Page 14 of An Unexpected Everything
I grimaced before taking a sip of my coffee. “They paid the best, and I don’t like change.”
Flynn met my gaze, and we both understood exactly what that meant.
“Frankly, my former boss is just like Blakely’s former boss. If I would’ve left, I wouldn’t have gotten a recommendation. And considering I started working for them right out of college, and even had my internship with them, that meant my entire resume would just be one man who didn’t appreciate me, and didn’t like me.”
“Lucky for you, you have family who needed you.”
“It still feels like a handout.”
“Maybe.” Flynn shrugged as we walked toward the back offices. “I was lucky enough to know I would always have a place here when I was growing up. We didn’t have to work for the company. But I liked it. I liked figuring out new ways to help small businesses, and I like to make money.” He shrugged again.
I burst out laughing. “At least you’re honest about it. And my job is to make sure that we’re doing it all legally.”
“I don’t mind that. Because we don’t do shady shit. And we’re glad to have you. Are you planning on coming to dinner tonight?”
I set my coffee cup on my desk and frowned. “Isn’t this just for you guys?”
“Should there really be an us versus them?” Flynn asked as he leaned against the door. “I mean, we should just have people who happen to be in town at dinner. I know that Kyler’s out of town, and Hudson’s coming in from Cage Lake. But if you’re around, you should join.”
“Is your mother going?” I asked dryly.
Flynn grimaced. “God no. Aston kicked her out, and I’m full on grateful.”
I fiddled with my purse before taking a seat. “And she let that happen? She’s not trying to get back in your life?”
“Maybe with her favorites, but I’ve never been her favorite,” he said but didn’t elaborate. “Are things okay with you and your mom?”
I wish I knew. “They’re the same as always. And I don’t really want to get into it at work.”
He gave a tight nod and straightened. “Got it. I didn’t mean to get so much into our feels. However, you’re welcome for dinner tonight. Blakely will be there.”
“Blakely will be where?” my best friend asked as she popped into my office. She had pulled her long blonde hair back, and grinned. She looked like a woman in love, happy, carefree. I wonder if I would’ve looked like that if Weston and I would’ve worked out.
Why the hell was I thinking about him? Maybe because he had just texted and was checking in. I didn’t like the fact that I had answered so quickly. Had lit up at the sight of his name. He was my past. Yes, he had been there when I needed him this weekend, but he wasn’t my future. And I would do well to remember that.
“I was just inviting Isabella here for dinner.”
“Oh, you should come.” Blakely smiled at me. “I mean, if you don’t have a date.”
I snorted, nearly dropping my coffee. “No. Not happening.” Of course, Weston’s face filled my mind, and I immediately pushed that away. Just because he texted didn’t mean anything was going to change. He had broken my heart after all. And we were far different people than we had been eight years ago.
Blakely jumped into the silence. “What’s that look? You’re thinking of someone.”
“I don’t even know you that well and I saw that look too,” Flynn put in.
“I don’t appreciate getting ganged up on. And there was no look. Come on. We have work to do. We may not be at my old place with taskmasters, but I should still probably get in a full eight hours.”
“Bossy,” Flynn said. “But that seems to be a family trait.”
“Tell me about it,” Blakely said with a blush.
I winced. “I really don’t need to think about things like that.”
“Yes. Please don’t putbossyandmy brotherin the same universe with whatever that look was, thank you,” Flynn added.
“I didn’t even mention Aston. But sure, he can be bossy if he wants.” Blakely winked, that gleam in her eyes new and lovely considering all she’d had to deal with recently.
I threw a piece of paper at her, and she ducked. Thankfully Flynn caught it before it went outside of my office, and he just clucked his tongue at me before the two of them left. Immediately my phone dinged, and I looked at the screen, my heart racing. It wouldn’t be Weston. It couldn’t be Weston. I didn’t want it to be Weston.
