Page 14 of Unforgettable

I vetted him for you. He’s gay. Out and proud. He’s already in Vermont but is looking for a new place and new job, hopefully you can search for those things together.

It was so unlike me to reach out to a stranger, but if there was one thing that could trump my awkwardness, it was my need to leave Seattle and have one last summer to myself before I returned home.

One text message was the beginning of an unexpected, but very much appreciated, friendship. It didn’t matter that it was just a few months of texts and calls, Davey Murphy came into my life at the exact time I needed him most.

We were opposites, yet somehow, we clicked. It didn’t matter to me that he was loud and boisterous and so full of life, and it didn’t matter to him that I would rather blend into the crowd than stand out and be noticed. We fit. And after breaking up with my boyfriend of two years, Murph’s effervescent personality was exactly what I needed to help me get over a bruised and battered heart.

Together, we searched endlessly for places to live and work.

Doing something new and on my own, gave me a high like no other. While I had been living in Seattle, attending the University of Washington, my parents bankrolling my accommodation and schooling really did eliminate the potential of any true independence.

This was going to be different. Even though my parents had never taken away access to my monthly allowance, I was determined to forget I had it. I was going to stand on my own two feet. The only thing I hadn’t anticipated was how hard it would be to do that.

Unfortunately, when I arrived in Vermont, we were told by the landlord that we couldn’t move into our apartment straight away. This meant Murph temporarily stayed with a friend and I stayed in a motel in Colebury.

I had offered Murph to stay with me, but he was cautious about how much it would cost and didn’t want to eat into his savings. I understood his desire for independence, and I also knew as much as I hated it, I could ask my parents to cover the cost. Which is the exact reason I told him about the job I’d seen advertised on the Vino and Veritas website, instead of taking it for myself.

I wasn’t strapped for cash, I was desperate for distance, and the latter wasn’t anywhere near as important as making sure Murph felt financially safe and secure.

And truth be told, if I hadn’t been alone at the motel while Murph was working, I would have never taken the plunge and met up with Oz.

And missing out on a night of sex with Oz would’ve been an absolute tragedy.

“Excuse me,” Murph whines, halting my mind from running off in the direction of inappropriate thoughts. “Are you even listening to me?”

“What? Yeah,” I lie.

He rolls his eyes at me knowingly. “So, you heard me telling you that there’s a job opening at Vino and Veritas?”

“What?” I shout excitedly, practically jumping off the couch. “Is this a joke?”

“Well, it’s just an interview,” he says cautiously. “But I told Harrison he would be straight up stupid not to hire you.”

“God,” I say, a little deflated. “I hope you really didn’t call the owner stupid.”

He waves his hand at me. “Honestly, I can’t remember. You know how fast the words leave my mouth.”

Chuckling, I seat my ass back on the couch. “Okay, so when’s the interview?”

“Friday, ten am.”

Unable to contain both my excitement and gratitude, I throw my arms around him, hugging his small frame. “Thank you so much.”

He hugs me back. “What are friends for?”

* * *

“And you’re available to start straight away?” Harrison asks as we step out of his office.

“Wait. What?” I turn my head to look at a smiling Harrison. “I got the job?”

“Considering Murph threatened me if I didn’t give it to you,” he jokes. “I figured I wouldn’t keep you hanging for too long.”

“Oh my god.” I place my hand over my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

Harrison nudges me. “I’m only kidding. I’m hiring you because you’re more than qualified. Volunteering at the university’s library for the duration of your degree pretty much solidifies you’re the perfect fit for us here.”

I adjust my glasses. “This is probably the first time the book nerd vibe has worked for me.”

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