Page 10 of Untroubled Heart

Derek and I were already over, and he’d been in jail for almost a month at that point, but I didn’t want to watch another man breezing in and out of my life whenever he felt like it. I told him to choose: in or out. He chose out, and though my heart ached for my little girl, I was kinda relieved. It meant a fresh start for Navie and me, prioritising our needs and promising myself I’d never settle for anything less than I deserved. I’d never again chase a love that didn’t want me.

“Okay.” I sigh. “Just keep me up to date with her, okay? Don’t try to do everything.”

“I won’t.”

“I know you, Caspian Jude, and I mean it. Don’t try to handle it all yourself if it gets too much.”

“I don’t mind,” Caspian says quietly, but I can hear how strained it is, how forced. “It’s not like I’ve got anyone else waiting for me.”

Two swift knocks sound against my front door before Westley and Maevyn step inside.

“Heeey, it’s our brother from another mother.” Literally.

“Hey, West!” Cas shouts through the phone. West joins me on the couch, stealing Navie from me to sit her on his lap as I shift my phone ’til we’re both in the frame.

“Hey, Cas. How’s things?”

“All good in my neck of the woods. How are you? How’s Maevyn and Aurora?”

Maevyn leans over the top of the phone until her head comes into view. “Hey, Cas.” She smiles.

“Ahhh, my favourite future sister.”

I snort. “You’re such a suck-up.”

“Just telling it like it is.” Caspian grins. “I like to show appreciation for the luck life bestows on me.”

“Awww.”

“Maevyn, don’t encourage him.” I tsk, just as there’s a crash in the background.

Caspian sighs. “I better go.”

“Okay. Miss you.” I hold up Navie’s hand, waving it back to Caspian through the screen as we all finish exchanging goodbyes.

“What are you guys up to?” I ask West and Maevyn as I stand from the couch, pocketing my phone before shifting into the kitchen and pulling things out of the fridge for dinner.

“I’m heading out to classes soon, but I wanted to see how the job hunt was going,” West says, shifting Navie to his hip. He teaches self-defence classes twice a week with his best friend. It’s the same place I went to learn when we met a few years back.

“And I just came to stare at the baby.” Maevyn smiles, tickling her fingers under Navie’s chin and making her giggle.

“I haven’t heard back from the ones I applied for.” I shrug. “Do you think it’s too early or too eager to follow up, or should I just keep applying for more?”

“Actually, I was hoping you might say that. I have a lead for you.”

“Oh?” I lean on the counter, resting my chin on closed fists and giving him my full attention. “Tell me more.”

“Lee’s friend Mason needs a personal assistant, and bonus points, he owns a building company. You liked that, right? Mason does homes, though, not commercial stuff like Lee, but they do really fancy, boutique stuff, and renovations on older homes.”

I make a sound of approval as my eyes flick to Maevyn, thinking she’ll be looking as optimistic as I am, and instead find her salivating over my brother. My face sours, and the room falls silent until Maevyn realises all the attention’s on her.

“Oh, sorry. I was just trying to decide what was hotter: when he wears his toolbelt or when he holds a tiny baby in pink frills.”

“I’m surprised to say this, but I was way less grossed out living with Caspian.”

Westley chuckles before clearing his throat. “Anyway, he’s looking for someone urgently, and since Lee vouched for you, Mase said he’ll skip an actual interview and just do a casual meet and greet.”

I’ve got plenty of experience in admin, but I’ve never been a personal assistant. “What kind of hours does he want, do you know?”