Page 32 of Aftersome
Not sure he’d still feel the same once he realized my qualifications were less than adequate. I could sense a termination in my future.
“Thank you.” I forced a smile and took a peek over at James who was grinning from ear to ear. “I’m happy to be here.”
“Took a bit to convince her, but my baby mama was able to seal the deal.”
Rolling my eyes, a short chuckle fell past my lips. If it wasn’t for them both, there was no way I would be here right now. Without the support of Kate and the safety of James.
“And how is Kate doing?” Jim asked.
“She’s great, besides the damn morning sickness. It was kicking her ass for a while but her doctor was able to prescribe some medicine that seems to be helping.”
“That’s good to hear, I’m glad she’s feeling better.” Jim nodded and with the wave his hand, he motioned for me to sit down in the small sofa-like chair that sat in front of his desk. “Come sit, I’m going to get you the paperwork to fill out, then James can give you the grand tour.”
I took a few steps toward the chair and dropped down into it with my hands locked together in my lap. It felt so surreal being here. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so out of place somewhere. Just a couple days ago, I was in the comfort of my home, stuck in the same routine I’d been in for years.
Until now.
Now, I was here.
Far from home. Far from everyone.
My stomach was in an endless twist of knots and fearing that any second I’d come face to face with Mal. Like at any minute he could come barreling through that door, demanding that I leave.
“This should be all you need to fill out.”
Peering up, Jim had extended his arm out while his had held a small stack of papers for me. Gingerly, I grabbed the stack and gave him a soft smile.
“Thank you.”
Jim went back to his desk and about halfway there, he gave me a curt nod in return before taking a seat across from me. With the papers resting in my lap, my eyes landed on a small cup that was filled with a bunch of fancy pens. My stare collided with Jim’s and silently, I motion with my hand and the rise of my brow if I could use one.
“Oh, of course. You can use a pen. I’m sorry.”
My cheeks flushed, only because I noticed his slightly went pink.
Then grabbing a smooth, black pen, I lowered my eyes to the paperwork in my lap.
“Hey, so while you’re busy doing that, I’m gonna go chat with Coach real quick. I’ll be back to give you the tour, though, when you’re done, okay?” James announced from behind me, causing my head to snap around and find him lingering at the door.
Oh god, I didn’t want to be left alone.
Talk about awkward. It wasn’t Jim’s fault, though. I just think that over time from talking to strangers over the internet, I forgot how to interact with them in person.
“Okay,” I responded over my shoulder, though it was anything but okay. Even if there was going to be minimal to no conversations going on at all, I’d rather have James in here to divert the attention away from me. Immediately sensing my discomfort, James gave me a sympathetic smile along with a brief thumbs-up and quietly left the room.
Dammit.
I then got back to filling out the paperwork. I knocked out the basic questions first: name, date, previous employers. Every nowand then, I found myself peering up and when I did, Jim always took notice and smiled.
God, he must think I’m strange.
Once I made it to the second page, a list of what my duties would be stared back at me and a feeling of uneasiness swept through me. A long list of expectations and goals that all blurred together as one had me gnawing profusely on the pen in my hand.
“You okay there?” Jim asked, causing the pen to slip from my mouth.
Oh my god, I just put his pen in my mouth.
Again, I couldn’t stop my cheeks from heating. I was blowing it. It didn’t matter that I already had the job, once he realized just how unprepared and quirky I was, I’d get let go.
