Page 28 of Chasing Stars
“Nope.” I shake my head, a giggle escaping. “I definitely just thought you worked here.”
“Well, now you know!” Joy hops onto her stool. “So, when can you start?”
I let out a laugh. “Does tomorrow work?”
Joy laughs with me, which I appreciate. If she only knew.
“So, most of the time, weekdays are really slow. It is the off-season after all. I’d like to have you work Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays, if that would work for you?”
I shake my head. “To be honest, anything works for me.”
“Great!” Joy takes the application and shoves it under the counter. “I’m not even going to have you fill this out. Just put your number in my phone.”
I do as she asks and hand the phone back to her.
“Yay!” Joy squeals, her enthusiasm is contagious. “I’m so excited. Tomorrow you can come in and I’ll train you on the register. You’ll never be working alone, my older brother, Leo, works here too, so one of us will always be around to help you.”
“Great. That’s great.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Ten a.m.” Joy grins.
“I’ll be here.” I smile. “Thanks, Joy. You’re really helping me out.”
“Anytime, Jenna. Andyou’rethe one helping me out.” She winks. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I step outside and immediately feel a little bit lighter.
I got a job.
Now there’s just one thing left to do—deal with Miles.
14
MILES
Jenna’s at my office door when I return from my new client meeting, and immediately I sense something is wrong. Her brown eyes flash with something like frustration, and she exhales out of her nose like she’s trying to keep her cool.She looks mad?I clear my throat, drape my sport coat over the chair, and set my bag down, bracing myself.
“Jenna,” I say cautiously. “I wasn’t expecting you. I called the extermin?—”
“Miles. What the hell?”Definitely mad. At me.
From his desk, Nate coughs and pushes back in his chair. “I’m just going to get a late lunch,” he says to no one in particular. We ignore him.
“What’s wrong?” I step closer to her, concern tightening my chest.
“What’s wrong?” she bellows. “You paid for my car, Miles. What. The. Fuck?” Jenna pulls out the chair in front of my desk and drops into it.She’s hot when she’s angry.
“I was being nice,” I offer. “I thought it would be a relief. You don’t have to pay me back.”
“Don’t have to pay you back? Miles, ofcourseI have to pay you back.” Jenna gives me a stern look, folding her arms across her chest.
“Fine. Pay me back, then. Venmo me right now.” I sit down on the other side of my desk.
“I will,” she mumbles.
“Okay, great.” I put my hands behind my head and lean back in my chair, smiling at her smugly.
She straightens and looks at me, her expression softer now. After a deep breath, she says, “Just…Whydid you do that, Miles? I told you I can take care ofmyself. I don’t need a white knight.” She huffs, folding her arms across her chest. Her frustration with me is real. I can’t help wondering if anyone has ever done anything nice for her or taken care of her for that matter. I’m fighting every instinct I have to walk around the desk, unfold her arms and wrap her in a hug, among other things.
