Page 188 of Dear #47, You're the Worst
“Do you want to break up?” I ask.
Hunter shakes his head. “Fuck no.”
I rub my hands over his chest in a soothing motion.
“We could break up tomorrow if I take the job. At least if I stay, we’ll find out what we’re actually capable of together.”
He kisses me then, soft and grateful and full of something that feels like relief.
“For what it’s worth,” he murmurs against my lips. “I think you’re making the right choice.”
I smile teasingly. “Even if it means I’m stuck with you?”
“Especially if it means you’re stuck with me.”
That afternoon, I call Riley, Rawls, and Associates and politely decline their offer. The recruiter sounds shocked. She increases the salary by twenty percent, throws in a signing bonus, and asks if there’s anything they can do to change my mind.
“It’s a generous offer,” I tell her. “But I’m exactly where I need to be. Not to mention that I don’t enjoy getting jobs through nepotism.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
My cheeks stain. “My mom called in a favor from someone at your firm. Didn’t she?”
When she answers, she sounds puzzled. “I saw you on the news, speaking for the Seattle Havoc. I brought your name to the hiring committee. There must be some mistake, Miss Monroe.”
My eyes widen. “Oh! I just… assumed. I’m sorry.”
“Does this change your mind about joining our team?”
“It doesn’t. But I appreciate you reaching out to me. The job offer is amazing. But…” I suck in a breath. “I’m happy where I am for now. Thanks for even considering me.”
“Of course, Miss Monroe. Stay in touch.”
After I hang up, I sit in my office at the arena and think about what I’ve just done. Six months ago, I would have called this professional suicide. Now, it feels like the first truly honest decision I’ve made about my career.
That evening, Hunter surprises me with takeout from my favorite Thai place and a bottle of champagne.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask.
“You choosing us. You deciding to stay.”
“It wasn’t really a choice. Not once did I think about what I’d actually be giving up.” I kiss him on the lips, my fingers curling in his shirt. “Giving up wasn’t part of the equation. I just finally figured out what actually matters to me.”
“And what’s that?”
“You. Us. Building something real together instead of just collecting achievements I don’t actually care about.”
“I love you,” he says, his voice rough with emotion.
The words floor me. I thought maybe he was falling for me, but to hear it said out loud is a revelation.
I blurt out, “Oh, Hux. I love you, too.”
He bites his lower lip, eyeing me.
“No more expiration dates? No more pretending this is temporary?”
“No more pretending anything. This is real. Permanent. Whatever happens, we figure it out together.”
