“Out of Greater Falls,” she said.
“This is a joke, right?”
“Nope. No joke. I wish it was. The shop closed down today. Ceased trading, and it was completely done.” Even as she spoke, tears filled her eyes. Turning her back on him, she pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose, begging for the tears to go.
He gripped his shoulders. “It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t have a job. This place is paid up for two months, that’s it, and then I’m out of here. Crap, I better warn Chloe, but I don’t want to worry her. She’s taking it steady with Richard.”
“Even though they’re away together?”
“I don’t judge. She’s my friend.”
He rubbed her shoulders. “We’ll think of something.”
Pulling out of his arms, she turned toward him, finally feeling like she could handle him. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll always figure something out.”
She walked past him, heading toward her room. She put Fluffy down on the sofa on her way past.
“You don’t have to do this alone.”
“It’s fine, Pixie. Honestly, getting a job is hard, but I tend to be good at whatever I do.” Even with her size she’d been able to sell clothes to anyone. Sure, she’d had some really shitty customers who’d told her to lose some weight, and a few managers who thought her weight was a problem.
Running fingers through her hair, she stared at her room.
She truly was at a loss.
“This is what you mentioned a few months back, right?”
“Yeah. The shop has been struggling for months. I was hoping it was just a little slump. You know how the news talks abou
t the markets, and confidence, and stuff. No such luck for me. I’m officially unemployed.”
She pulled her shirt over her head, and grabbed a plain old red shirt that hung from her frame.
“I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to enjoy a quickie with you if that’s what you were hoping for.” She turned to face him, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. He leaned against her wardrobe, holding the pair of jeans she wanted. They were her comfy, doing-work jeans. “Thanks.”
“I’m not just around for a quickie, Suzy. Besides, I was here to help Fluffy. I didn’t know your job was going to be ending today.”
“What were you doing in my room?” she asked. She wasn’t accusing him of anything. Many nights she’d gone to bed to find him already in her apartment. She should probably be scared at how easy it was for him to get in and out of her room.
“I got you a little surprise, but I figure we’ll use it another time.”
“Okay.” She wriggled out of her skirt and tugged her jeans up. “Do you know if Teri’s hiring?”
“I don’t think so. Grace is working for her.”
She nodded. It would be too much luck for her to actually get a job with someone she wanted to work for. Teri worked for the Dirty Fuckers MC, but the truth was the woman owned the diner.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll think of something.”
Once she was dressed, she grabbed Fluffy and gave him a quick cuddle.
“Why don’t you work for me?”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t know. Screwing me.”