AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He begins to share the information I need, and I hurriedly jot it down on a napkin I had in my pocket, leaning over Bear’s truck’s hood.
“I hope to see you there, Miss. Hill,” he says.
Holy shit, I got the follow-up call to the job I really wanted. I’m in disbelief.
My eyes float back to the Love Nest.
The job that would have me working in Smithsport. Far away from here.
I shudder, now feeling very stressed out. What do I do?
I have to tell Bear. I head into the cabin and look to find him. He’s on his laptop, doing some business of his own. “Bear?”
“What is it, Char?” His tone is neutral, and he’s trying very hard to keep it that way.
“I got a job offer. One of the places I applied to finally got back to me. And it’s the place I wanted to hear from, the most.”
“Where’s that?”
“A seamstress at a high-end downtown clothing store.” I build myself up and sigh. “I’d be going back to the city if I took this job.”
“That’s... that’s great, Char. I’m happy for you.”
He’s not happy for me. Or, well, he is; he just doesn’t want me to go. I try to be more direct. “Would you be sad if I went back to the city after we just met?”
“You can’t make decisions based on if it makes me sad or not, Char. I want you to succeed and make your own happiness.”
My fists ball in anger. So dense. So pigheaded. I want to make my happiness with him, but...
I have to be an adult, I realize. I can’t jump headfirst into a relationship with a man who maybe won’t get over his own fear of commitment.
No matter how much I want him. No matter how much I’m sure he wants me.
There’s too much on the line, and I can’t be a leech on Bear all this time, nor Hunter and Savvy.
I have to at least do the follow-up interview. It’s only common sense.
And yet I never expected common sense to hurt so much.
EIGHT
char
“Hmm, yes, everything seems to be perfect. Yes, the job is yours if you want it.”
Frederique Tomas is about what I expect from the manager of a high-end boutique. A pencil-thin mustache, highly fashionable clothes, and looking like he got his hair done this morning.
Not really what I look for in a guy.
“Really?” I say, my eyes wide. “Just like that?”
“As the owner and proprietor, I can hire whom I want.”
“Wow, that’s great...”
“When would you like to start?”
I hesitate. It’d been two days since I got the call. It’s been chilly with Bear all this time. He’s been miserable; I’ve been miserable, both of us denying ourselves joy because we think it’s best for the two of us.
