Page 87 of Hesi-Dating
"Yet you asked him out again today, which means it's not exactly over."
Deflated, a sat in a folding chair. "It feels over now."
"He just walked away from you after you asked him out? I never thought of him as being a dick. He's always so good with the kids and is in general a polite person." She crossed her arms.
"I think I messed things up. I'm messed up."
"I will go down to the station and give him hell for hurting you. No one fucks with us fosters."
"No. Please, don't. I just…" I took a deep breath and pushed all the swirling emotion deep inside where I kept everything. "I'll be fine."
"I'm sorry." Amanda gave my shoulder a squeeze. "After we spoke earlier, I was thinking that if you're interested, I could really use a person on staff who'd be good with kids that have gone through some emotional trauma. Someone who could draw them out and get them more involved. Maybe help them realize it's okay to speak up if things aren't good at home or school. Would you be interested?"
"Sounds like you need a therapist."
"I have one. She's sweet and tries hard, but she's not one of us. She didn't grow up a foster kid. She has a hard time connecting with the more difficult ones. The ones like you who had a lot happen when you were young, most of which they never want to talk about."
"Is it a paying job or are we talking volunteer stuff?"
"If we do as well as I think we will tonight, then I can pay you."
"I'd be interested in trying it. Not sure if I can get through to someone messed up any better than a trained professional. I'm still screwed up. Hell, I only admitted to Amber today that I think I need therapy. Another prime example is Seth. He is incredible, but I screwed it up by not being able to deal with my past."
She grinned. "You're perfect. I already know exactly the kids you should talk to. Both are acting out at school to the tune of perpetual suspensions for stupidity."
I chuckled. "Yeah, I did that a lot. I should tell them detention is better. Means you don't have to go home and deal with the shit there." I compressed my lips. "Oops. Probably bad advice. See, I'm not made for this."
"I want you to come to my office in Pacific Beach on Monday. We can talk pay and benefits."
ChapterThirty-Six
SETH
My hand shook as I pressed the doorbell on Joley's house. The tremor had nothing to do with nerves. The shaking was me holding myself back from punching it. Damn her brother for doing this to me. To us.
She was still at the black-tie event. Questions needed answers. I wasn't a person who could put this sort of thing on hold, not given my mood.
The lanky brother I didn't know well, a tall man with light blue eyes, held back a few barking dogs. We stared at each other in silence until he nodded and muttered, "You're the sheriff. Figured you'd be by sooner or later. I'm Marino. She's not here."
"I'm here to speak with Bruno."
"Bruno!" Marino called out. "The sheriff is here to see you."
"You want to come in?" Marino pushed open the door to admit me while still holding the collar of one of the dogs.
I shook my head.
"What'd Bruno screw up?" There was a slight smirk on Marino's face as he propped himself against the doorframe.
"He sabotaged my relationship with Joley."
He whistled. "So, you guys breaking up wasn't your idea?"
"It was Bruno's idea."
"Huh. Interesting. She's been weird the past few months. She used to do a lot of first dates. I always thought it was because she wanted to wear one of her bajillion ridiculous heels. Lately, she's been a homebody obsessed with streaming shows, which isn't like her." When I didn't answer he continued, "I caught her watching a cooking show. This is Joley we're talking about. The girl will burn down the house if she tries making anything other than toast. Hell, she caught our last toaster on fire by putting the butter on before toasting. God love that girl. She tries hard, but domestication will never be her thing." He chuckled to himself. "Does she know Bruno did this?"
"She does now."
