Page 49 of The Fallacy of True Love
“Yet,” Eric said.
I transferred my death stare to him. “I haven’t heard you apologizing.”
“Technically, I wasn’t the one who talked. I was an innocent listener.”
“As if you didn’t have your own thoughts about the topic,” Nikki teased.
“You guys are so annoying,” I grumbled. “Luckily, I know the perfect way you can make it up to me.”
“You can’t have my daughter,” Nikki said immediately.
I reared back. “As much as I love Jo, I don’t want a kid right now.”
“How much do you need?” Eric asked.
“I’m not taking money from you.”
“A job then?”
I sighed. “Yep. Carlson killed my contract yesterday.”
They both gawked at me.
“Seriously?” Nikki grabbed my elbow. “I’m so sorry, Cam.”
“The fuck were they doing, springing that on you two days before New Year’s?” Eric muttered.
“Right?” Nikki exclaimed. “So much for valuing loyalty.”
“I know.” In the span of twenty-four hours, I’d run through a spectrum of emotions, from shock and denial to depression and anger to, finally, acceptance and determination. I had also checked my bank account and figured I had two months of runway if I didn’t land any new projects. Less if an emergency came up.
As much as I hated it, I had to face the reality that I needed a full-time job, so I’d be guaranteed a steady stream of income. If I had extra money from side gigs, all the better.
It wasn’t my ideal scenario, but a girl had to be practical. I could deal with a full-time job so long as I got to do it from here.
“You’re hired,” Nikki said.
“Thanks, Nikki, but my original sentiment still stands. I’m applying for work in my field. I just need your help with—” I curled my lip. “Interviewing.”
“You need me to pretend I’m you? When’s the interview?” Nikki offered without missing a beat, and my chest swelled with gratitude at her complete willingness to help.
I took her hand and squeezed it. “If they hired me based on an interview with you, I’d never hold down that job. You’re way too nice.”
“I was going to say they wouldn’t hire you at all if Nikki did the interview,” Eric said.
She glared at him. “Hey.”
“Nix,” he said in a fond but firm tone. “You’re great at parenting, running a business, cooking…so many things. Computers aren’t one of those.”
“I already have too much to do as it is,” Nikki complained. “I’m not wasting my time messing up the computer when one of my best friends is a freaking whiz.”
“You don’t have to either,” I told her. “Thanks for the offer, but I have to do this myself. I just need some tips so they’ll actually like me. You know I suck at talking to people.”
“Only the ones you don’t want to talk to,” she said in my defense, ever the loyal friend.
“To be fair, that makes up the majority of the human population.”
Nikki nodded. “True. Ooh, we can do practice interviews!”
