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“It kind of seems like you were waiting for an excuse to text me,” I say. I’m being more bold than I usually am with men.
“That’s true.”
I stop.
It’s true?
He wanted to text me.
Shit.
What do I do now?
“Why did you want to text me?” I try to sound as sultry as possible, but I kind of just sound weird.
“Why do you work for me?”
“I need money?” I’m not sure why it comes out as a question.
“You could have chosen anywhere, though.”
“Spoken by someone who hasn’t looked for a job in years.” I try not to sound nervous and uncomfortable, but I am, and I do.
“Is that what’s going on?”
“What?”
“You just needed a job, so you chose anything?”
“Kind of. Does that...bother you?”
He pauses. For a second, I think he’s going to say that it does, but instead, he just seems to let it go. For some reason, Ryan is being very chill right now. This is strange because I’m starting to think he’s completely naked.
“No. I mean, I’d like to think you came to work for me because you’re passionate about my company.”
“I’m passionate about money.”
He laughs.
“Yeah, me too.”
“Are you, though? I thought you kind of were forced into your job.”
It’s a personal question: one I shouldn’t be asking. I can’t seem to bite my tongue, though. For some reason, casually Facetiming Ryan Shadowvale like we’re a couple of teenagers who can’t get enough of each other feels...comfortable.
“Something like that.”
“Let me guess: it’s complicated.”
“Families always are.”
“You don’t talk much about yours.”
“There’s not much to say.” Because I no longer have a family. This knowledge hurts me deeply. I don’t really want to be the person who doesn’t get to do the things she so desperately wants – like having a Christmas dinner with her family or going on shared vacations. I am, though. That’s who I am. I’m the person who doesn’t have a mother or a father or anyone at all.
I have a brother, somewhere, but who knows how long it’s going to take me to find him?
“Not close, huh?”
