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People had tried to dig out details about Henry in the past, and having had bad experiences every time I confided in someone, I’d learned the hard way not to trust everyone with Henry’s health issues. It was the only thing that kept us safe from gossiping tongues and from being the topic of discussion at classic watercooler talk.
I thought back to Henry and his pale, sweating face. Of my hurried call to the doctor’s office and my burned chicken in the sink.
I swallowed. “It was just a normal evening. Watching TV,” I said.
Something about my response made Sean raise his eyebrows. “So, if you weren’t fired, could I trouble you for errands in the evenings?” he pressed.
Wasn’t I fired? Was there a chance I could still save my job?
I wanted to refuse his request for my time in the evenings, thinking of how often something unexpected happened withHenry’s health or his classes and how little time I got to set things right. Then, I thought about my promise to Lucas. If Lucas ever needed me, I should be around. I’d promised him as much.
“If I weren’t fired,” I stressed, “it would be no trouble at all.” I shut my eyes only briefly as I steeled myself for the coming days.
Sean was trying his best to get rid of me, and I wouldn’t give in.
“Well …” Sean said, stepping even closer to me.
His cologne hit me, all masculine and smoky. I had to look up to see him. His brown eyes were lit up while he observed me with an ease in him I hadn’t seen in a while. It reminded me of the man I’d met at the café weeks before. The man I hadn’t seen in him all day today.
“Chloe, I apologize. I spoke quite badly to you just now.” He paused. “I was too incensed and spoke in a way I shouldn’t have. It’s my mistake. You’re right about one thing though—I need to spend more time with Lucas. I need him to trust me and talk to me, and I don’t know how.”
I didn’t know how either.
“Chloe, I want you to work for me again.”
I stared at him in surprise. Was he joking?
But his expression was anything but fake. It was sincere and deep, and as I watched, his Adam’s apple bobbed while he waited for my response.
I wanted to work for him, bad temper and all.
“You were great tonight. I’ve never seen Lucas ease out of a tantrum so quickly.”
“Thank you.” I drew my gaze away from the base of his throat, realizing I’d been staring at his strong neck. “So, I can still work for you even though I was late tonight?” I asked breathlessly.
He nodded.
“Even though I pledged twenty-five grand to John Keene’s son’s baseball team?” I continued, pushing my luck. I needed to hear it. It was the only thing that would make this tumultuous night worth it.
Sean looked a bit grim at the reminder and then nodded again. “That’s fine,” he said. “But that brings me to another question. Why do you want this job so badly?”
Because I’d made a mistake once. A mistake that put Henry in a wheelchair. Losing this job would be a big mistake, and I didn’t let myself make mistakes again.
“You asked me that already.”
“Yes, and you never really gave me an answer. You’re doing the work of someone with far less experience than you—and for a boss like me.”
My life revolved around Henry—a continuous cycle of responsibility. Small, manageable tasks that helped me compartmentalize and process things, getting through one difficult day and onto the next. This job was just the same.
I could do this job, if only you’d let me.
I gazed into his eyes, feeling drawn in against my will. Feeling my knees weaken.
“And I am grateful that you gave me the opportunity,” I said, not stepping away. “It means a lot to me to have a job at the moment. That’s all.”
His gaze settled on me for a long time, evaluating. The air felt thick with tension, and he broke it abruptly by looking over at the spot where Lucas had sat, waiting for him. Watching him.
Sean’s expression was troubled when he turned back to me. “You seemed to understand how to talk to Lucas. How to get him to listen to you. How did you do that?”