Page 82 of The Jinglebell War
She sniffles again. “I’ll miss you too. You’re the best boss I’ve ever had.”
We talk about her exit strategy, and she leaves to take a group ice fishing.
I stare at my laptop screen for way too long. There’s no way I’m going to find a guide of her caliber before the corporate trip. I am so screwed.
Somehow, I get myself together enough to guide the hell out of the sunset snowshoe.
Barry goes along and has a ball, especially since everyone in the group adores her and loves all over her.
I stay way too late at my desk, sending out notices to everyone I know that I’m looking for a new guide. Then, I do the last thing I ever thought I would. I call in backup.
“Baby brother,” Mav says jovially. “Calling to apologize for storming out on Christmas?”
“Dad said you might be interested in working with me. Said you might like a job that gets you outdoors more.”
Mav is silent for several long moments. Mav is never silent.
“He was probably just fucking with me, trying to get me to move back there,” I say, giving my brother an out.
“He wasn’t fucking with you. I love my job, but if I have to spend another day under fluorescent lights, I might lose my mind.”
“I don’t know if you’ll like working for me any better, but I’ve just had a guide give me her two weeks’ notice and I’ve got an important client coming up. I need someone on staff who knows what they’re doing.”
“Holy shit, Garrick. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. What do you say? Want to come out here and give working for me a trial run? I can even make you head of marketing. Right now, it’s being run by a company out of Idaho.”
“Not sure I can handle living in the land of Christmas.”
“That’s why I’m calling it a trial run. What do you say? You know Mom and Dad will hold your job in case you hate it here.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks.” I hang up and send him information about what I can pay him and what benefits I can offer. My hopes aren’t high he’s going to accept, but I’m running out of options.
I need to grow this business no matter what it takes. For me, but also for my possible baby, and for Blue. I don’t want either of them to want for anything.
The idea of a potential baby doesn’t scare me like it used to. If it happens, I don’t think I’ll hate it. I want to settle down and start a family with the right person.
I just need to have my business and my finances in order to be the best dad and husband I can be.
And if that means doing some things Blue won’t necessarily like, I just have to hope she’ll eventually understand I’m doing what’s best for her, too.
Evergreen Expeditions can’t move forward as long as she’s mayor. She has to know that. And she can’t honestly enjoy being mayor when everyone’s against her.
She’s just too stubborn to walk away on her own. So, I’ll give her a little push.
Barry whines at my feet. She’s tired of being cooped up in my tiny office. “Yeah, it’s time to go.”
I pack everything up and we get in my truck and head for home. Except home’s not where I end up.
When I knock on Blue’s door, she doesn’t remind that the vacation is over. She doesn’t even give me crap about being addicted to her magic vagina, though I definitely am.
She just grabs me by my belt and drags me inside, opening the door wider to let Barry in, too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Blue
