Page 10 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

And fuck me, it’sgood.Like slap-my-ass-and-call-me-sugar-tits kind of good. Likely the best pie I’ve ever had, and my nanny used to make some delicious pecan pie.

“Good?”

I nod, swallowing. “Fucking amazing.” I stab another bite onto my fork, shoveling it into my mouth before wiping it with a napkin. “This is why you’re my favorite aunt, Alma. You never steer me wrong.”

She quirks one of her drawn-on brows. “I’m your favorite aunt because you don’t have any others.”

“Small detail.”

She shakes her head and takes a sip of the coffee in her hands. “Smartass.”

I shoot her a grin. “You know you love me.”

“That I do, kid. That I do.”

I glance up from stuffing my face, and I can see it in her eyes—the pity.

It’s on the tip of her tongue to offer me a helping hand, but she knows me better than that. She knows I won’t accept it. She understands how I feel since she’s been in my shoes before and knows I have to move forward on my own. Because if I don’t, I can’t prove them wrong.

And I really want to fucking prove them wrong.

My computer pings, pulling my attention to the icon in the corner indicating I have a new email.

I click to my inbox and my brows shoot up as I read through it.

“What’s that look for, kid?” Alma asks, stealing a lone pecan off my plate.

“Interview,” I tell her. “I got an interview.”

“Already?”

“Yeah.” I nod, looking away from my computer. “They want to meet with me this week.”

“That’s good, right? Because you don’t look like it’s a good thing.”

“No, it’s good. It’s just…” I look back over at Alma, knowing she’ll understand my hesitation. “What if…what if I fail?”

“Then you fail.” She laughs when my mouth drops open. “Listen, kid, I could sit here and say you won’t and everything is going to be unicorns and rainbows for you. But it’s not. It’s gonna suck a whole lot before it gets better.” She reaches over to rest her hand on top of mine, giving it a squeeze. “But itwillget better. And all the rainy days will be worth it.”

The last of her words are whispered, but I hear them all the same.

She’s in my corner, and I realize in that moment that’s all that really matters to me.

Fuck the rest of the Barnes family. She’s the only one I need believing in me.

“All right,” she says, hopping down from her stool, “I have to get going. I have a client coming in for a color in ten. I’ll never hear the end of it if I’m late.” She rolls her eyes, but I know she loves her clients more than anything, even the pain-in-the-ass ones. “Good luck on the interview. You better let me know how it goes.”

She gives me a pointed look as she slips her sunglasses back over her eyes, and I understand exactly what she’s getting at: if I need her, I better call.

“I will.”

“You got this, kid. I have a feeling it’s gonna change your life.”

She takes off with a reassuring smile, and I return my attention to the pie, shaking my head at her.

This job is going to change my life?

Yeah, like that’s going to happen.

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