“Yeah.” It’s late. Standing still for the first time in hours has allowed exhaustion to creep in. “Let me get my bag.”
I walk over to where I stashed it beneath the register, and Gwen finds me for a hug. “Thank you so much for helping tonight. There’s no way I could have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome,” I say into her shoulder. “I had fun.”
“Me too!” she exclaims.
Pete and I say our goodbyes to Carter and Felix, and I duck under the bar to join my brother on the other side. We start to leave when he gets distracted by another coworker who wants to say goodnight. I decide to keep walking until, about half the distance from me to the door, Latson steps into my path. He sets his feet and crosses his arms, like there’s a problem. My walk slows. He notices and smirks, then crooks his finger for me to come here.
My knees go weak. How can he make that gesture look hot?
Putting on a confident mask, I make my way over to him. He cocks an eyebrow. “Were you going to leave without talking to me?”
“Nope,” I lie.
“Huh. It sure looked that way.”
“I was just about to find you,” I fib. “What is it you wanted?”
He tips his head and eyes me skeptically. He knows I’m lying. I hold his gaze because I don’t want him to see me sweat, which turns out to be a bad idea. Those eyes are criminal.
Seconds pass before he finally says, “I want you.”
I think my heart stops. “What did you say?”
“I want you,” he says again and steps toward me. “I want to hire you. I know the best when I see it and I need your skills here at Torque.”
“Jesus.” I let out an exaggerated breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I’m quick to recover. The last thing I need is for him to know I misunderstood his words. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not looking for work.”
He frowns. “Why not? Pete told me about your job and the apartment.”
He did? “Then you know I’m only in the city for a little while. As soon as I can go back home I’m leaving.”
“But, you don’t know when that will be,” Latson says. “I think you could do well here. Pete said you need to replace your things.”
I can’t help my twisted expression. “My brother has a big mouth, doesn’t he?”
Latson ignores my question. “I’m not talking about a full time job. We’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays as it is. After watching you tonight I thought –”
“You thought what?” Pete walks up behind us.
“I’m trying to give your sister a job and she’s being difficult.”
“You what?” Pete scowls at Latson. “No way.”
I stare at my brother in confusion. Why would he care? “Excuse me? You’re the one who told him about my personal life.”
“Only to explain why you’re here and why he’s never met you before.” He looks at his boss. “Jen can’t work here.”
“Why not?” Latson and I ask in unison.
Pete turns to me. “For the same reason I told you earlier. This was a one-time thing. I don’t need anyone messing with you.”
I didn’t plan on getting a job while in Chicago, but having my brother deny me the opportunity is annoying. “Like I said before, I can hold my own. Who says I’m going to get messed with?”
Just as I utter those words, Carter playfully pulls my ponytail as he walks by. “See you around, Little J.”
The three of us look at him as he sends a smile in my direction.
“See?” Pete complains.
Latson looks lost. “What’s the big deal?”
“I don’t want her to get hurt,” Pete says.
“Who would do that?”
My brother pins Latson with a stare, as if he knows something I don’t. Then, he elaborates, “Jen needs a break. On top of the fire and her job, she just broke up with her prick of a married boyfriend.”
Gah! How embarrassing! “Shut up!” I whisper-yell at Pete.
My reaction doesn’t faze him. Instead, he keeps talking. “She shouldn’t work here.” He turns to me. “If you want a job maybe Jules can help you find one.”
“I never said I wanted a –”
“Is it true?” Latson cuts me off.
“Is what true?”
“Your boyfriend was married?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Unfortunately, yes. Can we not talk about it? I’m trying to forget.” I narrow my eyes at my brother. “Thanks for bringing it up.”
“Sorry,” Pete mumbles, although he doesn’t sound apologetic.
Latson’s expression morphs into one of concern. Whether it’s true empathy or a farce, I can’t tell.
“You need a distraction,” he says.
“Well, yeah,” I concede. “That’s why I left home.”
He takes a step, then another and another, until he closes the distance between us. If he moves again, we’ll be breathing the same air. He stares down at me, and I feel myself getting lost. Is this his idea of a distraction?
Because it’s working.
“You’re not the kind of girl who is easily swayed,” he says. “You’re going to do what you want to do.”
I nod. He’s right.
“You just admitted you need something to take your mind off things,” he continues.
“I did.”
“You want a distraction.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Something to keep you busy.”
“Yes.”
“To forget about him.”
“Right.”
“So, you’ll work for me.”
“Okay.”
Wait. What did I just say?
Latson’s face lights up. “Excellent.”
My eyes grow wide. “Hang on. I –”
“Dude. What the hell?” My brother steps between us.
“You heard the lady,” Latson says. “I’m trying to help. She accepted my offer.”
My brother faces me. “You honestly want to work here?”
Do I? I mean, I just agreed out of the blue. My eyes jump between Latson and Pete. My brother looks stressed while his boss looks satisfied. It’s too early in the morning to deal with these two.
“You know what? I’m tired. I’m leaving.” I start to walk away and Pete follows.
“Jen.”
I turn around at the sound of Latson’s voice.
“I’d like an answer.”
The confident way he looks at me tells me he knows the answer. He’s certain I can’t refuse. The responsible part of my brain I’ve been trying to repress while I “do me” is fighting to take over. The part that says I’d be an idiot to turn down a good paying job. My reason for saying no was because my time in the city is limited. If Latson knows that and doesn’t care …
I meet his eyes. “When do I start?”
~~~~
For the last few minutes, I have been mesmerized by jellyfish.
I didn’t plan to spend my day this way, but I can’t say that I regret it. Hundreds of delicate, deadly creatures float in front of me, and I am in awe. They look fragile, but they’re not. They are transparent, yet complex. They have survived for more than 500 million years without brains or bones or blood.
At least that’s what the sign at the Shedd Aquarium says.
When I woke up this morning, I decided to get out and be a tourist. I had no idea where to go, other than away from Pete’s apartment. Since I accepted Latson’s job offer my lazy days are numbered. I start work in forty-eight hours. I should have known my personality couldn’t handle an undetermined amount of worry-free time.
As I continue along the glass wall that separates the sea life from myself, I’m thankful for the advertisement that brought me here. I never considered visiting an aquarium before, until I saw the sign on the side of a passing bus. The illusion that I am underwater with these creatures is relaxing and just plain cool.
“Um, excuse me?”
A small voice and a tug on the back of my shirt make me turn around. A little boy with a faux hawk and an Iron Man t-shirt stares up at me.
“I can’t find my uncle,” he says.
I glance around the area. “Where did you see him last?”
He points over his shoulder. “Back there.”
I scan the exhibit space, expecting to see a frantic adult. Instead, I find relaxed people enjoying the display. His uncle must have gone to find security. At least, that’s what I would do.
“I’ll tell you what.” I crouch down to the little boy’s level. “Let’s walk and find a nice security guard. I bet they can help us. Sound like a plan?”