Page 63 of The Fun Part
“I’m going to get a beer.” His voice is flat, devoid of all emotion.
He leaves. My stomach drops. What do I say? He told me he wasn’t good at relationships, so it’s true I wouldn’t want to push for that.
Harper gives me a look filled with pity. “You know, I think you could learn a lot from reading romance.”
I drop my head in my hands and groan. “Not helpful.”
15
I’m fine. I’m really, really fine. Ugh, I’m so not fine. It’s been a week, and I can’t stop replaying what happened with Cal at Happy Endings. He stayed away for the rest of the night, drinking his beer at the bar, talking to Aunt Charlotte and Aunt Lauren. And now he’s ghosted me. Won’t return my calls or texts. I’m not going to beg.
What does he expect me to say?I’m sorry, I actually would like to be in a relationship with you. Is that what he wants? He sure has a funny way of showing it.
How can I make this better? Then I remember we made a deal. He said he’d do the fake-dating thing, and in return, I’d get his sister, Sutton, to move here for a job. That has to get him to talk to me again. Besides, I’ve been wanting Sutton in a larger role.
“Mackenzie, thoughts?” Nathan asks.
We’re having an in-office meeting, and I’m spacing out, convincing myself I’m fine. “New client wants more hands-on from you. Let’s work up the scope and billable hours.”
Nathan and Owen exchange a look. “Yes, but,” Nathan says slowly, “I’m asking what you think about me moving to anapartment in the city to build my network with the financial sector. Now that we’ve snagged one client, it could help. A lot goes on after hours in the city. It would mean I’d be less available for these in-person meetings.”
“And so he can meet women,” Owen adds helpfully.
“Would you shut up about that?” Nathan says with no real heat. “Meeting women has never been a problem for me.”
“Ah, but therightwoman could require a larger pool to choose from,” Owen says. He’s one of those happily married people who thinks everyone should get married. I’d find it irritating if I weren’t so happy for him and Shayla.
“I thought you loved your house in Eastman,” I say.
“I do,” Nathan says. “I decided to keep it as a place to take a break from the city.”
“Sure.” Sometimes I forget he comes from money. He’s an only child with a trust fund. His family founded a major financial services company generations ago. That company isn’t our client because Nathan’s dad, while tolerant of his son’s entrepreneurism, ultimately expects him to join the family company. In other words, he’s not making it easy on Nathan. All the connections Nathan has with the financial sector have been with the sons and daughters of his dad’s friends. That younger generation is more open to tech security as a priority.
I nod. “We’ll make do with you on video calls, emails, texts.”
“Great.”
“I’d like to bring Sutton on in a larger role,” I say. “If she accepts my offer, we’d have her here in person a couple of days a week as an office manager with the potential to grow into a client manager for new-client setup and outreach to existing clients. She’s fast and accurate researching new clients and industries. A real asset to the team.”
“You want her to move here?” Owen asks. “Can we afford that? Cost-of-living raise plus a greater role means more money.”
“And benefits,” Nathan says. “She wouldn’t be a contractor anymore.”
“Since we didn’t lose that client to a conflict of interest, and with Nathan’s new client and a few cost-saving measures, I think she’ll pay for herself in six months.”
“What cost-saving measures?” Nathan asks.
“I’m working on locking in the rent here in exchange for a longer lease, and bumping our rates for new clients.”
“Finance clients can afford it,” Nathan says. “But it’s no guarantee I can bring them in.”
“Half those guys are friends of your dad’s,” Owen says. “They’re an easy reach, and I don’t know why you were so against approaching them in the first place.”
“Because I wanted to stand on my own two feet like you,” Nathan says. “Now that we’re more established, it makes sense to branch out.”
“If it doesn’t work out with Sutton’s additional cost, I’ll take a pay cut,” I say.
Owen and Nathan stare at me like I’m crazy.
