Page 142 of For Wrath and Redemption
“Sorry,” Mabel whispers, and I wave her off.
“Do I look pregnant?”
She snorts. “No.”
“Phew.”
I mime wiping my forehead with my hand and head to the door. I take a deep breath, count to ten, then force a smile and open the door.
“Hi! Come on in!” I take turns pulling Sav and Callie into hugs as they walk into my apartment. “It’s good to see you guys.”
Sav moves toward Mabel and leans on the wall next to the couch. “Sorry for just dropping in unannounced.”
“Are you really?” Mabel asks with a smirk.
“Yes, I am.” Sav flips Mabel off playfully before returning her attention to me. “We finished up at the studio a little early, and I’d been meaning to meet up with you anyway. Since I knew you were with Mabes, I figured now was as good a time as any.”
“It’s fine, really. It’s nice to see you. Though, if I’d known, I’d have had us try to meet somewhere else.” I gesture awkwardly. “Sorry it’s so tiny. Just, um, sit wherever? It’s not the best space for gathering.”
Callie laughs and takes a seat on the floor, crossing her legs in front of her. “I grew up in Santa Monica and shared a place not much bigger than this with my momandsister. You don’t have to apologize.”
“Well, that’s one perk of moving back home. I’m likely to have more space.” I open the fridge and glance over my shoulder. “I have lemonade? Or I can make some coffee?”
“Lemonade is great,” Callie says. “Why are you moving back home?”
“Oh, right.” I huff a laugh as I pull four glasses from the cabinet and fill them with lemonade. “Well, I’m not sure how much you guys know, but I quit my job at Innovation, and it’s unlikely I’ll get hired anywhere else.”
Sav’s moved to the floor next to Callie, so I hand them their glasses, then grab mine and Mabel’s before taking my seat back on the couch.
“My lease is up in a month, so I’m just cutting my losses and moving back to Virginia. I don’t really want to drain my savings trying to stay in this shoebox, anyway.”
I try to sound lighthearted, but I can tell I fail. I love this city. I love this apartment. I loved my job. Now, everything is changing rapidly, and I’m just trying desperately to stay upright.
“I heard about your job, actually.” Sav gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry to hear about it. I’m surprised Jo’s dad didn’t offer to triple your salary to get you to stay after you did such great work with Jo.”
I force a laugh. “Yeah, well, when you date your boss, things like this happen.”
Sav spits out her lemonade as Callie chokes on hers.
“What?” Sav gasps out. She reaches over and pats Callie on the back. “You dated Jo’s dad?”
The shock in her voice has me laughing, and I flick my eyes to Mabel and find her staring at me too. I wince.
“Sorry for not telling you sooner.”
Mabel huffs out a laugh and shakes her head. “It’s fine, babe. It’s your trauma to tell.”
I laugh again, louder this time. Trauma is right.
“I dated him for almost a year before I ended things and quit Innovation. He didn’t take it well, hence, I won’t get hired anywhere else.”
“Bastard,” Sav growls. “That’s illegal.”
“His word against mine.” I shrug and force myself to sound more positive than I feel. “I could fight it, but it would be a huge pain in the ass. Costly and a lot of media attention. It’s the last thing I want to deal with. It’s fine. Virginia isn’t bad.”
“That’s so shitty, Claire. Seriously. I’m so sorry.”
I give Callie a smile. “It is, yeah. Thanks.”
