Page 82 of Accidental Dad's Best Friend

“Well you don’t need to say anything right now,” Matt goes on. “You have some time to think it over. We still have a couple interviews to go. But I will say, you can most likely expect a phone call.”

“I think you might know one of the other candidates,” Jennifer says while flipping through the files. “Ethan Savage?”

I stop.

“Ethan Savage is interviewing?”

“Yes. We are speaking with him tomorrow. It’s actually not his first interview with us, but the other one fell through for some reason.”

“Hire him,” I blurt out.

“I’m sorry?” Jennifer asks with narrowed eyes. Matt drags his gaze from the papers on the desk up to me.

“I’m sorry. But honestly, he would be a much better fit for this job than me. He loves sports, he’s worked in the industry way longer, he’s a great leader and a top notch editor. You should hire him.”

“Do you not want the job?” Matt asks.

“Oh no, I want the job. I need the job. But if you want the right person, between Ethan and me, well. It’s Ethan.”

They look at each other and then back at me. “Honestly, that makes me want to hire you even more,” Matt admits. “But like I said, we will be in touch.”

I leave the interview not knowing how to feel. On one hand, I can’t believe I did that. I do need this job, more than I want to admit. My rent has been paid through the next month thanksto Ethan paying ahead of time. And I am determined to be able to keep it. Even if it is outrageous. We hardly have any bills otherwise and if I land a job like this one, I should be able to afford it. Jax is happy in his school and I love the neighborhood, bougie as it may be.

On the other hand though, what I said was true. Ethan is way more qualified for it than I am. Maybe even overqualified. I believe that when they interview him, they will see that. Part of me hopes that they’ll tell him I recommended him. Maybe then, he’ll see that I am trying to thank him.

That I’m sorry.

That I still care.

Maybe he will even come around. Maybe he will let me apologize and he’ll forgive me for lying. Even if keeping his son from him is an unforgivable sin. Maybe he’ll want to see Jax, even if he doesn’t want to be with me. No matter what though, I can’t live on maybes. I have to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep living.

Because Jax needs me, now more than ever.

And because I am a fighter.

It’s what I do.

Chapter 30

Izzy

One month later…

“It’s official. I think I have seen the inside of every magazine and newspaper lobby in the city of Denver.” I am on the phone with Cassie. It’s been months since I’ve talked to her so when I saw her name pop up on the caller ID, I nearly dropped the phone.

“Who knew that your piece of shit dad leaving the world of journalism would be such a catalyst for people wanting to interview you?” She laughs. In the background, I can hear the door to the shop clanging and I have to admit, I miss it. Obviously working in retail wasn’t realistic and it definitely wouldn’t pay enough for me and Jax to live in Cherry Creek but I have a lot of wonderful memories.

“So are these all magazines that called you?” She asks.

“I mean, I reached out to several magazines and journals, ones I thought might be fun to write for. But for the most part, people have come to me. Just in the last week and a half, I have had six interviews. And that’s just on the brick and mortar side. The number of online presses and even blogging sites that have reached out has been unreal. I even have an interview with PopSugar.”

“Shut up! Oh, not you ma’am sorry.” Cassie apologies to a woman I assume is a customer before going on. “That would be an amazing job. And you could work remote! Which means you could come back here.”

I smile at the thought as I line my lips with red lipstick in the car mirror. “I thought about it.”

“Well quit thinking about it and do it. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. But Jax is really happy here. And I just want to see if things work out…”

---