Page 68 of Nerdelicious
I can’t believe I’m caving to pressure from a semi-adult who doesn’t even know how to close cabinet doors or take less than three hours to shower. But I am.
I open the laptop and sign into my email account.
Dear applicant,
We regret to inform you...
“I didn’t get it.” AndDear applicant? Really? Reduced to a generic form letter.
“Are you kidding me? They are stupider than stupid!” Grace slams the fridge shut and opens the freezer, grabbing a pint of ice cream.
“I think I’m the stupid one in this situation.”
I knew I didn’t have a shot, but a huge part of me is still crushed by the rejection. This was literally a once-in-a-lifetime dream job. Another, smaller part of me is relieved to be able to stay in Blue Falls a little longer. Then I’m angry at myself for even wanting to stay longer at all. I won’t be the old Fred who lets go of her dreams.
Grace hops up on the counter, digging into the ice cream. “At least it means you can stay longer.”
I walk over and put a hand on her shoulder. “You know, I have to move back eventually, but we’ll always be friends. No matter where I’m living. You’re like the little sister I never wanted.”
Grace snorts out a laugh and pokes at her ice cream with a fork.
“Why do you always use a fork with ice cream? It’s not natural.”
She shrugs and swallows. “I like it this way.”
“Well, when I move back to New York and have a swanky apartment—which means my room will at least be bigger than a closet—you can come stay with me.”
The fork lowers and her eyes widen. “You mean it?”
“Of course. As long as it’s okay with Granny and everyone. We would have so much fun. You’d love Coney Island. And in the big city, I can teach you how to use a spoon like a normal human.”
She rolls her eyes, lets out a beleaguered sigh, and grabs a tiny bite with her fork. “Are you going to apply for more jobs?”
“I have my résumé out to a bunch of places, but yeah. I should keep looking.”
The thought of schlepping my résumé to more places, places I don’t really want to work anyway, makes my heart sink into my stomach. I highly doubt I’ll find anything as good as a nerdy chain of restaurants comprised of everything I love.
Grace is frowning down into her ice cream tub, poking at it with her fork. A flash of affection trips through me. It’s sweet that she cares.
“Hey.” I nudge her with my shoulder. “I’ll apply for jobs that will build up my résumé so the next time Comix has an opening, I’ll be even more perfect and they can’t possibly refuse me.”
Grace meets my eyes, then smiles slowly and nods. “I’ll help you search.”
We spend the afternoon in Grace’s room. She even helps me complete auto forms and submit my résumé on her computer while I use the laptop and we get double the applications done.
Before leaving for work, I give her an impulsive hug. “Hey. Thanks for helping me today.”
She pats me on the back with two sharp taps. “No sweat.”
Work is much less stressful without Caroline. And every time I leave the kitchen and peer at the door, Beast is there all beefy and brutally handsome. Knowing he’s all mine makes wings take flight in my stomach. Nothing as tame as butterflies, we’re talking full on pterodactyls.
During his break, I bring him dinner to the office, as per usual.
Except this time after I set his plate on the table, he yanks me down into his lap and kisses me senseless.
Then his hands move.I miss you.
“Really? You miss me? I’m literally within a hundred yards of you, like, every second of the day.”
