Page 27 of Not Safe For Work

Gabby:

I got in!!! I can’t believe it but I actually got in. I’m GOING TO STANFORD!!!!

Holy shit. My baby sister is getting her MBA from Stanford. Her dream is finally coming true. I feel like I might cry.

Me:

You’re amazing. I never doubted you

Gabby:

You totally doubted me

But I love you anyway! I’m making you alfajores tonight – don’t work too late!

Before I realize what I’m doing, the cell is ringing in my ear.

“Wow,” Gabby’s voice comes through the phone. “My brother actually has time to call me?”

“I needed you to hear how proud of you I am. You amaze me. Truly.”

“Shut up! You’re gonna make me cry. Are you sure about paying the tuition? I’m twenty-one now. I can take out a loan.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. There’s nothing I hate more than lying to my sister, but there’s also nothing I won’t do for her. “Don’t you dare. I make more than enough to cover it. We’ll be fine.”

“I love you! Hey, before you go, how was the date last night?”

Ugh. Gabby and her friend Kadesha have made it their mission to find me a girlfriend. Every time we go out, they fight over who’s the better wing woman.

“It was fine. Don’t think I’ll be seeing her again though.”

“Why not?” Gabby screeches into the phone. “She was gorgeous. And she spoke Spanish!”

“And she was exactly the same as every other girl I’ve gone out with.” I don’t know if it’s a San Francisco thing, but all the women I meet seem to blur together. Is there some sort of rule that requires them all to order espresso martinis and workin marketing? They all wear the same Bay Area uniform, listen to the same music, and the only weekend activities they know of are brunch and hiking. It’s not that I have anything against hiking, I’m just…bored.

Mainly, I get the sense that they’re all just telling me what I want to hear, like it could take years to puzzle out who they are beneath the curated version they show me.

Maybe I’ve been in sales too long.

Or maybe it’s that I don’t have space in my chest to care about anyone besides my sister. Maybe I don’t want to. As long as I know Gabby is safe and happy, there’s little else I need.

“I know you have these incredibly high standards, but I’m worried my brother will be alone forever.”

“I’ll never be alone. I have you,” I quip.

“That doesn’t?—”

“Gotta go Gabs. Have another interview. See you tonight.”

Luckily this wasn’t a lie. I’m even two minutes late. I march back down to reception to grab the next candidate while I peruse over her resume. Olivia Diamond. Damn, what a name. Sounds like a popstar or something.

Business major, Sonoma State, captain of the archery club? Okay, that’s pretty cool. No work experience at all. The only thing listed is her certification as a service dog trainer. Might not be relevant but that’s really fucking cool.

“Olivia?” I ask, seeing a few people sitting in the waiting area. The girl who stands up is breathtaking. Red hair hangs down to her waist, layered over a black sweater and sparkling black skirt. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was applying for a job at a fashion magazine, not Sizzl. I’m tempted to peek at her resume again. Sonoma State is a mostly local college, but she’s got to be from New York, maybe Boston.

“Hi, that’s me.” She offers a little wave. Her face is veiled in soft features, smooth skin, a smile that makes me want to say“yes” to anything she asks. And her curves. I stop myself just in time before doing a full once-over and hold out my hand instead.

“I’m Gavin Scott. I’ll be interviewing you today.”

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