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She returned to her table, rubbing her thighs together as she sat. Probably savoring that rush of post-orgasm warmth.
Chapter 9
Elle
The following weekend, I stumbled across a pop-up job fair on campus. My steps slowed as I browsed the table full of fliers for job postings applications. Vincent’s question kept replaying in my mind, and I still didn’t have a solid answer for it.
What kind of future do you envision for yourself?
I knew I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I had no desire to run his company alongside my sister. I wanted…something else.
My entire life had always been about my father—his goals, his dreams, his aspirations. A dozen available job positions were spread out before me now, and I felt lost. What were my dreams and aspirations? What did I want to do with my life?
“Hi!” A volunteer approached with a bouncy ponytail and a megawatt smile. Her name tag said Becky. “Can I help you?”
I hesitated.
“I don’t really know what I’m looking for, to be honest.”
Becky waved me off.
“Oh, that’s not a problem. We have a variety of positions to choose from, and we try to pair you with a job according to your strengths.”
I scratched at my ear as shame prickled my cheeks. I had no clue what my strengths were. Becky skated seamlessly over my pause.
“Why don’t I give you a rundown of what we have available?” She started rattling off jobs. “Research assistant at the bio-chem labs here on campus. Seasonal worker at the local apple orchard in Port Crowne. That was a fun gig. I did it last year, and you get all the free pumpkin spice latte you can drink. Oh, we also have a brand-new position that opened up at the Port Crowne Public Library.”
My ears perked up.
“The library?”
Becky nodded and plucked a file folder from the stack on the table.
“The children’s department needs an assistant librarian to help with planning programs and reading to the kids. There’s some cataloging work in there as well. It can be tedious if you’re not into it, but some people like how detail-oriented it is.”
I accepted the file and scanned the job description, feeling a curl of warmth take root in my chest. Maybe this was something I could do. Since it was off campus, there was a better chance my father wouldn’t find out about it, at least for a while.
Smiling to myself, I thanked Becky and hugged the file to my chest with a bounce in my step.
“You sound really happy,” Vincent said.
I dumped my backpack on my bed, wedging the phone between my ear and my shoulder. Dozens of brightly-colored picture books spilled out. I’d visited the Port Crowne Public Library that afternoon to take a look around and drop off my application. It was a quaint little place—perfect for small town living.
“I shouldn’t get my hopes up though,” I countered. “There are probably dozens of people applying for the position.”
“But this is something you want,” Vincent pointed out.
I stopped and sank onto the edge of the bed. He was right. This opportunity tugged at my heart in a way that running my father’s company never did. I picked up one of the picture books, bursting with illustrations and lines of text that seemed to skip and dance and whirl across the pages. They were full of wonder and joy that I’d never experienced as a child. It had been crushed out of me at such a young age.
Vincent’s class made me feel alive because of books, poetry, and the written word.
These books made me feel a different kind of connection, guiding me toward a future of my own choosing.
“It’s just a part-time gig,” I said, smoothing my hand over one of the pages.
“Don’t do that,” Vincent replied softly.
“What?”
