dropped out of poker night after years of coming to play. So I might as well get the hard part out of the way before my dad notices the awkwardness and figures out what’s going on.
“Okay, okay, okay. You’ve convinced me. I’ll go to the stupid interview. Happy now?”
A grin splits my friend’s face from ear to ear.
“Damn straight. Well, what are you waiting for? Off with you!”
“Umm…you’re still in my car. Kind of need you to get out in order for me to go anywhere.”
Laughing, Toni opens the door.
“I see how it is. You get one amazing sexual experience and now you’re talking back to your best friend. I guess people always change,” she says airily.
Rolling my eyes, I reply.
“Whatever you say, Cruella. Now out! I have some serious getting ready to do.”
As she closes the door, Toni yells through the window.
“I expect major details tomorrow, so you better make them good!”
Waving her off, I started the journey home to get ready. As I drive home, I continue to replay my conversation with Toni in my head. I don’t know why I was stressing so much over this. This is Ryan and Reese, after all. I’ve known them for as long as I can remember. They’re practically family, come to think of it. When I was young, my dad would tape emergency numbers to the refrigerator, and Ryan and Reese were always on there as emergency contacts.
Plus, clearly, they enjoyed themselves last night or else it would not have gone as far as it did. I just need to get out of my own head, and enjoy the ride for what it is.
I’d barely put my car in park before I ran into the house, hoping to grab a quick shower before heading to this ‘interview’. As I bolt up the stairs, I hear my dad holler out, “Where’s the fire?”
Not taking time to stop, I call back, “I have an interview at Burger Heaven in about thirty minutes, so I have to get ready.” Rushing through my routine, I managed to get ready in fifteen minutes. Taking a few extra minutes to fix my makeup, I head downstairs to hop in my car.
But Mike is waiting for me on the bottom floor. Kissing my forehead, he murmurs, “Good luck, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you for getting a job.”
I shoot him a rueful look.
“Thanks, Dad, but it’s just an interview. I don’t have the job yet.”
Mike merely smiles and shrugs.
“That’s okay sweetheart. You know Ryan and Reese are going to give you the job, and the interview is just a formality. They’ve been like uncles to you your entire life.”
Ugh. The word “uncle” is hitting home a little too close, but I try to pass it off. Laughing, I say, “I don’t know about uncles, but I want to make a good impression, regardless of our family connections. I know that you’re their best friend, but I want them to see me as an independent woman who is capable of being an excellent employee.”
Giving me one last hug, Dad stepped back saying, “I’m so proud of you, honey. That’s the right way to think about things.” Then, to my horror, his eyes begin to tear. “Look at my little girl, all grown up. Well, I won’t hold you up. Good luck on your interview and tell Ryan and Reese that I expect to see them next Tuesday for poker. Same as always.”
I manage a grin.
“Thanks, Dad. Don’t wait up. I think I’m going to go hang out with Toni after my interview so I may be getting home a little late.”
Running out the door before he has a chance to respond, I hop in my car and pull out of the driveway. My heart flutters even as my foot hits the accelerator. Is this really happening? But it is, and now I need to see where the road takes me.
8
Amelia
Pulling into the Burger Heaven parking lot, I nervously wiped my hands on my skirt. I don’t know why this is so nerve-wracking. Like I said earlier, I know Reese and Ryan. Even if they didn’t want to move forward with an actual relationship, they would still be around at the very least as friends. It might be weird and awkward for a while, but we’d get through it. Everything passes.
Deciding I had lingered in the car for long enough, I head into Burger Heaven. I had to knock on the door as the sign said they were closed