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She wipes her hands on a kitchen cloth, staring at me. “Gem, that’s amazing. It’s time, don’t you think?”
Time.
Time for what? Time to get my life together? Time to follow my career path?
I think of Harvey, of what we had, of who I want us to be. The reality of what we are is enough to tarnish all hope blooming inside me, like a dark, cold night taking over.
I clear my throat. “Sure. It’s for an executive assistant position, but I hope to branch out eventually to their science department.” Plus, if I choose to do a master’s in conservation biology one day, every bit of workplace experience can help.
“Makes sense. It’s a great way to get through the door. What’s it called?” She opens Google on her laptop as she asks this. I grab it from her and type in: Dreygon Environmental Consulting Firm, downtown Chicago.
I don’t even get to search for a second before she steals it from my hands, whistling as she goes. “CEO’s hot. Young, too—twenty-nine.” She smirks, turning the laptop my way.
And there he is. My potential future boss. Dark brown hair, brown eyes so dark they look like colored contacts.
“That’s beside the point.”
She winks. “What happens with Harvey if you get it?”
“Claire will take on more hours.”
“Right,her.” Her brow lifts in response. “The pretty-ish nurse.”
I can’t shake off the nagging feeling I’ve had since Claire became Harvey’s nurse a few weeks ago after his parents hired her. I don’t know why; she’s nice. Maybe it’s the fact that Harv seems to have taken a liking to her.
I sigh, heading toward the corner where Athena’s playing. “She’s good at her job, okay?”
My sister purses her lips and refrains from saying more.
We spend the morning eating our muffins and playing with Athena though I can’t stop focusing on how to tell Harv about my job interview. I’m not sure what he’ll say when I tell him.
I haven’t been away from him much since the accident that led to his paralysis, save for my research assistant job at my college, which allowed me to work both from home and on campus. The job I’m interviewing for doesn’t come with that flexibility, but my research contract has ended, and this potential job is offering a competitive salary.
Gia joins me on the couch after I help her tidy the kitchen.
“Have you told Harvey?” She hands me a cup of mint tea.
I shake my head.
“Are you worried about what he’ll say?”
I look at Athena, grateful for the distraction—she’s putting dress-up heels on her doll.
Gia waits. And waits.
“I’m just so used to being home with him. Working farther away would be an adjustment, that’s all.”
She places her head on my shoulder. “Gem, he’s a big boy.”
I nod, knowing what she’s asking me to do. What I should be doing. But to stop something you’ve been doing for two and a half years isn’t necessarily easy.
“Sure, sure.” I tell her. We drink our tea in silence, watchingAthena, the light in my life, play grown-up. If only she knew how little fun being a grown-up truly is.
When I arrive home later in the afternoon, I mentally prepare myself for the interview using online questions. Then I research the company’s history and more about my potential boss, Damon Dreygon. Many pictures of him show up at worldwide conferences and events. I continue my search until I find an article that includes his name on the list of multi-millionaires.
Interesting. How do you become a multi-millionaire by having an environmentally friendly firm? Unless his parents are loaded.
I snap out of it, realizing I’m taking this way too seriously. The odds are he won’t be the one to interview me. Besides, if I’m too desperate—which I am—they’ll smell the fear all over me.
