Page 33 of Entangled By You
“At least promise me you’ll think about it,” Harlow persists.
If I’m being honest, I haven’t thought about anything else for the last six months. But thinking about it and doing something about it? Those are two very different beasts.
“Yeah,” I say. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good! Now that’s out of the way. You lost your job? Why?”
I give Harlow the rundown on everything that happened to make me jobless. Her reassurance that the townhouse’s rent isn’t an issue since it’s actually paid off and Pierce should be able to cover the bills until I get on my feet, isn’t as soothing as I think she thinks it is.
Si, can suck it. He’ll live without my rent for a month or two. But the last thing I want is another debt hanging over my head to owe Pierce.
“I’m going to apply everywhere. I don’t care what it is. Ijust hope I can make it through one interview without being laughed out the door.”
“You know, Josie might be looking for someone at the salon. I can ask her if you want. At least she already knows you’re pregnant.”
“That’d be amazing. I’m desperate. At this point, I’d probably sweep hair for free.”
“Well, speaking of Josie, we were chatting with the other Old Ladies and…” She trails off with a grin that makes me nervous.“We decided we want to throw you a baby shower!”
I blink. I genuinely don’t know what to say. No one’s done anything like that for me. I haven’t even told my mom I’m pregnant. Not that I’ve told her anythingsince Dad died.
She left. Just disappeared into her grief. And I can’t even be mad about it, because I dove into mine too. We just chose different exits.
“But why? I’m not an Old Lady. Pierce and I aren’t even together.”
“Yet.And the rest? Semantics. You can help or let us surprise you, but either way, you’re getting a baby shower.”
And just like that, I break. The tears come fast and hot, falling before I can stop them. I sniff, trying to blink them away, but it’s no use.
Stupid pregnancy hormones.
Harlow doesn’t say anything at first, just watches me break down into a puddle of my own making. Until she slides out of her side of the booth and into mine, wrapping her arms around me without hesitation. She feels like home, something I’ve been missing since she moved out. Her hug’s grounding, and I let myself melt into it for a second—just one.
“God, I’m a mess,” I mumble against her shoulder, laughing and crying at the same time.
“Please. This is nothing. Did you forget I’ve known you through way worse? I’ll take happy tears any day.”
She returns to her side of the booth, and I half-heartedly pick at what’s left of my food. I try to eat, but my stomach’s uneasy, coiled like a fist with the indecision about Pierce still weighing on my shoulders. Still, the fries are good. Salty. Exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
“So,” Harlow says, sipping the last of her iced tea, “I’ll talk to Josie today. If she’s hiring, I know she’ll have your back. We take care of ours. Plus, I’ll put in a glowing word for you.”
“Thanks. I mean it. Even if it doesn’t work out, it means a lot.”
She gives me a wink. “Obviously. I’m the best friend of your dreams.”
I roll my eyes, but the corners of my mouth lift.
We split the check even though she offered to cover it an annoying number of times. I insisted. I may be jobless, but I still have my pride… and about $142 to my name, which I am clearly open to investing in fresh-fried delicious potatoes and emotional damage control.
Outside, the late spring sun feels too bright after the dim interior of the pub. I squint behind my sunglasses as we step onto the sidewalk, the air thick with humidity, the scent of hot asphalt and blooming magnolias from the trees lining the street.
“So,” Harlow says, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, “what are you going to do now?”
I shrug. “Go home. Probably have a good cry in the shower. Apply for more jobs I’m unqualified for or somehow overqualified for. Maybe lie on the floor and question my life choices, until Pierce finds me and eventually feeds me again.”
She nods, deadly serious. “Excellent plan. Maybe add in alittle wall-staring? And I’ll give him a heads up that ice cream should definitely be on the menu for tonight.”
“He’ll take your word for it, and I’ll have a flight ready to go before I even walk through the door.”
