Page 8 of In a Pinch

With a heavy sigh, I slouch back in my chair, waiting for that sign I asked for to do something, or for a ding to go off on my email. That doesn’t happen, but my timer does go off, letting me know it's time to get the dough ready to rise.

I pull the cinnamon rolls out of the oven right as Kelly walks through the door with her shadow, also known as Kyler. At least one of us is getting laid on a regular basis. I have all but sworn off men until I can get my shit together. A classic Addie relationship is the last thing I need right now.

“Smells amazing in here! What are you making?” Kelly asks.

“Thanks, I’ve been making cinnamon rolls. You guys are welcome to have some if you'd like?” I offer.

“Ooooh, I love your cinnamon rolls! Did you make the brown sugar cream cheese frosting?”

I’ve literally never made them without them.

“Of course, they wouldn't be my cinnamon rolls without it.” A smile finds my face. It’s always nice when someone else enjoys your favorite foods.

She watches as I drizzle the frosting across the top of the steaming, hot cinnamon rolls. I could do this when they are cooled off, but I love the way the frosting becomes a glaze and seeps into every crevice. My mouth starts to water just at the sight of them. It doesn't help that the smell of freshly baked bread swirled with cinnamon has been circulating about the apartment this morning. Honestly, if they made this exact smell a candle, I'd buy a never-ending supply.

After dishing each of us a roll and grabbing plates, forks, and napkins, because this can get extremely messy, I take a seat at the kitchen bar. Both of them are acting a little weird, making long glances at each other. They almost seem nervous. I wrote it off as a fight when I first caught wind of the awko-taco behavior between the two of them, but it's ruining the vibe now, and I don't like it. Bad vibes and cinnamon rolls just don’t go together.

“So, what have you guys been up to lately?” I ask, needing to fill the awkward silence with something, even if it is just slightly less awkward conversation. They usually don’t stick around long, even if I make food. If Kyler is here, they go to her room. Maybe it’s just me feeling uncomfortable with them.

While she and I aren’t close now, part of me had hoped that maybe we would become besties; that she could merge with me and Isla, and we could have our “Friends” female trio moment. But she and I just don’t quite vibe that way. She is incredibly kind, but we just never shared that connection that I had wished for. Our conversations are often filled with long silences. Apparently, the only thing we have in common is our job title.

“Oh, not much. Actually, I came home today to ask you something.”

There it is.

“Oh?” Is all that I can think to ask because we aren't the favors type, apart from unplugging left-on curling irons. Well, on the odd chance she's home to do it for me.

“Well, we have been spending a lot of time together, and we realized we are ready to move in together.” Oh, so she wants to move out? Perfect. Now, I'll either be stuck being the third wheel in my own apartment, or stuck paying double the rent while jobless. Perfect. Just perfect.

Oh?” Once again, this is the only word that I can get out through the roar of panic in my brain.

“Yeah, and well, since Kyler still lives with his parents, we would have to live here. However, I'd be more comfortable if we could live here by ourselves.” Ah yes, because her comfort is all that matters.

I blink at her before bursting out laughing. Honestly, what the fuck else is life going to throw at me? I genuinely cannot believe this is my life right now. It takes me a minute to gather myself. She and her lover boy eye each other nervously, and I’m just hanging on to my last bit of sanity with a vice grip.

“Ohhhhhkay. Well, um, I am going to need a bit to figure my life out because I am jobless as of a week ago, and that unfortunately, doesn’t look good on apartment applications.”

“Oh no! I am so sorry. I wouldn't have asked if I’d known!” Genuine worry fills her face, and I feel bad for being an ass about her wanting to live with Kyler. Even he looks like he feels bad. We are in our mid-twenties. So, it’s not like this wasn’t a possibility at some point.

Waving my hands at her to dismiss her worry, I say, “Don’t worry about it. I'm working on it. Can I let you know in a few days if this will work?”

“No rush,” Kelly says, and Kyler nods his head in agreement.

I was looking for a sign, but I wasn't expecting life to bitch-slap me with it. How rude.

Chapter Four

Addie

My phone dings and a series of events happens: I read the message from Tyler; my eyes bug out of my head; and my phone drops into the soapy sink after my brain short circuits from the information I just read.

This is too good to be true, right? The new, hotshot lawyer must really be something because I was just offered a job making $15,000 more a year, better benefits, and more paid time off. Remind me to never ask life for a sign again. Or maybe I should, if it’s this good? It’s not the promotion I dreamed of, but for a lateral movement, I don’t think I could get better than this.

Quickly fetching my phone from the soapy water, I set it in some rice to get the water out of it. The last thing I need isto waste my savings on a new phone. Everything appears to be working fine, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

My stool slides against the linoleum floor as I pull up closer to my bar countertop and drag my laptop over. If I have no job inquiries on my LinkedIn page, I will take the offer. I am letting the fates decide.

Ugh, who am I? Unemployment has made me a wild animal. I don’t do shit on a whim. Ever. It makes my skin crawl. However, the situation I'm currently in isn’t feeling so comfy either.

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