Page 64 of Is It Casual Now?

“The only way to eat pizza.”

“For you maybe.” Jessie laughed, and the quiet that settled over them was the comforting blanket of their relationship.

“What happened?” Jessie asked.

“I need to start looking for a new job.”

“Oh shit.” Jessie sat up, twisting around to stare at Jamie. “They fired you? I should have known. For you to take a sick day.”

“They didn’t fire me.” Jamie stopped Jessie before she could continue any more with the rant. “Yet.”

“Yet?” Jessie stared at Jamie, eyes bugged. “What makes you think they’re going to fire you?”

“Because I’m never going to get this interview. And my boss told me that if I didn’t get it, he’d fire me.”

“The one with Bunny and Piper?” Jessie looked confused, and Jamie sat up and faced her sister.

“Yes.” She gave Jessie a quick rundown on what happened and then lay back down.

“Why don’t you think she’s going to follow through with the dates?”

“Because it’s what she’s been doing for like two months now.” Jamie opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Even the popcorn plaster mocked her. Her own ceiling at home was stained with spiderweb cracks. But Jessie’s was pristine, and Jamie could have even put money on the fact it had been repainted recently.

“What she’s been doing?”

“Yep.” Jamie didn’t move. She couldn’t be bothered. “She puts on more and more conditions. She wants one meeting and then another meeting. She even mentioned that soon they’d be too busy for an interview. I read they were doing a Christmas charity event, but they haven’t even announced dates for concerts next year. Butshemakes it seem like there aren’t going to be any viable times, and I know it’ll go back and forth until whoops it’s now too late. And as soon as my boss finds out I don’t have the interview, I’m going to be gone.”

“Is that really such a bad thing?”

“Well, despite what you might think, I like having a roof over my head and food to eat. Beer is also a definite necessity.” Jamie pointed at the empty bottles on the coffee table. Another one didn’t sound like a half-bad idea either.

“Sure, I get that. But there are other places you could work.”

From the corner of her eye, Jamie saw Jessie’s head turn toward her. She didn’t turn her own, she didn’t need to, and she wasn’t sure she could meet her sister’s eyes with the thoughts in her head and the words that wanted to escape.

“Yeah, I know technically I could. But everywhere I would want to work wouldn’t hire me. Not after everything that’s happening with the goddamn manager mafia. And even the not as sought-after places know I’m not worth employing.” Jamie knew she was being mopey and unhelpful when all Jessie was trying to do was help.

But the afternoon had left her deflated. Everything about Siena had been so different, so off from the woman she had gotten to know since the tapas bar. And it had thrown Jamie, despite how much she had to tried to hide that from Siena.

“And you really think that because she no longer wants to get all freaky with you that she won’t send potential interview times?”

“I don’t think she ever intended to set up the interview withthem. I know she hasn’t told them about the opportunity. And now that she’s gone all frosty on me since the other day? No, I really don’t think she’ll allow it to happen. She’s too fucking controlling.”

“That’s bullshit, James. I’m sorry.” Jessie yawned, and her eyes turned away from boring holes into the side of Jamie’s head.

“Thanks.” Jamie closed her eyes again, the beer and pizza helping relax her body. Sleep pulled at her, and the comfort of her sister being close did nothing to dissuade.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Jessie interrupted the perfect near sleep with her question.

“How do you sound so awake again when two seconds ago you were yawning?” Jamie snorted. “I want a sleepover, by the way. Your apartment is so much better than mine.”

“It’s problem-solving time.”

“Oh fuck off.” Jamie groaned as Jessie jumped to her feet and rounded the coffee table to stand at the end of Jamie’s body.

“Come on.”

Jamie stared at the hands Jessie offered out in front of her.

---