Page 1 of Undeniable You

Chapter One

Jo

When I got the email that my rent was going up, again, I just burst out laughing. Not because it was funny. No, it was the exact opposite.

Just another hit in a series of financial blows that I’d been nailed with in the past few months. First, my car needed new brakes, new tires, and a new battery, then I got a letter about my financial aid. They’d made an “error” and oops, they’re not giving me as much as they initially said they would, too bad so sad.

My meticulously planned budget spreadsheet was up in flames and it was time for something drastic to get me out of this hole. My cards were already maxed out and that documentary I’d seen about online sex work didn’t inspire me that I’d be able to meet with success.

“Fuckkkkk, I need a job,” I said as I sat at brunch with my best friends. We’d commandeered a huge outdoor table at one of our favorite spots that was thankfully covered with an awning. The food was excellent, but the company was better.

Just a year ago we hadn’t needed so many chairs, but our group had grown now to include not just my friends, but their partners as well.

Cade and Eloise had decided to join us, since Eloise was on a break between writing her bestselling romance novels and before another movie started filming and she got to wear her executive producer hat. Once upon a time, Cade had been her assistant, but now they were practically wrapped around each other.

Next to them were Hunter and Stace, who was yawning after her night shift as a volunteer firefighter. She leaned against Hunter who pushed a cup of coffee in front of Stace and kept poking her awake.

Reid was usually the tired one, but since she’d cut down on her bartending shifts, she was a lot less tired but no less grumpy. Fortunately, her girlfriend Sophie was the personification of a ray of sunshine and had enough brightness and positivity for both of them. They’d only been seeing each other for a short time, but I couldn’t have chosen anyone better to love my friend Reid. If you looked up “opposites attract,” you’d find a picture of the two of them.

These women were the people I went to when things were good and when they were bad and right now, things were pretty bad.

“I’m fresh out,” Reid said, and Sophie smacked her on the arm.

Cade bounced excitedly in her seat. “If you want to be an author assistant, I swear it’s not that hard. I can teach you everything.” That was a possibility, but I didn’t know if I had enough focus left over after I used all of it on school this year. And I still had two online summer classes I had to get through.

I listened as suggestions burst from everyone’s mouth at once. Some reasonable and some not so reasonable.

“You know,” Sophie said once everyone else had talked over each other and tossed out their ideas, “I might have something for you.”

I sat up, interested in what she had to say.

“You know my friend, Larison? Well, she needs a nanny for the summer for her daughter. She’s five.” I knew of Larison. We’d never met, but I’d heard so much about her from Reid and Sophie I felt like I had.

“She’s kind of desperate since she’s so busy with the bookshop.” Now I remembered. Larison was opening up a romance bookstore in the city, which I personally thought was a fantastic idea and would absolutely be patronizing if I ever had enough disposable income again.

“Right,” I said. It was one of the most reasonable ideas that my friends had put forth. I loved working with kids, which was why I was going to grad school to become a reading and literacy teacher, and why I’d gotten my undergrad in early childhood education. Teaching the next generation to read was one of the most important jobs on the planet as far as I was concerned, so being a nanny was already in my wheelhouse. I still had to find out what the pay and the hours were, but it was a solid lead.

“Let her know I’m interested,” I told Sophie, who gave me a bright smile.

“You’re so helpful,” Reid said, grabbing Sophie’s attention and kissing her. Being the only single one with a bunch of couples was something I was used to at this point, but it still hurt a little being surrounded by so much love and romantic bliss.

I was fine on my own. Having a relationship right now would be the worst timing in the entire world. Going to Sapph on nights when Reid was working to get free drinks was as good as it got when it came to flirting and dating. Sometimes I’d dance, but most of the time I’d watch from afar and imagine a future where I had a good job and a wife and maybe some kids. Two dogsand a yard and bake sales and matching Christmas pajamas and mess and love and chaos. I desperately wanted all of that. Just not right now. I had other things to get accomplished first.

We all finished our drinks, stacked the empty plates, hugged goodbye, and promised we’d all get together soon.

“You wanna come over?” Reid asked me. She and Sophie had finally given up their respective apartments and got one together after looking at every single available apartment in the city and some outside of it. For a grump, Reid had been surprisingly picky when it came to apartments. She’d even rejected a place in my building for not having the right “vibes,” although she could never specify what vibes it was supposed to have. Thankfully, they’d found an adorable place just a short walk from mine so now we got to see each other more often.

I had just finished up finals and was only taking two classes this summer that hadn’t started yet, so I had a bit of breathing room. It was strange after having to be so focused on school to have a little bit of freedom. I didn’t really trust it. Too many hours in the day that weren’t scheduled. I’d have to actually keep up with my laundry. The horror.

“I shouldn’t,” I said, but the lure of being away from my messy apartment was too great. Plus, Reid and Sophie always had something sweet and or chocolate hanging around and they never minded when I helped myself.

The three of us walked back toward their place, Reid muttering about tourists under her breath while Sophie patiently listened and swung their joined hands.

They really were cute as hell.

Someday I’d listen while the woman I loved complained about tourists as I held her hand, but that day was far in the future. I had to get my life together first.

Reid and Sophielet me hang out, eat cupcakes, and browse through their combined library for a while, but when they started giving each other heated looks, I knew it was time to go home.

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