Page 92 of She Was Made for Me

“Of course,” Deb says kindly. “It will be so good to have you back here, Vi.”

I end the call without responding and slide my phone away, my heart rattling in my chest.

“Who was that?” Kyle asks lightly.

“My old boss.” I shake my head, still trying to process it. “She offered me a project manager job back at DigiSwap.”

“That’s wonderful!” Mom squeezes my shoulder, but I don’t miss the tiny lines of worry forming on Kyle’s brow.

“I guess,” I mumble, rubbing my face.

Dad looks puzzled. “Why aren’t you more excited? You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”

I glance between my parents and Kyle, thinking about the untruths hanging between us, and suddenly feel suffocated. Dad is so happy and proud of me, and for what? I’ve been living a lie for too long and it’s time to let him and Mom know the truth.

I release my breath slowly. Here goes nothing. “There’s something I have to tell you guys.” I pause, realizing that’s not all of it. “Actually, there are two things I have to tell you. But… one at a time.”

Mom glances at Dad, his brows tugging together in concern. My stomach pitches dangerously.

“I… I’ve never been a project manager before this house project. I was an assistant to one, but that was all.” I keep my gaze fastened to the floor, shame washing over me as my confession spills out. “I’m sorry I let you believe something that wasn’t true, and I shouldn’t have accepted this job.”

My parents are quiet for the longest time, and when I can’t stand it anymore I force my gaze to meet Dad’s. He’s regarding me with nothing but love, and confusion swirls through me. Did he not understand what I just told him?

But before I can ask, he simply nods, and says, “We know.”

“You… what?”

He sighs. “We know about your old job, Sweetpea. When I called your office asking for you on the day you were let go, your boss mentioned you were her assistant.”

“She did?”

“Yes. She told me how sad she was to lose you as her assistant. I was surprised, and I asked her to clarify, but yes, she said you’d been her assistant since you started at the company. I guess since I always rang you directly it had never come up, but the way she spoke about what an asset you’d been, and how she wanted to promote you rather than let you go…” Dad lifts a shoulder. “I knew it didn’t matter. You should have been a project manager, and that’s what counts.”

Mom gazes at me with compassion, and I glance from her to Dad in disbelief.

“So you gave me the job on this house knowing I had no experience?”

“I gave you the job on this house knowing you’d do an excellent job, Vi.”

I blink, absorbing this.He knows.He’s known, maybe not the entire time, but he knew when he hired me. Beside Dad, Kyle gives me a gentle smile, and relief flickers faintly in my ribcage. Dad knows, and he’s not mad, even though he probably should be.

“And look, it all worked out,” he adds, smiling. “You’ve secured the perfect job.”

There’s a lurch in my chest. “You think I should take it?”

“Of course.” Dad’s brow knits with confusion. “Isn’t that what you’ve been working toward this entire time? It’s the job you should have had all along.”

Guilt tunnels through me. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t honest. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

He pulls me into a tight hug. “Nonsense. I’ve never been prouder of you than I am right now, Vi.” When he draws away to gaze down at me, his eyes are warm with love. “You could never disappoint me.”

I’m seventeen again, under the hot lights of that stage for the debate tournament, only this time Daddidshow up, and he’s cheering for me in the audience like no one and nothing could ever mean more to him than me. Hot tears sting my eyes and I look down at my hands while I blink them away.

Kyle shifts his weight, reminding me he’s there, and my stomach crumbles. I’ve told Dad the truth about my inexperience and he’s not angry or disappointed. I think of all the times I’ve worried about letting Dad down, all those times I’ve felt like nothing but a big disappointment to him, but I was wrong. He’s never been disappointed—he’s proud. Prouder in this moment than ever. I can’t ruin that now.

I think about Kyle nearly having a panic attack this morning, about how appalled my parents will be when I tell them I’ve spent half my time working on this house not actually working, but in bed with Dad’s friend. Dad will take back all the lovely things he said—things I’ve needed to hear for years—and who knows what he’ll say to Kyle. What if it leads to more panic attacks? What if life gets bad for him again?

My heart slams loudly in my ears and suddenly, I realize, it’s too high a price to pay. For both of us.

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