Page 26 of Lose You Twice

“And probably at least one dentist.”

“Compelling.”

I laugh despite myself, and he smiles like that was the goal.

Maybe it was.

I turn back to the laptop.

Kai doesn’t get to be the reason I don’t take money I need.

Whatever we were, whatever we didn’t survive, whatever still happens in my chest when I hear his name—it can’t matter more than tuition. More than gas. More than helping Mom keep this family above water and this roof over our heads.

I can be professional.

I can absolutely handle sorting sweaty hockey gear for a team that includes the boy who once kissed me behind my parents’ garage and told me I was his favorite person in the world.

No problem. Zero problem.

I fill out the application before I can talk myself out of it.

Availability: mornings, select afternoons, some evenings.

Experience: organizing household responsibilities, inventory, cleaning, scheduling, multitasking.

That feels like a polite way of saying I have kept small humans alive through sheer willpower and caffeine, but sure.

I hit Submit.

The confirmation page appears.

Application received.

Holden whistles under his breath. “Well.”

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Your tone said enough.”

I shut the laptop and lean back against the couch.

For a second, I let myself picture Kai’s face when he finds out.

Blank, probably. Controlled. That careful, distant expression he wears now, the one that makes it feel like I’m standing outside a locked door I used to have a key to.

Fine.

He can be controlled. I can be chaotic.

We can both be adults.

Probably. Maybe?

I stare at the ceiling and contemplate every life choice that has gotten me to this point.

But really, what could possibly go wrong with being around my ex?