Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
I watched as those three gray little dots popped up.
Michael: Why are you texting me right now? Are you on break or something?
I internally groaned.
Me: Well… I actually got fired today.
I saw the dots pop up again and shoved my phone in my purse. I’d talk to Michael later. Right now, I just wanted to wallow in my depressive state, and then after I was done feeling sorry for myself, I’d figure out what the hell I was going to do.
“He is one massive asshole,” Michael said from the kitchen, and I heard a couple cupboards being shut then the sound of glasses clinking together.
He came out to the living room a second later, holding up the wine bottle and the two glasses and wearing a goofy grin on his face. “Let’s get drunk and forget about today.”
I was sitting on the couch with my legs propped up on the coffee table, having stripped out of my work attire as soon as I got home. I was now in a pair of yoga pants and a ratty old T-shirt from my high school colorguard days.
“Try not to feel so down,” Michael said and sat down beside me, opening the wine bottle and pouring us both a glass. He handed me one and leaned back, his arm pressed against mine, his legs now propped up on the coffee table as well. “You’ll find something.”
I looked over and gave him a skeptical look. “You know how hard it is to find work in the city. It took me forever just to find that job. And I can probably kiss a recommendation goodbye.”
“What a prick,” Michael said again. He reached out and patted my leg. “It sucks, girl. I’m really sorry.”
“Well, that’s life, I guess.” I looked over at him and smiled before bringing the wine glass to my mouth and taking a long drink from it. I swallowed and hummed in approval. “Thank God, you brought over the good stuff.”
He wagged his eyebrows at me and grinned, lifting up his glass so I could clink mine against his. And then we sat there, finishing our alcohol, talking about life in general, and not delving into how shitty things could get at the drop of a hat.
Michael told me about the new guy he started seeing, how he had a brother, and maybe we could all get together. I was shaking my head before he finished.
“I’m not even about to go on a blind date.” I shook my head again as if that was the worst idea imaginable. “That would be like adding the cherry to the shit sundae of my day.”
Michael nudged me in the arm and made a sound of protest. “I mean, David is super hot. So it bodes well that his brother is attractive as well.”
I snorted. “Uh, yeah. No. Do you not know how genetics work? Your guy is probably the hot one, while the brother, the one you’re trying to set me up with, is probably at the other end of that spectrum, especially if he’s not taken and you’re trying to hook me up with him.”
Michael snorted. “David said he’s just busy with work. I think he’s some hotshot.”
That was a big red flag for me. “Thanks, but no thanks. Last thing I need is another Mr. Brookwood in my life.”
“Well listen, let me talk to David. Let me get some deets on him. What’s the worst that could happen? A free dinner and a couple hours of conversation?”
I was still shaking my head.
“Hey, you might even get laid.”
I narrowed my eyes and glanced over at him.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” I repeated what he’d just said. “I can think of about a million and one different shitty things that could happen.” I exhaled and rested my head back on the couch. “But I’m too tired to argue, so I’m just going with the flow.”
“That’s my girl.”
I tipped my glass to Michael before finishing off my wine. At this point, I was just going to pray the shit didn’t continue to hit the fan.
CHAPTER TWO
Olive
Several days later
Iset the red pen down and rubbed my eyes, tired because I hadn’t been able to sleep last night then had gotten up at the ass crack of dawn to job hunt. I placed my hands on the table and looked around at the small coffee shop I was currently holed up in, the newspaper open in front of me, the classified section staring back at me.
I had a few red circles around some prospective jobs, but I was feeling so down in the dumps that I didn’t have much hope of finding anything decent.
Picking up the pen again, I pulled the cap off and focused on the paper, scrolling through each ad. There were a few that required no experience, but I’m sure they were shit positions.