Page 2 of Eye of the Hurricane
Please say you’re free tonight.
Luna
I’m very expensive actually, but I don’t have plans.
Katherine
You get on my nerves. Can we go to The Sand tonight?
Luna
Bad day?
Katherine
I just yelled at a freshman for apologizing to me.
Luna
Sexist?
Katherine
Always.
Jacob walks into the room with a smile on his face, one that never seems to waiver. He’s annoyingly positive, but in that infectious way. On good days, it’s so fun to work with someone like him. On bad days, his incessant good-humoredness is nearly enough to make me rip my hair out.
“So,” Jacob starts as we lock eyes, “I had another conversation with the PR manager over at The Sea Dragons.”
My heart sinks to my toes and I think I stop breathing. This is the thing I’ve been pushing for my entire life.
“Yeah?” I ask, pretending to keep my cool. I’m not fooling Jacob, though. He knows how bad I want this.
“When the time comes, you’re going to have to go through the same interview process as everyone else. But, me vouching for you will definitely give you a leg up. You’ll still have to wow them, but you knew that already.”
“Okay, yeah. I can do that,” I nod.
A position on their PR team is all I want. Whatever needs done, I’ll do it.
“There’s something else,” he says, taking a seat across from me. “I don’t want it to make you psych yourself out.”
I straighten up, trying to regain my composure.But hearing that there’s something else, calm is immediately out the door. Internally I’m a forest fire.
“Go ahead,” I encourage as if my pulse isn’t thumping through my entire body.
“I don’t want you to freak out. You’ve got more experience than nearly anyone coming into the market. You’ve gone above and beyond for the team here at DHU, and being brought on with us under a paid position also looks great.” He’s telling me all things I already know meaning he’s looking to soften the blow of whatever comes next.
“The position changed. The Sea Dragons are now looking to fill the spot of their PR manager.” There it is. My heart stops. “I told them I still wanted them to consider you and they’re still encouraging you to apply. They love what I’ve told them about you.”I don’t know if I can do this.
I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled. Even more than being a part of the PR team, being its head iseverythingI’ve dreamed of. On the other hand, this is more than just shooting for the stars. This is like shooting for another galaxy.
“Shit. Okay, I’ll get my stuff together and I’ll wow them,” I assure him.
“Atta girl!”
Luna shoves open the big,wooden double doors of The Sand as a small bell rings above our heads. The sight of the familiar interior alone is a weight off my shoulders. It’s all bright blues, yellows, pinks, and oranges. It’s exactly how you’d expect a coastal bar to look. The bar itself is evenpainted to look like an ocean and its shore. I’m sure Marco, the owner, thought he was hilarious when he named this place The Sand.
“What’s the vibe tonight?” Luna asks me, climbing up to sit on one of the bar stools. “Casual drinks? Shit-faced?”
