Page 2 of I'll Keep Her Safe

Oh.

The smile slides from my lips. “Right. Wow.”

“I don’t have to take it,” she says quickly, reaching for her coffee.

“What’s the position?”

She fiddles with her straw. “Digital marketing strategist. It’s with Hawthorne and Associates.”

“That’s huge,” I mumble. They’re one of the biggest marketing companies on the West Coast. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. Bailey was top of our class and graduated summa cum laude. She might not have been looking for jobs with a big firm like Hawthorne, but they found her. Of course they did.

My lungs constrict in my chest. It’s a familiar feeling, like I’m treading water and not quite keeping my head above the waves. For years I’ve felt like I’m one step behind everyone around me, ever since I switched from culinary school to marketing. I’m twenty-five and I’ve only just graduated, still living with my friend and her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Bailey has already met the love of her lifeandscored her dream job… at the ripe age of twenty-two.

“I know.” She sips her coffee, her brows dipped. Her gaze comes back to mine, resolute. “But we agreed to start the business, so I’ll—”

“No.” I shove my self-centered thoughts away and force a smile onto my lips. “You should take it. Youneedto take it. It’s an incredible opportunity.”

“What about the business?”

I take a beat to contemplate this. We finished our business plan a few days ago, and I’mthisclose to having the website ready. I really don’t want to give up now. Besides, it’s not like I have a marketing job of my own lined up.

“I think we should still build it. On the side.”

“We should totally do that.” A gleam of hope lights Bailey’s eyes. “You really think I should take this job?”

“Yes.” I can tell she really wants it, and there’s no way I’m selfish enough to stop her. I ignore the churn in my stomach as I add, “You deserve this, B. I won’t let you turn it down.”

She reaches across the table for my hand. “Thanks for being so understanding. You’re the best.” With a squeeze, she lets go of my hand and releases a long-held breath. “I guess that means I’m moving to San Francisco.”

My heart sinks at the thought of my best friend moving thousands of miles away. Her boyfriend’s face flashes through my mind, and I ask, “What about Dean?”

“He’s going to transfer to the West Coast branch.” Bailey saws her teeth nervously along her bottom lip. “So that means…”

A rock drops into my stomach. I’m losing my lovely room in their apartment in Sugar Hill, upper Manhattan. The first place I’ve truly been able to relax in years.

I shouldn’t be surprised. That was always supposed to be temporary. Besides, Bailey and Dean could use some time alone. I’ve been cramping their style for far too long, and it’s time to move on.

“Yeah, I get it,” I murmur, reaching for my glass of iced water. It’s been sitting out so long in the heat that it’s no longer cold, all the condensation pooled on the table around it.

I straighten my spine, determined to stay positive. My friend has been given an amazing opportunity, and so have I, in a way. Now is not the time to dwell on the fact that I had my hours cut at the coffee shop where I’ve worked for the past year.

And there’s no point in eventhinkingabout the money Kurt stole from me.

“When are you leaving?” I ask around a sip of tepid water, and Bailey grimaces.

“Uh, three days.”

Alarm races up my spine. “Three days?”

“I know. It’s all happening so quickly. Maybe I shouldn’t even—”

“You’re going.” I swallow hard, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll… figure something out.”

“Like what?”

“I’m sure I can find a room on Craigslist,” I say, mentally trying to calculate how much I’ve got saved and how long it will last me.

And then there are the student loans I’m supposed to be paying off…

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