Page 11 of Bang

Mason's two final words hung between us.Let's talk?

I didn'twantto talk. By now, I was so unsettled, I could hardly think. Plus, Livia was still refusing to leave, which made this conversation doubly awkward.

Just yesterday, I'd interviewed with the manager of her dad's jewelry store.

The job was for weekends only, which was better than nothing, especially given the sorry state of my finances. Even so, a part-time job in retail was a long way from where I'd hoped to be by now.

I'd graduated from college several months ago, but I still hadn't found full-time employment. So a few weeks ago, I'd done the only thing that made sense. I'd registered for more classes, looking to make some headway on getting my master's degree.

This wasn't my first choice. Still, it was my only smart choice, considering that my degree was in primary education, and the schoolyear had started nearly a month ago. This meant that my odds of getting a teaching jobnowwere practically non-existent.

Barring some miracle, I'd be waiting almost a full year before any decent teaching jobs opened up again. Until then, I needed to find something else, if only to stem the tide of student debt.

And yet, none of this explained Mason's surprise arrival. Yesterday, he'd offered me a job. I'd declined. Surely this meant that his obligation had been met – meaning an obligation to my best friend who was almost certainly behind the sudden offer.

I gave him a perplexed look. "You didn't come all this way forthat, did you?"

"For what?" he asked.

"To talk to me." Quickly, I clarified, "About the job, I mean."

"So what if I did?"

I made a point of looking around. Not only was Mason almost three hours away from home, he was standing in a small-town nightclub. Around us, everyone was staring, including Livia, who looked like she didn't know whether to jump his bones or pelt him with the empty drink glass.

I looked back to Mason. "I’m just saying, you could've called instead."

"Yeah. And you could've declined on the phone."

"You mean the job offer?" I said. "I couldstilldecline. In fact, I already did. You received my email, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So, like I said in the email, Ican'ttake the job." I straightened to my full height, which barely reached his shoulders. "No. What Imeanis, Iwon'ttake the job." I paused. "Even though I do appreciate the offer."

And I did, truly.I appreciated it more than words could express. But it wasn't Mason who received the bulk of my gratitude. It was my best friend, Arden, who was engaged to Mason's brother.

I wasn't quite sure how she'd managed it, but I justknewthat Arden was the driving force behind the sudden opportunity.

And how did I know this?

Two reasons. Reason number-one – just three days ago, Arden had promised to help me find a job. And reason number-two? Mason dislikedmejust as much as I disliked him, which meant that he was only doing this as a favor to his brother.

In front of me, Mason said, "If you're so thankful, take it. You can start tomorrow."

I made a sound of frustration. "Just because I’m thankful, that doesn't mean I should take it."

"Alright. Then take it because it's a good offer."

Good?Actually, it wasbetterthan good – which was yet another reason I'd declined. The pay actually exceeded what I'd make as a first-year teacher. It included living expenses, too.And a vehicle.Not for keepsies, but to drive whenever I wanted.

When I'd received the offer, I'd been so tempted, I'd almost said yes without thinking. But just in time, I'd come to my senses.

It was a pity job, plain and simple.

Plus, there was the matter of the employer himself.Mason was a total nightmare.

Mentally, I ran through his least desirable traits.