Page 37 of Eye of the Hurricane (Weathering Doves Harbor #2)

I want Ares, but I can’t take my focus off of my career. I want my career, but I have to give up Ares then. I want to keep diving head-first into the taste of fun I’ve had lately, but fun is a distraction.

For the first time in my life, I’m at a crossroads with the things I’ve always been certain about. Because for the first time, I know there is more to life and I know that I want the more life has to offer.

I’m asking myself if I get this job, will I allow myself to step back a little and enjoy what’s left of my youth? And it scares me a little that my answer is yes. Because that was never part of the plan.

“Kat!” Marco yells, breaking me out of my own head. I shake the cobwebs out of my head and look up at him. “Your phone. It’s been ringing.” He’s right, it’s been ringing and vibrating and I’ve been so inside my head I didn’t even hear it.

I pull the phone from my purse. Mateo’s name lights up in big bold letters across my phone screen. So I scramble outside and hit the big, daunting, green button.

“Sorry it took me a minute to answer, I’m out at lunch.”

“You’re off the clock, Katherine. You don’t have to explain your delay in answering to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s your schedule like today?”

“Wide open.”

“Do you have the time to stop in for a bit?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll head that way now.”

“I look forward to seeing you, Miss Graeves.” And he hangs up the phone. My heart races in my chest. As quickly as I can, I go inside, pay Marco for the food, and get on the road.

The Sea Dragons facility is only about half an hour outside of Doves Harbor. But it’s the most anxiety-filled half hour of my life. I know in my heart that this is it. This is the make-or-break moment.

I know that when I walk into his office I’ll be told one of two things.

Either all of my hard work paid off and I got the job I’ve dreamed of since the moment I knew it existed.

Or, I’m about to find out I’ve still got an indeterminate amount of time left with the plan.

And all of the things I’ve gotten a taste of this year will be just outside of my reach.

I consider calling someone on the drive there to talk my feelings out with. But then I remember that I set out this morning searching for some of my familiar independence and this is a damn good place for some.

So I put on my big girl pants and I make the entire drive by myself, listening to some hype music and giving myself a pep talk.

And when I finally park my car in the employee lot at the arena, I feel ready. Even if it’s bad news, I can stomach whatever he is about to tell me.

I walk through the hallways harshly lit by fluorescent bars of light. Every click of my heels on the ground gives me more confidence to walk in the room with my chin up.

I finally reach Mateo’s office and knock on the door.

“Come on in,” he calls out to me. I turn the handle and sit in the chair across from him. I try to assess his face or his mood for any indicator of the result but he’s calm. Void of any big emotions.

“Good morning… I guess it’s afternoon now. Go od afternoon.” The words tumble out of me one after another. He smiles.

“Good afternoon, Katherine. There’s no need to be nervous.” Easy for him to say. The rest of my life is quite literally on the line. Whatever he says right now will decide what the rest of my life looks like.

“Sorry, I just had thirty minutes all alone to think on my way here,” I admit with a nervous chuckle.

“I’ll cut right to it then so you don’t have to keep worrying. Sound good to you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“In short, we would love to extend the offer to you. The position is yours, if you want it.” I think I black out after the first sentence. The world stops. I feel like someone is going to jump out and say ‘ gotcha ’.

I open my mouth to speak and nothing comes out. I’m speechless. There isn’t a thing in the world I could say. I’ve chased this moment since middle school.

“Are you serious? Of course, you’re serious why would you joke about this… I don’t know what to say. Oh my God. I can’t believe it.” A single tear slips down the side of my cheek and I just let it. Because it’s a happy tear. Happy doesn’t even cut it, it’s a tear of fulfillment and elation.

“I have the official offer package here, in writing. I’m going to send it home with you. We would like a decision by—” I cut him off.

“Yes. My decision is yes.”

He laughs. “I really have to insist you read through the offer package first. I don’t see any red flags in it but if there is something that doesn’t work for you, you’ll have to negotiate with HR.”

“I’m sure it’s perfect. ”

“As that may be, please read it through before you answer.” He laughs.

“I will. I promise.”

“So you take this,” he hands me the packet sitting in front of him. “And read it over at home. We would like a decision by Monday but Friday is the deadline. All of the info about start date, wages, dress code, and expectations are written out in there in very clear terms.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get the decision over by Monday.” I take the packet from him, doing a quick flip through. It’s thick. There’s a lot here.

“I’ve been doing this for forty-odd years, I’ve loved every second of it.

It was important to me that my position was filled by someone who would love it even more.

There was not a single candidate who had the same level of passion for this as you.

The job was yours from the second you met with us.

” I think my heart might actually be glowing.

There may even be fireworks going off inside my head.

“Meet me at my house,” I tell Luna. I do my best to keep a steady voice so it’s a surprise when she gets there.

“When?” she asks with a groan. I must have woken her up. Although, it’s one in the afternoon.

“Now. Unless you’re busy.”

“Does a nap count as busy?”

“Nope. See you in ten. Love you!” I hang up the phone.

This feels like news I should be making a bunch of calls to tell everyone. I can’t call Ravyn and Audra because they’ll tell Ares before I get to. And I don’t want to tell him over the phone.

Now more than ever, I can’t call my mom. I expected some kind of big cut-off after the falling out. I would assume I have my dad to thank for the fact I haven’t been entirely dropped yet.

I shoot my dad a text, letting him know.

Katherine

I know things aren’t great right now but I wanted to let you know I got the job.

Dad

Congratulations. Should I tell your mother?

Katherine

No.

Dad

Okay.

It’s short and it’s tense but it still feels like a win. A win that he’s still speaking to me after I kicked them out of my house.

I can’t pinpoint what it is that I want with my parents. I don’t know if I want a relationship with them or not. It’s complicated.

What I want is for them to wake up one day and be better parents, but that’s not realistic. So instead, I take it day by day until I have the mental bandwidth to make a decision on the matter.

So long story short, I don’t call anyone. I just sit around all giddy until Luna gets here. I pour myself a celebratory glass of wine and pick at the chocolates I have on the counter until the door opens.

“This better be good, I was dreaming about Aubrey Plaza.”

“It is, I promise,” I assure her. I pour a second glass of wine and slide it across the countertop to her. She picks it up and takes a swig.

“Well, what is it?” she asks. I take one more sip and a deep breath.

“Mateo Palmer called today, he asked me to come in,” I start. She immediately drops her wine glass to the counter and a smile grows on her face.

“Oh my god.”

“So I went in. And this…” I slide the offer packet over to her. “Is my official offer package.” Tears well in her eyes and she throws her arms around me.

“I’m so proud of you. Congratulations!” she exclaims, holding me tight.

“You’re the only person who knows right now,” I tell her. She takes a step back, looking at me.

“You have to call Ares and tell him! You guys can be together now. Matter of fact… What am I doing here? He should be here.”

“I’m planning on telling him tomorrow when we all go to The Sand.”

“Good. You are going to let yourself have this right? You’re going to be with him?”

“I don’t know, Luna. I know that I want to,” I admit, chewing on the tip of my thumbnail.

“And you know that he wants to, so what’s the holdup?”

“I just don’t know if it’s fair to him—or anyone—for me to be with him and have to split my focus with my career. I love it, I’m not willing to give it up.”

“I hear you, and maybe if it was someone else I’d agree with you. But Kat, it’s Ares we’re talking about.” She reaches for my hand and clasps it between both of hers. “He knows you, maybe even better than I do. He knows all of these things and wants you anyway.” Her eyes are pleading.

“I guess you’re right.”

“I’m always right. If you are worried about it though, talk to him about it. Don’t waste your time trying to guess how he feels about it. Ask him. I think you’ll be pleased with his answer.”