Page 121 of With Us

Rosa:I’ll plan girl time. Rachelle, Tina, Julie?

Me:Sure.

Rosa:I’m on it.

I set the phone down with my book, forced a smile, and headed inside to pick out my sandwich.

One that didn’t include sardines or radishes.

Chapter Seventeen

Practice to Deceive

Dahlia

My kitten heels clicked on the city sidewalk as I made my way to the SUV. My tailored black pants and fitted cream blouse were professional and classy. I’d looked ridiculously out of place at the interview.

“So?” Ben asked as soon as I opened the passenger door.

“I’m pretty sure I nailed it.” Climbing in, I buckled up and looked at him. “He said he’d be in touch quickly, likely tomorrow.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah. But I don’t think I’m going to take it.”

Pulling away from the curb, he glanced at me. “Why not?”

That was a good question.

I shrugged. “They’re a bigger chain than Weggies, and busier. The hours would be more, and I’d for sure have to quit Java Brew.”

“Not seeing the problem. You’re used to working a lot of hours.”

I hesitated before admitting my real issue. “The store manager has been with the company for over twenty years. The other managers have all been there more than five years. Hell, the guy I would be replacing only left because he retired.”

“Okay…” Ben muttered, not getting it.

“The manager was going on and on about how long the employees stay with the store, and I kept hearing ‘Hotel California’ in my head. You know, like they can retire any time they’d like, but they can never leave?”

“I know the song. I’m just confused why stability is bad.”

“It’s not. But there’s stability, and then there’s complacency. And that’s what I think will happen. I’ll work a ton, telling myself I’ll get to the next step eventually. It’s what I’ve been doing for years, and I still haven’t figured out what the next step even is.”

“So do what Theo said. Quit the psychic café, and relax for a while. Go back to school. Do something different.”

“Do you like what you do?” I asked. “Well, besides all the glorified babysitting lately.”

He gave me a look, but otherwise ignored the last part. “I love chaos. Need it, even. That was part of why I wanted to be a chef, for the hectic kitchen. After my mom…” He shook his head. “But I love what I do now, even if it wasn’t my original plan.” Stopping at a red light, he met my eyes. “You never know what tomorrow will bring. Life’s too short to be complacent.”

I was torn. I wanted to feel secure and settled, but I didn’t want to feel like I wassettling.

Ben looked away from me again. He opened his mouth before closing it, only to open it again a moment later. “Theo has a lot of… reach. If you want something, all you have to do is say so. He’s been holding back because he doesn’t want to overwhelm you.”

My eyes widened. “This is holding back?”

“For him? Yes.”

Jealousy churned my stomach, the burn of it seeping into my chest. I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Is he this generous with all of his… girlfriends?”

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