Page 275 of Come Back to Me

If the family didn’t toss me out when Callan and I plotted to besiege them with dogs, I don’t think there’s much I could do to earn an impromptu eviction notice.

(Not that I tell Dad that. He’ll fret about my being irresponsible. Again.)

“I’m sure they’d warn me if they wanted me to leave. And if not, I can set myself up?—”

“Doing what?”

“Whatever I want. Even if it’s a job at The Coffee Shop, Dad, I’m not afraid of hard work. I just don’t want to do...”

“Boringstuff.” He flicks open the can of coconut water Mom says is good for him. “That’s always been your trouble, darling. Life is boring sometimes. You have to deal with it.”

“I prefer not to, and I choose the path of least tedium.”

“Look, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, but you haven’t been around.” (Gee, I wonder why.) “There’s a job opening up at the end of this semester.”

(Of course there is.)

“That’s unusual.” There hasn’t been any turnover at his school since the second-grade teacher took up a position six years ago, but that’s two jobs now since I came back.

(I have the worst luck.)

“I doubt the high-school music teaching position would work with your process?—”

(Well, at least he knows that much about me.)

“—but Ava Marsten is leaving.”

The second-grade teacher herself.

“That’s a little abrupt. Who leaves midterm?”

“She’s pregnant and has decided she doesn’t want to work after her maternity leave is over. The baby’s due in January.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’d be perfect for the position. You could get started on the accreditation to become a teacher while we?—”

“How am I supposed to get a bachelor’s in education before January?” I drawl, leaning back against the wall, settling in for the fight. (I don’t know why he bothers. I talk circles around him.) “Time travel?”

“We can get someone in temporarily until you’re?—”

“I don’t want to be a teacher, Dad. I’ve never wanted to be a teacher. If that was what I wanted to do with my life, then I’d have studied for the job and I’d have never gone to Juilliard!”

“Juilliard,” he scoffs. “What a waste of time and money that was!”

Outrage has me jolting upright. “You know how impossible it is to get into Juilliard!”

His regret is immediate. I can read his expression like it’s an open book, but that doesn’t lessen the sting. “Look, I didn’t mean it that way. You know I didn’t?—”

“Sticks and stones?” I snipe.

That earns me a glare. “I’m a musician too. If anyone understands, it’s me. I was so proud the day you got in on a complete ride—you had a path, a plan, and recognition! But this is the real world, honey. We all live here. Even you. And you have to accept that whatever it is you’re doing now, sitting on your ass and taking Korhonen charity by the sounds of it, won’t get you anywhere.”

“You’d know if you asked,” I snap, thinking about how busy I’ve been helping Callan with Cole and Mia’s wedding on top of everything else.

“Your mother and I have talked about this.” (Sometimes, I wonder if they talk about anything else.) “You take no responsibilities, Tee. As far as I can see, you’re refusing to get a job. You’re living in someone else’s house?—”

“I’m hardly couch-surfing. You didn’t have a problem when I roomed with Zee in New York.”

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