfront about the work we would be doing.

Still, that doesn’t mean I have to be thrilled that she’s telling me what I need to hear.

“Idogo out,” I reply stubbornly.

“Beyondwork,” Sandy insists, crossing one leg over the other in her swivel chair. “Even if it’s just going out with Skylar. It doesn’t have to be anywhere triggering—even to the bookstore would be beneficial. We all need human interaction.”

It’s not that Sandy’s wrong—I just don’t want to listen to her.

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