Page 108 of Kiss and Tell

I was still shaky with aftershocks of the adrenaline rush when I walked into the building. It was empty, so I continued down the hallway to Walt’s dive bar.

Connor was there talking to his brother and Jessie, his usual leather jacket slung around his shoulders. He saw me come in and got up to greet me. I started walking over on weak, unstable legs. He immediately became concerned.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “What's wrong?”

“I did it,” I said faintly.

He put a hand under my elbow to keep me upright and guided me to take a seat at the bar counter. Jessie was wiping down the surface as Walt washed mugs.

“So you did it?” Connor repeated. “It’s over?”

“It’s over,” I confirmed weakly, still in shock.

He pulled me in close, as close to cuddling me as he could in public without it turning into PDA. I supposed it didn’t matter now if everyone found out about us.

In fact, the thought of everyone knowing made me quite happy.

I laid my head on Connor’s shoulder and inhaled deeply, his calming scent washing over me. The warm leather of his jacket pressed into my cheek and I felt the urge to nuzzle into it. I almost forgot where I was until Jessie spoke up.

“What did you do?” she asked.

“I quit.”

Jessie and Walt paused in their respective cleaning to stare at me.

“Quit your job?” she asked with a furrow of her brow.

Connor rubbed a comforting hand up and down my back as I explained. His hand was large and his palm was hot. I luxuriated in his touch, even through my blouse.

“My coworker was blackmailing me and my work wouldn’t listen,” I said, simplifying the situation as best I could. “So I quit and filed a complaint with the labor board. I told him to get a lawyer. Also, he’s fired,” I added.

Jessie’s eyebrows nearly raised off her forehead as Connor looked proud, almost smug, at what I’d been able to pull off.

“That’s shitty and amazing at the same time,” she said. “I’m sorry you were going through that. I had no idea. But I’m glad he’s not going to get away with it.”

“At the very least, he’s lost his job and will probably never get another one, once people find out why he was fired.” I looked down at my shaky hands. “Of course, I’m also unemployed, too.” My voice was high-pitched and panicked. “I have no idea what’s going to happen. The industry is small. Word gets around. Sure, some people will understand why I filed a complaint, but others might think I’m just causing trouble. Employers don’t like to hire troublemakers.”

“Some do,” Walt said gruffly. “Like me.”

I looked up at him. It was the first thing he’d said to me yet. He was still washing mugs, not paying attention to me.

A look of understanding crossed Jessie’s face as she nodded thoughtfully. Connor’s lips parted in surprise, but he didn’t say anything.

“We’ve been looking at expanding…” Jessie began.

“I know, something about buying up the properties next door?” I replied, growing confused.

“The neighborhood’s changing,” Walt said. “There’s new opportunities. For me and you.”

I looked at Walt, who didn’t continue. I looked at Jessie, who simply smiled, then at Connor. His eyes gleamed with muted delight. I looked back at Walt.

“What?” I said.

“I’m launching new businesses.” He finally put down his washcloth and met my eyes. “Connor’s going to need someone to help design those spaces.”

My jaw slowly dropped as understanding dawned on me.

“Are you hiring me?” I asked.