Page 96 of Let It Be Me

“Oh.” I’m embarrassed to find my feelings a little hurt. “Cam’s coming back?”

“Friday to Sunday. But you’re invited, man. I guess Cash just thought you’d say no. You’ve got your girl now; we know you wanna fuck all weekend.”

“That and he didn’t want a lecture.”

“Every group needs a voice of reason, right?” He shrugs and puts the box down, playing it off, but I can tell he’s expecting the lecture now.

“Not really.” I scan the store like I’m looking for the card display, but I’m not really looking at anything. “Sounds like an awesome weekend.”

“So come, man.”

I consider it. It’s hard to tell how much is because I actually want to and how much is because I hate that I’m such a fucking downer my best friend won’t even invite me on a boys’ weekend anymore. When did I get like this? “Nah, I’m good here. Next time. Seriously, I want in.”

“You got it. I need to finish up here, but I’ll see you at the gym.” He gives me a fist bump. “And hey, if you want to let your dick dry out for a few hours next weekend, come meet us. It’s only an hour away.”

I nod. Not that my shoulder would let me participate, but maybe if I watch, I’ll remember how to have a good time.

Ruby’s been goneover an hour, which is odd. I don’t know whether it’s a good sign or a bad one. I’m walking outside with a coffee at the place we agreed to meet when I spot her. Before she even sees me, she’s wearing an odd little smile. I wave and she hurries over.

“You won’t believe this.” She drops into a chair and I follow. “My parents just offered me a fucking job.”

“It’s almost August. Little late in the summer for that.”

“No, a job after graduation.”

I pause with the coffee halfway to my mouth. “Come again?”

“They just offered me a part of my grandparents’ business. The textiles business. The one my aunt and uncle have been running.”

“They offered you a part? Like a share of the profits?”

“Like a job. A career. As in ... set for life.”

I’m momentarily silenced. “Wait, that’s what they wanted to talk about?”

She nods and gives a little laugh. “Weird, right?”

“Did they mention what happened at the restaurant?”

She shrugs. “Only that it was unfortunate, but we can move past it.”

“And now they offer you a job out of nowhere? Your aunt and uncle are in Canada, right? Calgary?”

“Vancouver,” she corrects.

We’re both silent for a minute. But it only takes that long for me to figure out how to feel. “Well, that’s bullshit.”

“I know. They actually thought I’d be interested in a career in textiles and tying myself to them for life.”

“Trying to pull the puppet strings like always.”

She reaches for my coffee to take a sip but doesn’t say anything.

“Right?”

“Maybe? But this offer’s never been on the table before. I kinda think they might see me getting my life together and—” She shrugs. “Finally have some respect for me.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling guilty for putting the idea of ulterior motives in her head. I’m being a control freak. No wonder I wasn’t invited on the boys’ weekend. “Could be.”It’s definitely not.

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