Page 27 of Roommate's Guide to Love

“Where are the interviews at?”

Does she really have them? Or is she lying to save face? Most importantly, who does she think would hire her? Not because she’s not qualified. I’m sure she would be. But this is the woman who once somehow coordinated a town-wide event when every phone rang at the same time for an hour straight. It drove the chamber of commerce businesses nuts.

“I don’t want to jinx them,” she says. “You’ll know when I walk into The Joint tonight and order a celebratory cocktail.”

“I like the confidence,” I say. “And you know what? When you get that job, that drink will be on the house. I’ll even throw in an order of chicken wings. Sound good?”

I’ve always loved flustering Quinn. But rarely do I get to see her face turning red in the middle of the day.

“I appreciate that, but now that I’m back in town, I don’t think I should have wings anymore. Actually, I think I’m going to become a vegetarian.”

This makes me laugh as I pick up a piece of bacon for extra emphasis. “Whatever you say, darlin’. Whatever you say.”

guide to love rule #31

The world would be better off if

we didn’t need jobs.

Or men.

8

quinn

“So,Quinn, why do you want to work at Rolling Hills Credit Union?”

I don’t want to work here, Lacey. Just like I’m sure you didn’t want to marry the douchebag who knocked you up at seventeen, but here we are.

That’s what I want to say. It’s on the tip of my tongue before I pull it back.

Actually, want is the last word I’d use to describe my intent for this job. I hate numbers. In my experience, math usually doesn’t math. It’s why I teach words. And I surely don’t want to work for Lacey. I can tell she’s trying to put on a professional face, but she and I both know that we didn’t get along in high school. It might’ve been because I started a rumor she had a sixth toe. In my defense, she was bullying my chemistry lab partner. And I wasn’t having that shit. She was a nice girl and did all the hard work while I did anything she asked me to because I knew she was carrying my ass.

But this is a job interview, I need money, and Rolling Hills Credit Union is one of the few places hiring. But I didn’t know that I’d be working for Six Toes McGee.

However, the biggest reason I need this job is because I may have…possibly….perhaps…stretched the truth a bit this morning when I told Porter I had interviews.

As in plural.

I have one interview. This interview. So I can’t fuck it up. I can’t start my temporary relocation in Rolling Hills having to admit that I lied, or worse—admit defeat, to Porter McCoy.

It’ll lead to sex. I just know it.

Which means that right now I need to suck it up, put on my big girl panties, and lie through my teeth to Lacey about how much I’d justloveto work here.

“Rolling Hills Credit Union is where I had my first bank account,” I say, hoping my touching anecdote will charm her.

“We all did, Quinn,” Lacey says, a touch of condescension in her voice. I’m going to go out on a limb to say she remembers the sixth toe thing.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I scramble to figure out what I can say that will get me the job without completely lying. So I just kind of lie. “But why do I want to work here? I’m all for local businesses, and working for one is a nice thought. Plus, since I’ve been away, I’m out of touch with a lot of people. This might be a great place to see some familiar faces and help them with their banking needs in the process.”

“Interesting to assume people want to catch up withyou.”

Yup. Definitely remembers the sixth toe thing.

And this right here is why living in Rolling Hills is only going to be temporary. Because no matter how many minds I’ve molded, or how much I’ve tamed my crazy ways from my teenage years, I’m always going to be the troublemaker of the Banks clan.

See, we all had our roles. Teachers knew them. People around town. Each of our reputations preceded us.

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