Page 20 of Heatwaves

I settle on the couch across from my dad as he switches the TV off, giving me his full attention.

“I called James this morning, and he wasnothappy about Jimmy. When they offered himthe job and asked him when he could start, James specifically asked him if his leaving his current job would cause any issues due to heat leave. This asshole—“

“Language, Lila. I swear this used to be the one thing I never had to get onto you about before.” Mom stops what she’s doing to lean over the counter to glare at me.

“Yeah, well…I’ve changed, and I like who I am now. If you don’t like it—“

“Okay, that’s enough.” Dad’s voice tells me he’s not fucking around. He hates it when we argue, which I know.

“Sorry, Mom. I’ll try not to cuss.” Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to my dad. “This jerk flat-out lied to him and told him no. James assured me he would rescind the job offer as soon as we got off the phone. I waited about five minutes before calling him into my office.

“He tried to tell me he’d be staying, and I let him know he wouldn’t be. He was fired effective immediately, and if he gave me any trouble, then I would have a suit filed against him. Haley stuck her head in to let me know my first interview was there.”

Dad throws his head back as he laughs. “Oh, that girl. She did that on purpose. She would never just let herself in your office like that. I’ve always liked her.”

“Me, too, Dad. By lunch, I’d already done six interviews and none of them had gone well. Just before Haley was going to go out to grab us some food, a woman came rushing up. She said she was here for the COO position and no, she didn’t have an interview set up. Apparently, there was a mix up at the temp agency, so I went ahead and took her into my office. Dad, she’s perfect. Everything I want in a COO. Plus, she’s a fox shifter, which means she doesn’t go into heat until the spring.”

“Let me guess. You hired her on the spot and canceled the rest of your interviews, didn’t you? Probably hired her permanently, too.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“Good for you, honey.”

“How is she going to get trained?” Mom asks, her voice curious.

Clearing my throat, I turn my attention to her. “I spent the rest of the afternoon training her on as much as I could. Tom is taking over Haley’s job while we’re both out since he’s her backup. He’ll help her with what he can, but I’mgoing to have to go in for a few hours tomorrow—“

“You can’t tomorrow. Tomorrow is the meet and greet.”

“Yes, the meet and greet I haven’t been to in years, Mom. I’m just planning to use Heat Assist like I have the last few years. I have to get her trained, Mom. I can’t have my company falling apart for two weeks while I’m out.”

“If you’d just put half as much energy into meeting a pod as you have that company, you’d be so much happier.” Mom shakes her head. “We all know the men on that app of yours aren’t looking for anything more than a heat with you.”

Grinding my teeth, I glance at my dad, whose face tells me I better behave. “I know, Mom, and that’s all I want. I’m not ready to settle down. I’m still young. There are other things I want to focus on right now.”

“Or you’re just too scared to try again after that pod disappeared.” Mom shakes her head. “You can’t give up on love because they hurt you.”

“Sylvia, that’s enough.” Dad’s tone books no argument, and my mom’s hazel eyes,so similar to mine, go wide as she glances between the two of us.

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Lila. That was cruel. I know you don’t like to talk or think about them. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Would the two of you mind setting the table?”

Letting my eyes fall shut, I attempt to reel back in the anger and pain rushing through me. My mom brings them up way more than I wish she would. I should be used to it by now, but I’m not. Somehow, it always catches me by surprise.

“Of course, Mom.” Pushing to my feet, I find Dad is already grabbing everything from the kitchen, so I move to the dining room to meet him. He knows it’s probably best to keep us separated for a little bit after what just happened.

“Are you okay, honey?” he asks quietly as he hands me the silverware.

I force a smile and shrug. “As okay as I ever am. I just wish she’d stop bringing them up.”

“She just doesn’t think about it, Lila. That’s all. She doesn’t understand how a pod you shared one heat with before disappearing is still upsetting to you. She doesn’t get attached to people as easily as we do.” He shakes his head. “Itdoesn’t excuse her behavior, but she just can’t understand you.”

I scoff. “As per usual. She’s never really understood me. But she’s right. It doesn’t make sense that I’m still pining over the four of them. It’s quite insane, but trust me when I say I wish I could just get over them.”

“I know, Lila. I know.” Dad glances toward the kitchen. “I know you like using your app, but think about coming to the meet and greet tomorrow? It’ll get her to back off for a little while, at least.”

“Yeah, but I need to train my new COO. I don’t have time for it, Dad.”

He shrugs. “It’s just something for you to think about.”

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