Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
We sat silently, her words lingering before I cleared my throat and stood, stacking our plates and carrying them to the sink.
“Hey, loser!” Sarena burst through the dining room doors with a crooked smile aimed at me. “Oh, did I miss dinner?”
Sarena scanned the room, seeing Mom wiping her tears and Devlynn rubbing her back soothingly.
“Leave those dishes, Elis. Sarena and I will do them later.” Mom waved a palm at me. “We’ve had enough fuss for one night.”
“Wait… I didn’t even get to eat dinner, and I have to clean up?” Sarena scrunched her nose. “I need to find a job—I had an interview this morning at the shoe department of Bergdorf’s, but the manager didn’t look too happy by the time I left.”
“Oh, dear…” Mom bit down on her lip.
“Why the hell would you want to work there?” I shot from the kitchen.
“Shut up, Elis. Not everyone can live off paint fumes and angst. I need some cash flow as soon as freakin’ possible.”
“Language, Sarena.” Mom stood from the table, a small smile twitching on her lips. We’d been through a lot over the years, and my mom’s attitude pulled us through every one of them.
“Wait. I might know someone who’s hiring.” A grin lit Devlynn’s lips. “Let me text someone. Hang on.” She dug into her bag, and her fingers sped across the screen.
“Anything but waitressing.” Sarena popped a piece of crispy broccolini into her mouth from the bowl left on the table. “I’m a horrible waitress. I’ve been fired from three places.”
“Three? I thought it was two.” I frowned.
“Third was the coffee shop. I fucked up the orders daily. It was awful.”
I laughed, thinking my sister’s talents were few and far between. She wasn’t talentless, but she was a free spirit and an artist. Her skills on the piano and violin were unmatched by anyone in our family, but short of being a music teacher, it was hard to monetize a skill like that.
“I need…something…”
“Easy?” I offered unhelpfully.
“Low-key.” Sarena rolled her eyes at me.
“Yes! He is looking for someone. His last lady died, so he’s been—”
“Wait, what kind of job is this?” Sarena’s face dropped.
Devlynn’s laugh warmed up the room. “No, his nanny was like a hundred years old. She passed a few weeks ago, and he’s been dragging his feet hiring someone new.”
“Who is it?” I went to Devlynn’s side, trying to peek over her phone. When I saw the person she’d been texting, my eyes widened. “Are you shitting me?”
“Elis!” Mom chastised.
“No way. You’re not working for him. He’s probably a scam artist or—”
“Elis, stop. He’s been a family friend for years. I think he went to college with my dad. Plus”—Devlynn shot me an annoyed glare—“he got you off, didn’t he?”
“Wait, who got what off?” Sarena quizzed, her eyebrows angled up.
“My lawyer,” Devlynn breathed. “My lawyer is looking for a part-time nanny.”
“Sarena is horrible to children. I wouldn’t let her near mine with a ten-foot pole,” I said.
“I love kids!” Sarena’s eyes lit up. “I was a counselor at music camp four summers in a row!”
“Perfect.” Devlynn ignored me, dodging my hands when I tried to snatch her phone. “So, I’ll tell him you’re interested?”
“Very.” Sarena nodded enthusiastically, popping another broccolini between her teeth. “I can start as soon as he needs. Like, yesterday.”
“You can’t work for the enemy,” I deadpanned, stealing the bowl of broccolini from the table so she couldn't eat any more. I walked it to the kitchen, dumping the rest in a storage container and placing the bowl in the sink.
“He’s not my enemy, Elis, and he’s not yours. Stop being so weird about successful people.”
“I'm not weird about success—”
“He’s totally weird about it,” Devlynn said to Sarena. “And Sebastian Vaughn just confirmed. He’s wondering if you can meet him for an interview?”
“Yes!” Sarena beamed. “Give him my number.”
“What? You should keep that private—” I tried to interject.
“Elis, please. I’m nineteen. Chill the fu—”
“Kids, language!” Mom shook her head, bringing her empty glass to the sink, smiling with every step.
“Devlynn and I should get going.”
“Oh, okay, honey. It’s been so nice having everyone in the house again.” She pulled Sarena into a hug. “Please, let’s make family dinners a weekly thing.”
“Weekly?” I scowled.
“Monthly at least, and please bring Devlynn with you.”
“What she means is don’t bother coming without Devlynn.” Sarena pretend-slapped my cheek. “Love looks good on you, dude.”
I shook my head, prepared to defend myself against sappy things like love and happiness, but I couldn't. They saw the difference in me, and I felt it. Devlynn was good for me, from sunup to sundown. I thought about nothing but her.
“Ten-four, baby sis.” I laughed before a rap song sang through the dining room.
“Oh, that’s me,” Sarena darted across the room and picked up her phone. “And look at that. It’s my new employer.”