Page 13 of Taming You

“How did Jayden do today?” she asks.

“Oh, he did great. He didn’t fuss when Gi took him, and he slept well in the guest room when we put him down.”

“I’m glad,” she says as a yawn tears through her.

“I should let you get some sleep.”

“Nah, I’m fine. I wanted to check in on you guys.”

I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. Knowing Zoey was thinking about us today makes me happier than it should.

“Get some sleep, Zo. We can talk tomorrow.”

She yawns again. “Promise?” More shuffling comes through.

“Yeah. Promise.”

“Okay.”

“I’m glad you called. Sleep well, Zo.”

“You, too,” she says before the line goes dead.

CHAPTER 7

Zoey

Spending the last week at Matt’s has led me to forget about my own reality, which is that I have one week to pack my apartment up and get ready to move into my brother Henry’s spare room. Now that I’m done with law school and articling, my scholarship is up, which means my funding for housing is up and I need somewhere to live. I don’t have a job lined up yet, so of course my extremely protective eldest brother said I was moving in with him. I know his heart is in the right place, and I love my brother dearly, I’m just not sure I love that at twenty-six my life is moving backwards.

When I first started university, I thought when I finished I’d find a job in a nice downtown firm and begin working my way up. Find an apartment downtown, walking distance from the office and meet some nice guy and settle down. Well, none of that is happening. I’ve now spent eight years of my life working towards a degree I’m not even sure I want anymore. I really don’t know if I want to be a lawyer. It’s not calling to me the same way it did when I was eighteen.

I know one thing that pushed me to the profession was money. Growing up the way we did, barely making ends meet and having to watch my older brothers pick up jobs to help cover the bills because our parents would either spend their money on other things, or be too out of it to even make it to work and end up getting fired, really shaped the way I picked my profession. But now, watching my friends do the things they love and my brothers finding some joy in their jobs, I’m not sure I can push myself to get a job I’m not sure I want.

I haven’t exactly expressed any of this to anyone. When people ask about my job hunt, I keep it vague.It’s going well. I’ve got a few promising options.Whatever it takes to get them off my back. I saved up enough money from working while in school that I’m okay for basic expenses for a bit, but I don’t want to live at Henry’s forever, which means I need to figure out my shit.

Matt and I text during the week, but I’m too busy to pop by, knowing if I do, it won’t be a quick visit, but I’ll end up there for hours. On Thursday, I’m staring at my apartment, overwhelmed by all the stuff that still needs to be put in boxes. Remembering Matt saying his parents wanted to take Jayden on Friday, I text him.

Zoey

Can I call in that favour?

Matt

Shoot

Zoey

I need help packing. I need to be out of my place by noon on Saturday.

Matt

You’re moving??? Yeah, of course. Just let me know what time to be at your place, I’m dropping Jayden off with Mom at 10 a.m.

Zoey

Can you come right after?

Matt

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