enjoy it, thanks to her confusion. How the hell did he get a job? She didn't even know he was looking.
"What kind of job? You're gonna need to elaborate, Matty."
"The kind that earns money. We're okay at the moment... we've got more than enough to get through. We don't have many bills, not while we stay here, but still, we're having a baby, so…"
"So…"
"So I got a job."
He said it just like that, like that was all there was to it. He got a job so that he can earn money, because obviously he hadn't been doing enough, seeing how he was only doing everything.
"A job doing what?" Genna asked. "Because you're being kind of vague and it's making me think the worst."
"It's legal, don't worry."
"Prostitution is legal in Vegas. I'm still worried."
"Well, technically, prostitution isn't legal in Vegas, it's only—"
"Matty," she growled.
"—legal at brothels around the state." He sighed, holding his hands up. "Fine, it's cooking."
She gaped at him. "Cooking."
"Yeah, I was in town, running errands, when I passed this small diner that had a 'help wanted' sign hanging on the door. I got curious, asked what kind of help they were looking for. The manager said they needed someone who could cook."
He shrugged then, like that was that, like there was no need to go any further with the story.
"So... you volunteered?"
"More like I applied," he said. "I filled out an application... or Matthew did. I figured it was a long shot, considering I'm twenty-five and have no work history, nor do I have any references, but they were desperate. I start tomorrow."
Genna wasn't sure what to say. Congratulations? Thank you? Are you fucking crazy? She didn't know which sentiment fit best. They were in uncharted waters. When leaving New York, they hadn't given much thought about the future. Sure, they talked about the possibilities, but they hadn't stopped to consider the specifics. They both had an ungodly amount of family money, but touching a single penny of it was out of the question.
That would be dangerous.
Way too dangerous.
So all they had was whatever cash Matty had pulled together from whoever had helped them. He'd said it was enough to get by, but how much was that, exactly?
"It's only making ten bucks an hour, but it's something," he said. "Thirty or so hours a week, after taxes, we're looking at an extra grand or so every month."
A thousand dollars. Genna used to blow that in ten minutes at the mall. She bought shoes that cost more than he'd make in a month. She couldn't wrap her brain around it.
Matty's smile fell. "Why are you looking like that, Princess?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to cry."
Tears burned Genna's eyes, a lump forming in her throat. "Probably because I am."
He full on frowned and opened his arms, pulling her into a hug. "I thought you'd be happy."
"I am," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm just sorry you have to go through this because of me."
"Whoa." He pulled back to look at her. His hands framed her face, holding it in place. Fresh calluses had sprung up on his thumbs, the skin rough as he stroked her flushed cheek. "This isn't something I'm going through because of you. This is nothing you did. It's not some kind of punishment, Genna. This is living. This is how other people live. It's a lot of work for not a lot of pay, but it's money I'll earn, money I'll deserve, money I made for my family."
Matty's right hand drifted down, leaving her face, and settled on her stomach instead.
"And that's enough for you?" she asked.
"It is," he said. "We've got plenty of cash. And I still have people I can turn to. I don't have to work, but I need to. I need to do this for us. Can you get that?"
It took Genna a minute, but she got it. It wasn't about the money. He got a job to contribute. He needed to feel like he was working toward something. For weeks they'd been holed up in that house, doing little more than just existing, venturing out only to get what they needed.
"I get it," she said. "I do."
"Good. If you start to get lonely here and want me to quit, I will." He kissed her forehead. "Anyway, since it's my last night of freedom before I become your average everyday working man, I thought we could go out and celebrate."
"Celebrate how?"
"Vegas is just down the road," he said, his smile returning