Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I am not so sure.
“Hey, brother.” They embrace and pat each other on the back before separating, and Lex introduces me.
“This is Jude Abbot, the girl I was telling you about.”
When did he have time to call him this morning?
“I remember seeing your name come across my desk when it was time to approve your admission. I was really impressed with your letter. It was earnest and genuine, and we don’t always see a lot of those. How can I help?” He looks from me to Lex and back again. “Have a seat.”
Lex and I sit across from his desk, and I let Lex take charge of the conversation. I don’t know that I could have. I am too shy, and I had never been in such a formal office before.
I am literally terrified.
“We’re here for a job.” They chuckle at each other, and then they both look at me. I don’t know what to say.
“Yes,” I stumble out. “I need a job.” I sound ridiculous. Like I’m in grammar school. Called into the principal’s office.
Seb grins at me and says, “I think I can help with that. What kind of work do you want to do?”
I look at Lex blankly, not knowing how to respond, then I look back at Seb. My eyes ping-pong between the two brothers.
“The kind that pays?” I shrug, hoping that is an option.
They both laugh loudly as if I’m being funny on purpose. But I did not see the humor in it. I knew that people got internships without pay all the time, and I didn’t want one of those. I need to be able to provide for myself. And provide for something that neither of them knew about. I have to get to work as quickly as possible and save as much as I can. That is the only thing that is going to save me.
“I meant what kind of work do you want to do that is paid? Like, secretarial work, helping out in the gym with organizing sports equipment, or running errands? We have tons of different stuff that can be done. Hell, you could want to be on the lawn crew for all I know. If you want to work outside.”
“Oh. I didn’t think about that. I don’t have a lot of experience. But I can type fast and take orders and show up on time and be helpful in just about anything.”
“I have no doubt.” His smile is warm and genuine. It reaches his eyes, putting me at ease. “How about I think of something that might be fun for you and run a couple of options by you next Monday? If you have any preferences, you can start whichever one you want right away, maybe even the same day if you like. Does that sound good?”
“That would be great!”
He turns to Lex. “But I’m only doing this if you agree to bring her to Sunday dinner.”
My stomach flips, and I glance between them, wondering what is going on.
Lex nods. “You got it.”
They stand up and shake hands, and I realize that they had just cut a deal to get me a job. I do not know about this whole dinner thing, but I am open to it if it means I can work and support myself.
I thank Seb, shaking his hand before Lex and I leave. On the way out, I tug Lex’s sleeve, asking him about the Sunday dinner.
When we get to his truck, he tucks me into the passenger side and then gets in before he answers my question.
“It’s a family tradition. Every Sunday we have family dinner. Brothers, wives, kids, Pops, everybody.” He grins and seems genuinely happy.
“And you want me to go?”
“Well, it is one of the requirements of you getting a job.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“You don’t wanna go?” He frowns.
“No, it’s not that, I just don’t know these people. I don’t want them to make assumptions about me, and I don’t know what I would even wear.”
“Anything you wear is gonna look great on you. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
I blush and shoo him off the topic, knowing he is just trying to flatter me. I have never been called beautiful before and could not imagine it would start suddenly at nineteen. No, that is not possible. I had seen beautiful women, and I wasn’t one of them.
On the ride home, I’m quiet. I feel excited and sad at the same time because the family that he seemed to care so much about, the one that he learned how to future, build forts with, and share laughter is what is going to be surrounding me. It is the family I had always dreamed of, but they have no idea the secret I am hiding.
They have no idea how I can crash all this down around their ears. I doubt Lex even wants a family, or he would have started one by now, especially as the oldest. If all his brothers were having babies, and he wasn’t, then there had to be a good reason for that. I did not want to bring a damper on a family so beautiful. Besides, it was going to hurt to see that much happiness. That much, I know.