Page 55 of My Office Rival

“Dad’s only been working part time for the city. You need twenty hours to get benefits.”

“Are you kidding me?” I jumped off the couch and started pacing. “I can’t believe they didn’t tell us this. They must have known. He’s been part time for years!”

Devon was nodding. “They’re so secretive. They never want us to worry, well, mostly you, but they have so much pride.”

“Yeah, well, their stupid pride can go kick rocks,” I muttered, and he laughed.

“They’re on Medicaid now anyway, so they have something. But Mom doesn’t think it will be covered. Apparently, because physical therapy would be effective in most cases, it’s considered elective.”

“That’s stupid.”

“I know. And Dad won’t do the PT, so here we are. It’s a ton of money for the surgery.”

I paced as I thought. “I have to give them the money, Dev. It’s the best solution.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do?” I exploded.

“Nothing! You’re not their parent, sis. They’re adults. They can figure it out. I’m not saying don’t give them the money, I’m just saying you don’t have to.” He sounded too reasonable, and I made a face at him. “Besides, I know what it costs you to do this. And I don’t mean financially,” he added quietly.

It cost me a lot. I had done this before. Between the mountain of student loans I had paid off and the emergencies over the years, thisdance had become old hat. Devon had needed rent money for months when he had lost his job and been kicked out of a horrible living situation. $15k down the drain when I had been a fourth-year associate. My mom had gotten into a car accident and been sued. I’d helped her pay the judgment, so Dad’s wages wouldn’t be garnished. Every time something like this happened, it was another year at the firm. Another year I might not have if I got fired.

At my silence he added, “You need to live for you, Cynth, not them. What doyouwant? Just think about it.”

I sighed. “Love you, Dev.”

“Love you too.”

He hung up, and I flopped back on the couch.

I didn’t want to deal with this right now. Between my lack of exit options, Gerald’s ultimatum, Brett trying to oust me, the stress of this deal…panic made my stomach churn. It was all too much, and I didn’t see a way to succeed except to win and beg Gerald to make partner. If I made partner, I would be a millionaire, I’d show stupid Brett up, and I’d never have to worry about my family’s finances again. And I’d be miserable.You need to live for you.Thanks for that, Dev. Only one of us could be an independent filmmaker with not a care in the world in this family, and it was not going to be me. Besides, I didn’t have any concrete plans. I must have sent fifty job applications over the last twelve months. Human Rights Defense had been the only one to respond. What did that leave me with? A vague idea to bank all my firm earnings and take a job doing public interest work? When my family needed me? Maybe it was time to grow up and leave that pipe dream behind.

I ground my palms against my eyes. I needed a distraction. Jason had his running, at least. Maybe I could try to make dinner? It worked for him, so it couldn’t be impossible. I typically survived on takeout and nights out with Margo or my parents, but I could handle at least a grilled cheese sandwich.

I opened the fridge in the kitchen, andwow.Jason had really stocked this thing. There was enough food to feed an army. Protein shakes, all sorts of cheeses, what looked like five pounds of kale,leftover chicken.Ooh, leftovers. That I couldn’t mangle. Maybe chicken salad? I did a quick Google search. Okay, that didn’t look too difficult…hmm. I needed to make a sauce. I started grabbing ingredients and putting them on the counter, happy to be busy, until I heard a scratching at the wall. I froze. It happened again.

“Oh no, you don’t, little beastie,” I muttered. Like most New Yorkers, I had no tolerance for critters. When cockroaches were as big as birds and could fly just as quickly, you developed a healthy aversion to anything that could creep into your home. The scratching continued and I scrambled to search through the drawers until I found a rolling pin. I stilled, trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from.

There. Under the sink. I advanced, slowly, stealthily. I opened the cabinet and waited, searching the depths behind the garbage can and the cleaning supplies. I caught a flash of movement, and then a small shape scampered out. A mouse.

“Got you!” I cried and swung the rolling pin. Instead of hitting the little monster, I hit myself in the shin and fell to the ground.

“Damn it all to hell.” I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Today could not get any worse.

Jason’s footsteps sounded faintly, and then louder as he neared, until he came into view above me. Shirtless, of course. His skin was pebbled from the cool night air, and his running pants hung low on his hips. His chest rose and fell with quick breaths as he stared down at me, his lips curving in a smile.

“Why are you never wearing a shirt?” I grumbled. His smile widened.

“Why are you on the floor?” He retorted.

“Thought I would check out the view from down here.” I realized how dirty that sounded, and I flushed. “I was trying to make dinner, and then I heard a critter and tried to kill it. And failed miserably.”

His eyes laughed at me. “A critter, eh? And you tried to brain it with a rolling pin?”

“Tried. And failed.” I made a face.

“You’re a bloodthirsty one. Up you go.” He reached out his hand,and I stared at it for a beat too long before accepting his help. He smoothly pulled me up, and I let myself ogle him just the smallest amount.Yum.He smelled like night air and sweat, and man. Jason Elliott just after a run was not a sight I would forget anytime soon.

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