Page 56 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

I turn to Milo with wide eyes, but the bastard simply shrugs and tilts his head toward Jos. “You heard the man. I’ll be out here.”

“Milo––”

“Go. You wanted a job.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Jos calls out, “Come on, Madelyn. Don’t keep an old man waiting.” He leads me down the center aisle lined with booths on both sides, and because I’m a glutton for punishment, I follow him.

Once we’re in the breakroom, he closes the door behind us and pulls a metal chair from underneath the square table in the center of the room. A fridge sits in the back corner, cabinets covered by a cheap Formica countertop next to it, along with lockers on the opposite side. But everything is clean. Immaculate. Just a hunch, but I bet Jos can thank Milo for keeping it in tip-top condition.

“Take a seat,” Jos orders. He pulls out a second chair and collapses into it, his tired bones appreciating the reprieve.

“I think I should go––”

“Do an old man a favor and sit down.” He stretches out his legs beneath the table and looks up at me. “Please?”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I do as he says, my ass resting on the edge of the cold metal chair.

Satisfied, he nods his approval and asks, “So you and Milo, huh?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m sorry. Is this part of your usual interview questions?”

“Sweetheart, we both know you have the job if you want it. The only reason I insisted on interviewing you is because I wanna know how long you’ve known Milo.”

“Oh.” Taken aback, I pause and tuck my hair behind my ear. “Um… a little over a year, I guess? And I’m not even sure I want the job, by the way. Working here with Milo would be––”

“Convenient. He can make sure one of you is always home with Penny. I’m thinking”––he taps his finger against his chin––“fifteen hours a week?”

“F-fifteen hours?”

“Does that work for you?”

“Well, I––”

“Perfect. Now, what do you mean by you guess you’ve known Milo for a little over a year?” he asks.

“It’s been pretty hit and miss,” I clarify, my brain still attempting to catch up. “After we broke up, we went our separate ways until Penny was born, so…”

“Ah, I understand. You’re a bit of a blast from the past.”

“Apparently.”

“And how well do you know Milo?”

Why do you care?I want to ask, but I bite my tongue and answer, “I’d like to think I know him pretty well, but how well does one really know anyone? Especially a guy like Milo,” I add, unable to help myself.

“He’s definitely the strong, silent type,” Jos agrees.

“Yup.” I wring my hands in my lap, then squeeze them into fists. This is awkward.

Why the hell am I here?

“Did you know he’s been working hard to buy this place from me?” Jos asks.

“I may have heard a thing or two,” I hedge.

“Do you think he’s ready?”

“To buy the place from you?”

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