Page 9

“Come on, what do we always say?”

“Help those who can’t help themselves and always give food to hungry people.”

“Exactly,” he whispers.

“You started your nonprofits for a reason and you started this marketing firm for a reason too, to help start-ups—which that’s a lot of starts in one sentence, but you get it. You’re a good guy…”

“I know.”

“You’re just horny.”

“Oh God, just leave already. I’m not horny!” I yell when the door opens and one of my board members walks in.

“Sorry Jim.”

“This not a good time?” His face is so red I want to crawl under the table for him. His hands shake as he holds out a folder to me.

“No, it’s great, perfect,” I say quickly.

“Sorry, just family drama.”

Gabe snorts out a laugh and says under his breath.

“And you made it worse.”

“Come right in.” I hold out my hand.

“My brother was just leaving.”

“Yes.” Gabe nods and holds up a sticky note.

“I’ll just be back with the numbers on that project you asked about. Good day Jim.”

“Gabe.”

His sticky note was blank.

Chapter 4

New Neighbor

AVA

I would marry this sandwich.

If there was a priest, a minister, a rabbi, I would stop them on their way to order their food and beg for it.

Beg.

I know it’s ridiculous to have tears continuously run down your face in a Subway restaurant while you’re holding a turkey sandwich, but I don’t think I’m at the point where I have any pride anymore. I just want food, and I’ve been without it for so long that I want to cry.

A tear runs down my cheek when I take my next bite. Before I know it, the entire sandwich is nearly gone and I’m finally able to breathe, or at least take a deep breath and think about my future.

I have a place to sleep that isn’t a homeless shelter.

I have a job that’s going to pay me real money.

And I also have a super grumpy boss who I don’t understand at all but, at the end of the day, if he just sticks to himself, then we’ll be fine.