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Jerry pointed to the table between us. “Fill out that paperwork for me and you can start on Monday. This is Kitty, by the way. She’ll help you get used to what I need around here. She was my assistant for a while. Until she decided that she’d rather lay out and tan all day instead of hanging out with me.”
“Oh, please. Since this place got more popular, I just can’t keep up.” Kitty crossed her legs and I saw she was wearing rhinestone cowboy boots. “Every day in this place is like a freaking circus now. There are so many activities and around every corner is another geriatric person doing something they’re not supposed to. I’d rather just be a part of the problem these days.”
Jerry snorted. “If that isn’t the truest thing you’ve ever said.”
I took the paperwork and found a pen in my purse. “You have no idea how happy I am right now. It was scary moving here without a job lined up for sure. My son is six and I swear he’s growing at astronomical rates. It feels like he needs a new pair of shoes every other month. I’m going to be the best assistant you’ve ever had. Besides Kitty, I’m sure.”
Kitty just bounced her foot. “Honey, I was about as useful as tits on a man.”
Jerry stood up with more windbreaker sound effects and pulled Kitty up with her. “You fill out that paperwork. Kitty and I have a date with an artist in the art room. The class he’s insisting on teaching is giving me a fit and I’m hoping Kitty will bully him for me. Just leave the paperwork on my desk behind the palm trees when you finish.”
“What time should I be here on Monday?”
“I start my day around seven usually, but I know you’ll be a little later than that with your son. Just come in as soon as you can.” Jerry held her fist out for me to bump it and winked. “You’ll realize soon enough that all this gratitude you’re feeling for this job is a trick. These old people will run you ragged. You’ve been raising a toddler, though, so maybe you’ll be better equipped than most of my assistants have been.”
Kitty put her hands on her hips and stared up at Jerry. “You know I’m one of these old people, right?”
The two of them walked away bickering and I hurried through the paperwork. I was excited to get back to Jesse and tell him that I got the job. I also wanted to call Lydie as soon as possible to tell her about the Trashed Twins. She would love it.
After I finished up I walked outside, already dialing Lydie. I’d order a car while telling her about everything, I figured. Lydie answered on the first ring, eager as ever to hear from Jesse. Too bad for her, it was just me calling.
When she heard my voice, she actually groaned. “No offense, sis, but I miss Jesse. Go away and call me back when you have my buddy.”
“That’s rude. You’re kind of a dick, you know that?” I stood on the sidewalk in front of Jolly Pines and looked through my purse for one of the dozen chapsticks I kept on hand. “I’m ignoring all that for now because I have to tell you that I got the job!”
Lydie screamed and cheered, ever my cheerleader even when she was busting my balls. “That’s awesome! I knew you would. Old people love you.”
The sound of a car starting in the parking lot drew my attention and I looked up to see Caleb’s fancy car pulling around to stop in front of me. I watched with my mouth ajar and my brain struggling to make sense of what I was seeing.
Caleb got out of the car and walked around to open the passenger door for me. “Care for a ride?”
I stammered for a second and then licked my suddenly dry lips before addressing Lydie. “Um, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”
I hung up before she could protest.
“How’d the interview go? You’re not crying, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign.”
Standing next to the open car door, I looked up at Caleb and tilted my head. “You waited on me?”
He shrugged. “I figured you’d need a ride.”
“It’s been over two hours.” Still unmoving, I swallowed a lump in my throat and spoke with an embarrassing waver to my voice. “No one ever waits on me.”
He shrugged. “Well, I waited.”
Getting myself together, I let out a shaky laugh and shook my head at what a loser I was being. “Thank you.”
I slipped past him and slid into the leather seat, clutching my purse on my lap. I was still gripping my phone in my hand so I shoved it into my purse and pulled my seatbelt on while Caleb walked around the car and got in.
He looked over at me and shifted his body so he was facing me with his arm along the back of my seat. “The interview?”
6
***Olive***
I’dbeentooshockedand embarrassed to fully notice Caleb’s looks earlier. I realized quickly when I could take in his features, that he was gorgeous. Caleb was the kind of hot that made my palms sweaty and my brain skip a beat. His eyes were a deep blue with the thick lashes that brushed his tan cheeks, and they crinkled when he smiled or laughed. He had light brown curls and a full beard that hid a slow smile and perfect teeth. With his hair dry, I could see it was cut in a version of a mullet that should’ve been horrid, but it wasn’t. He somehow made it work. Of course, he did.
As I took Caleb in, he did the same to me and I felt a flare of self-consciousness that brought hives to my neck and chest. Turning to face the front window, I rubbed my chest, hoping he wouldn’t notice my reaction. “Uh… The interview… Oh! I got it! It was wild in there, but I think I’m going to love it. More importantly, I have a job and I can take care of Jesse without dipping into my savings.”
