Page 108 of Betting on the Brainiac

I glance up to the corner where I talked myself into believing I’d found the one true kiss because it kept me safe from any real risk and over to the stockroom where Oliver and I became cat parents together.

Kaitlyn is wrong about one thing: I’m not in love with those kittens because it’s a short-term situation. They’ve got my heart, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to let anyone else take them.

I face the deejay booth again, a quiet realization settling over me. Even though I’m the only one in this massive space, I’ve . . . outgrown it.

I do it on autopilot. When I’ve recharged over the last few weeks, it wasn’t by coming in and being productive at a job I’ve mastered. It was through looking forward to seeing the cats. Andhearing Oliver’s excuses for needing to check on them in my office. And . . . Oliver.

Are Kaitlyn and Oliver right? Am I living a smaller life than I should be? I’d planned to be in a holding pattern until I got my trust, and then I’d make big moves. BIG moves. Moves that . . .

Moves that Oliver said don’t commit to anything into the future. Moves that correct a situation, not a system.

Is Kaitlyn, perfect daughter and Armstrong employee, the one who’s doing the real good here?

Kaitlyn has known me most of my life, but that doesn’t mean she knows me well. And Oliver has only known me for a couple of months. I need an objective opinion on this. An opinion from someone who knows me well and will tell me the truth.

I stop by the office and log into the computer long enough to write Heinrich a letter of resignation, promising him I already have a replacement in mind and that I’ll take as much time as needed to train her.

Then I get into my car and point it toward home.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Madison

When I walk intothe condo, Ava and Joey look up from their spot on the living room floor.

“Whoa, I thought you were still sleeping,” Ava says.

“Is that a microscope?” I ask, looking at the array of glass slides, tweezers, and eye droppers next to what is definitely a microscope. “Please tell me you’re not playing doctor in the living room.”

“We’re playing scientist, dummy,” Joey says.

“I’m showing him what different stuff looks like under magnification.”

“I looked at a dust mite,” Joey says. “I am not okay.”

“Come see,” Ava says.

“In a minute. I need to change.” I head upstairs, smiling at Ava’s weirdness. I love it. I’m halfway up when I spot someone sitting against my door. “Ruby?”

She gets to her feet. “Hey. I thought you were still in bed.”

“Were you guarding my door?” I ask as I climb the rest of the stairs.

“Kind of. My plan was to sit there until you agreed to talk to me.”

It almost makes me smile, but I’m not ready for that yet. There’s still some air to clear. “I don’t like what you did.”

Her face looks as miserable as I’ve felt since we fought. “I know. I wouldn’t do anything I thought would hurt you. I get how it looked to you, and I’m sorry.”

I open my door and crook my head for her to follow. “I understand why you thought you couldn’t tell me you were trying to win the bet, but I hate being moved around like a pawn.”

“Some of the greatest chess matches ever played were won by pawns.” Ruby catches sight of my face and adds, “Not the point. Right.”

I climb under my covers and curl up. Don’t know how I could ever have fallen asleep on a sofa when this mattress waits for me every night.

Ruby settles across from me, atop the quilt, and rests her head on her hand. “But also, it wasn’t about winning the bet. The bets were never about winning the bets. I would have given Sami back her parking spot except I didn’t have to because now she uses Josh’s extra.”

“So are you not going to trade rooms with Ava?”

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