Page 12 of Man of the Month Club: January
“I assume your moan means that it tastes okay?” she asks before she daintily takes a bite from her own plate.
“Oh-my-gah,” I say, beyond thrilled with the myriad of flavors assaulting my taste buds.
That proud look that I can’t get enough of emerges in her expression again as we both tuck into our dinners. After downing a hefty portion, plus a second helping, I sit back and pat my stomach before weighing in with my opinion, “That was phenomenal.”
“It was just spaghetti.” She looks down at her lap as she downplays her cooking skills.
“The most delicious spaghetti I’ve ever tasted. You could easily get a job as a chef at any restaurant in town,” I tell her honestly.
Her face lights up at my praise, “I enjoy cooking occasionally, but I doubt it would be fun if Ihadto do it every day for work.”
“Yes, getting paid to do something tends to suck the joy right out of it,” I agree.
Suddenly, her expression falls. “I’ll just clean up this mess and get out of your way. You’re probably tired.”
“Don’t go,” I say, hoping I don’t sound too pathetic.
When the silence lingers and threatens to become awkward, I add, “I have a job idea for you that I think you’re going to love.”
11
Maggie
Jett’s brilliant career idea for me has me truly excited about something for the first time since the fire. After asking him numerous questions about it, I race out of his house, so I can call Ciara.
As soon as she picks up, I say, “I’m going to be a home stager!”
“A what?” she asks, sounding as perplexed as I had when Jett first mentioned it as a potential job opportunity for me.
“A home stager,” I say slowly before adding, “They go into homes that are on the market and get them ready to sell. The idea is to add just enough furniture, artwork, and warmth so potential buyers can picture themselves moving right in and living comfortably there. They need to see it as a happy home, not an empty shell or a hoarder’s paradise. Jett says I have a natural knack for it, so he is going to introduce me to some of his friends in the real estate industry. He thinks they’ll all be fighting over hiring me in no time, but he wants dibs, since he discovered me.”
I’m out of breath from the monologue. It’s the most words I’ve spoken at once in longer than I can remember.
Ciara sounds delighted for me as she asks, “So, what exactly will you be doing?”
“I’ll arrange the home to sell by adding colorful throw pillows, warm rugs, and tasteful furnishings. We’ll add just enough to make the house seem like a home, so people can’t help but picture relaxing there on lazy Saturday mornings,” I tell her dreamily.
“What a fun job,” Ciara weighs in. Her voice takes on a slightly wary tone when she asks, “They actually pay people to do that?”
“Yes, quite handsomely,” I reveal before adding, “I’m going to be making so much more money than I ever dreamed of when we worked at the donut shop.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ciara says, sounding truly happy for me. I can hear a man’s voice murmuring in the background just before she says, “I’ll be right there, sweetheart, and I’ll reward your patience.”
Her words would normally make my jealousy flare, but now I have my memories of my night with Jett to see me through the lonely times. Instead of being snarky, I let her off the hook by saying, “I guess we should hang up. It sounds like Gabe doesn’t want to share you any longer tonight.”
Ciara lets out a happy giggle before saying, “I’m sure Jett is ready to have you all to himself, too.”
“No, I left and came home,” I tell her.
“What? Why?!?” She practically screeches the questions into my ear.
Holding the phone out away from my head in case of more shouting, I say, “We had dinner, cleaned up the mess, and talked about the job idea he had for me, then I left to come home.”
I have to move the phone closer to hear Ciara’s whispered question. “Was the sex not good?”
“It wasn’t good. It was outstanding,” I tell her honestly.
“Then why did you leave?” my friend asks me.
