Page 33 of Accidental Dad’s Best Friend (Unintentionally Yours #7)

Izzy

O ne month later…

“It’s official. I think I have seen the inside of every magazine and newspaper lobby in the city of Denver.” I am on the phone with Cassie. It’s been months since I’ve talked to her so when I saw her name pop up on the caller ID, I nearly dropped the phone.

“Who knew that your piece of shit dad leaving the world of journalism would be such a catalyst for people wanting to interview you?” She laughs.

In the background, I can hear the door to the shop clanging and I have to admit, I miss it.

Obviously working in retail wasn’t realistic and it definitely wouldn’t pay enough for me and Jax to live in Cherry Creek but I have a lot of wonderful memories.

“So are these all magazines that called you?” She asks.

“I mean, I reached out to several magazines and journals, ones I thought might be fun to write for. But for the most part, people have come to me. Just in the last week and a half, I have had six interviews. And that’s just on the brick and mortar side.

The number of online presses and even blogging sites that have reached out has been unreal.

I even have an interview with PopSugar.”

“Shut up! Oh, not you ma’am sorry.” Cassie apologies to a woman I assume is a customer before going on. “That would be an amazing job. And you could work remote! Which means you could come back here.”

I smile at the thought as I line my lips with red lipstick in the car mirror. “I thought about it.”

“Well quit thinking about it and do it. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. But Jax is really happy here. And I just want to see if things work out…”

When I first left Grand Junction, I only told Cassie the basics.

Job offer that would get me back into real journalism.

Missing the city I grew up in. Wanting for opportunities for Jax, all that.

I didn’t tell her who I was working for.

I didn’t tell her about Ethan at all. Not until a month ago when I broke down and needed someone to talk to.

Cassie of course was wildly supportive. She didn’t even bat an eye at me getting involved with a man nearly 20 years older than me.

The girl reads enough erotica to think it was hot. Kinky even, as she put it.

“Do you think he’ll ever talk to you again?” She asks carefully.

“I don’t know.” I blink my eyes. Thank god for waterproof mascara.

I can’t even think about Ethan without bursting into tears, let alone talk about him.

Every time Jax has brought him up, I’ve had to lie and say I have something in my eye before rushing into the bathroom to sob. “I like to think so.”

“If not for your sake but Jax’s,” she goes on.

“But, I mean, maybe you were right. Maybe your instinct to keep Jax from Ethan wasn’t just because you didn’t want to share him with an unknown.

Maybe it was your gut telling you that Ethan wasn’t going to man up and be involved.

Maybe it’s good if you never hear from him again. ”

I blink fiercely. I hate that thought. I didn’t want to be right about him.

But I haven’t heard from him since the night at the NBT office.

Other than one text to confirm my rent was paid for two months and after that, it would switch to my name on a month to month basis, it’s been crickets.

Radio static. In other words, miserable.

“Maybe you’re right.” I let out a sigh.

“So what magazine are you interviewing for now?” Cassie changes the subject. Bless her.

“It’s called Out and About. It’s a local magazine covering Denver’s food, beverage and activity scene.”

“That sounds like a nice change of pace. Less politics and skinny chicks.”

I laugh at that, shoving my lipstick in my bag. “That’s what I thought too. It’s a new magazine. Actually, I’d never even heard of it until they reached out. But from what I’ve seen, it’s exploding. And the pay seems too good to be true.”

“Well get it, girl!” Cassie cheers for me. I make a promise to call her soon and definitely let her know if I get the job. She tells me there’s no way I won’t. And honestly, I do have a good feeling about this one.

I get out of the car and straighten my black skirt. I check my white blouse, making sure it’s tucked just right, and run my hands over my hair that is pinned up and back out of my face, save for a few curls that rarely behave.

Then I march towards the glass door of the modern building, head high and smile true.

“Good afternoon,” a woman with short black hair greets me at the desk.

“Hello. I’m here for an interview?”

“Ah yes. He’s waiting for you.”

My smile tips downward. “Oh. Am I late? I thought–”

“No, you’re right on time. He’s just eager about this interview.

If I had to guess, the odds are in your favor.

” She smiles and I smile back. It’s not the first interview that has felt more like they are selling themselves to me than I am to them.

But something here feels…different. I can’t place it.

“Miss Sloane?” A black woman with hair braided into a bun and tied back with a floral scarf smiles at me from the doorway. “He’s ready for you.”

I take a deep breath and blow it out softly before following her down the back hall.

Here we go.

The walls are lined with photos of food, wine, parks, and the mountains. White doors are labeled with gold name tags. The place is very chic. Bright and open. Nothing like NBT was, with its oak and dark accents. Everything about Out and About is refreshing.

We make our way into an open area and my breath catches in my chest. Along the perimeter of the walls are fish tanks. Tall, colorful fish tanks.

“Aren’t they lovely?” The woman I am following asks. She must have noticed my mouth dragging along the floor as we walk. “The boss said he loves fish and threw a nice chunk of change into having them installed. Definitely a focal point, if you ask me.”

“My son will love them,” I say softly. Then I correct myself. “If I get the job, I mean. My bad.”

She just smiles. We stop in front of a door and she knocks softly. “Well I hope it works out.”

“Thank you,” I smile back. The door opens slightly and she raises her eyebrows before pushing it open the rest of the way and gesturing for me to go inside.

I take another breath, throw on a smile and walk in.

The woman closes the door behind me and I stay in my spot, waiting for the man standing at the desk to turn around.

My eyes are drawn to the windows, ceiling to floor, overlooking a lake surrounded by trails and trees.

Out and About is not in the concrete jungle like many of the other publishers.

It’s near a park and a winery. Honestly the real estate is perfect considering the genre of magazine.

I take a step forward, wondering if I should sit. But just as I approach the chair, the man turns around.

I stop in my tracks.

All of my composure is gone.

All of the air in my lungs is gone too.

“Ethan.”

“Hello, Isabelle.”

At first, I wondered if I’m dreaming. I know I’m not though because I burnt my tongue on my caramel latte this morning and I can still feel the raw spot when I swallow.

Then I wonder if this is a joke. But the smile on his face, a soft, sweet smile in the corners of his lips, tells me I’m wrong about that too.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“This is my magazine.”

“Your…” I trail off, feeling light headed.

Ethan rushes around the desk and pulls out the chair. “Sit. Please.”

I nod, collapsing into the chair. My mouth is still agape and my head is spinning, enough that I feel like A human bobble head right now. So sexy, I know.

Ethan hands me a glass of water before taking a seat in front of me.

“I didn't know this was your magazine,” I say when my mouth finally remembers how to form words again.

“It’s new. A few months in the making.”

“That’s amazing.”

Ethan smiles. “Thank you. The opportunity presented itself and I thought, why not?”

“So you…you’re the CEO?”

“CEO. Editor in chief. I also write an occasional sports column. Everything from Coors Field events to the runners club to stats for the Frisbee Golf tournaments.”

“Frisbee golf,” I parrot in a failing attempt to keep up. Then my eyes dart up to meet his. “So you don’t work for NBT anymore?”

“Fuck no,” he leans back in his chair. “That night I walked out of there, that was my last. When your dad resigned, he actually left it to me.”

I nearly choke on my water and reach for a tissue. “I’m sorry, he what?”

Ethan chuckles. “That was my response too. And I thought about it for a bit. But then I realized I just wanted to wash my hands of it. It was bought out shortly after, some Chicago big shot. Not sure how it’s going, but honestly I don’t care.”

“And how is this going?” I ask, motioning around the room.

“Well, actually. But we do need more writers.” His eyes land on me and I stop.

“You want to hire me.” I state the obvious.

“I do. Like I said, we need writers. The best writers. And I happen to know you are impeccable at what you do, Izzy.”

I chew my lip, unsure what to say. “I thought…I mean…we haven’t…”

“I also heard what you did for me.”

I stop. “What I did?”

“At League. I went in for an interview for the editor in chief position and they said they almost gave it to someone else, except that she turned it down because she thought I should get the job. I know it was you.”

I swallow and nodd. Then, without warning, tears spill from my eyes. “I’m sorry Ethan. I am sorry that I never told you about Jax. I’m sorry I was terrible to you all those years. I am sorry that even after you helped me, after you took care of us, I still wasn’t honest with you.”

“I understand,” Ethan says soberly. “I’m not going to lie, it gutted me. Not a day goes by that I don’t have conflicted feelings about it.”

“I bet,” I sob, reaching for more tissues.

“But I’d also be lying if I said that I haven’t thought about you. About us. About Jax. How is he, by the way?”

“He misses you. He asks about you a lot. But he’s happy. He loves his school and the neighborhood and…I need a job like this, Ethan. Don’t do me any favors. But I need to be able to afford this house. It’s our home.”

Ethan nods. “I know. And I want you to stay in that house. I want Jax to have everything he needs and more. I want–” he stops. Then he moves to the other side of the desk and takes my hand, pulling me to my feet. Our eyes lock and my heart skips and he keeps talking.

“I want to be in his life. I want to be there for school plays and soccer games and birthdays and lazy Sundays. I know he’s only five but I feel like I’ve missed so much. I don’t want to miss anymore.”

Ethan’s words are sweet and soft but his face is serious.

My stomach bottoms out. “Are you…are you going to take him from me?”

Ethan’s eyebrows stitch together. “No, I’m not going to take him from you. Why would you even say that?”

I take a step back, pulling my hand from his. “Because you said you want to be in his life. You want to be around him . I just assumed–”

“You assumed wrong, Isabelle. I said him, but that means you too. You are a package deal and I realize that. But you know what else I realized? I want to be in your life too. I want to spend time with you . I want to work with you and go on dates with you and have dinner with and wake up with you .”

“You…you do?” I stutter.

And Ethan smiles. A real, warm smile that reaches his eyes makes every nerve in my body tingle. “Yes. I want all of that because I want you. I love you, Isabelle Sloane.”

Ethan reaches for me and pulls me against him. It’s a good thing because I think my knees just about buckled. Then he presses his lips to mine in a deep, sweet, reassuring kiss. After a moment, I pull back just enough to look up at him.

“I love you too, Ethan.” I whisper and we kiss again. “But there is one thing…”

“Shoot,” he tips his chin up in a nod.

“It’s Izzy. Not fucking Isabelle.”

Ethan laughs before pulling me even closer. “Good girl,” he says before kissing me even harder.