Page 17 of Making Home with You (The Rockport Beach #3)

Sarah

It’s been two weeks since I started my job and I’d like to say I’m settling in, but that would be a lie. This commute is killing me and I know if I’m going to stick this out I have to find a place in Boston.

Who am I kidding? I have to stick this out; I have no other choice. My only hope is that dealing with Handsy McGuire pays off and I land myself a marketing job. This sales shit is for the birds and honestly, I kinda suck at it.

I’m sitting at my desk, the feeling of complete and utter exhaustion taking over.

It’s finally Friday, but my five a.m. wake up call is totally catching up with me.

It’s not just the waking up early, but it’s also the late nights I spend at the office.

I’m lucky if I step off the train before eight p.m.

My weekend is packed with shit; dinner with Erin and Kelsey tonight and then Kelsey and Beck’s joint bachelor/bachelorette party on Saturday, and right now I’m regretting every second of it.

I shouldn’t be, because since moving to Rockport I finally have a social life.

It’s just too bad this damn job is getting in the way.

I’m sure the majority of people spend their days like I do; in an office, in a meeting, on phone calls, on the train.

And it isn’t so much the job, but the commute that is brutal.

Seventy-eight minutes one way; over two hours of my day is spent commuting, and honestly, this isn’t where I saw myself when I graduated from college or when I applied for the marketing job here, but I gotta take what I can get.

I’m supposed to meet Kelsey and Erin at the inn for dinner at seven, but it looks like I’m going to be late unless this conference call ends in the next ten minutes.

Basically, I’m at my desk taking line by line notes of what everyone says so later I can sit down with Andrew and relay all the information back to him. Something I hope gets put off until Monday.

Surprisingly the call finishes up quickly and when I glance at my watch, it’s nearly 5:30. If I bail now, I can make the 5:50 train and make it in time to meet Kelsey and Erin.

I pop my head into Andrew’s office and unsurprisingly in this case, there’s a petite blonde trying to maneuver her way out of his awkward embrace.

“Um, Andrew,” I say, my eyes wide and a fake smile plastered on my face. “Is it okay if I leave now? I’m supposed to meet some friends for dinner at seven in Rockport.”

He pauses momentarily, but that doesn’t stop him from patting the tiny blonde on her ass, and I watch her recoil. She looks right at me, her face marked with fear, and I watch her hand tremble as she reaches for the doorknob. But before I can say something she scrambles out the door.

“Yeah, sure,” Andrew responds, but there’s an annoyance in his tone as he flips his hand in my direction as if shooing me away.

Without waiting for him to say anything more, I duck back into my office, grateful for the lack of attention he is suddenly giving me. I gather my stuff quickly and call a good night to him through our adjoining doors as I make my way to the elevators.

But I should’ve known I wouldn’t be let off that easily because just as the elevator is about to close, Andrew steps in.

“Did you say you you’re meeting some friends in Rockport?” he asks, as he shifts his laptop bag into his left hand and presses the floor for the parking garage.

I let out a quiet sigh, again grateful for the fact that I’m exiting at the ground level and his unwanted attention will be halted in its path.

“Yes,” I reply trying not make eye contact with him, but I fail and look over as he moves closer to me.

“Did you drive here today?” Andrew asks, his fingers reaching out to tuck a wisp of hair behind my ear. I cringe and even though I try not to show my disgust, I can feel it sweep across my face and I suck in a hard breath.

“I’m taking the train.”

“Oh, you’re never going to make the 5:50. Let me give you a ride,” he says, never asking me if I want a ride, but rather assuming I will accept his offer.

And when the elevator door slides open on the parking garage level, Andrew places his hand on my lower back, pressing firmly as he tries to guide me out.

I step to the side, but the elevator isn’t big enough to avoid his roaming hands and I’ve now practically placed myself in the corner.

Nice job, Sarah.

I begin to review all the ridiculous self-defense moves Ryan taught me, wondering if I can break his nose and run, but I talk myself down. He hasn’t done anything other than make me feel uncomfortable and I’ve never once mentioned to him that he does.

“I’ll take the train, thank you though.”

I lean forward and press the ground level button again hoping it will get him to move his ass, but of course not. He stays as the doors close and once more I’m trying to remember how to break his nose.

He corners me, pinning me in with his arms, his hands on either side of my head and I swallow hard, repeating to myself, open palm, drive hand up.

I want to close my eyes and scream out loud, but I’m stunned into silence by his boldness.

“I don’t like the idea of you walking to the train in the dark, Sarah,” he says, his voice low and deep. “I also don’t like to be told no.”

His breath is hot against my face and he smells of cough drops and bourbon, and I want to gag.

“Listen,” I say firmly, finally finding my voice. “I’m not certain what you’re referring to, but my answer will always be no.”

I shove his arm out of the way as the elevator door opens revealing the security guard and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Without looking back at Andrew, I exit and hightail it to the train station.

I walk into the inn, but can’t seem to find Kelsey or Erin. It’s busier than I expected it to be given it is winter, but I guess that’s good for Kelsey.

I ask the desk attendant and she directs me to Kelsey’s office in the back where I find Erin and Kelsey sitting at a small round table with a bunch of takeout containers.

“Ordered from the bar again?” I ask, pulling up a chair and flopping down into it.

“Currently Erin will only eat the corned beef tacos Ryan makes,” Kelsey laments, taking a bite of her burger.

Erin rolls her eyes but shrugs her shoulders and adds that baby wants the tacos every single day.

“Shit, you look exhausted,” Erin says as she hands me a container with my usual order of Shepherd’s Pie.

When Ryan took over the menu at O’Loughlin’s the place really took off.

He added tons of Irish fare but with a twist, like adding pico and cilantro lime aioli to the corned beef tacos.

His ability to plan meals and create recipes is still astounding to me.

Not only am I exhausted but I’m also starving, and I waste no time digging in and the room falls silent for a few minutes as we all eat, taking the edge off our hunger.

“Why are we in your office?” I ask, looking around at the business cards and mailers that are scattered on Kelsey’s desk.

“Because Kelsey never stops working,” Erin says answering for her.

“Whatever, Erin,” Kelsey comments back, shaking her head.

“I was going over some new marketing material for the inn and the time got away from me. Erin was helping me go through some mockups…” She trails off, grabbing a few things from her desk and setting them down in front of me.

“Maybe you can help us. Something about these just doesn’t feel right to us. ”

I take a quick look and immediately see what she’s talking about. The placement of the inn’s name is off, the font is too small. The business cards are missing the website and email address.

“Who does your marketing?” I ask immediately knowing that even in the small amount of spare time I have I can do better than this.

“I don’t have a huge budget. Mostly just word of mouth and tourists who visit regularly for a city break, but I just hired someone I found on the Internet. The prices were cheap.”

I flip through some of the ideas that she’s been given for Internet marketing and social media, and I’m wondering if I should offer to take this on for her.

“You don’t have any social media pages?” I ask, but my question comes out higher and more shocked than I plan.

Kelsey looks away from me and says, “Nope, nothing. Just a website for booking.”

“I know you paid this person already, but would you mind if I took a look at this stuff and came up with something for you? I think I can help you out. Marketing is kinda my thing.”

“Oh my god, seriously? Why didn’t you ever say anything? Please do. I need all the help I can get.” She then piles everything into a file folder and hands it to me, and I agree to get some stuff back to her in the next few days.

As we finish up eating, Erin tosses a few boxes of chocolates onto the table and Kelsey lets out a loud laugh and scowls at Erin.

“Sarah and I don’t want your leftover shitty candy you got as Christmas gifts from your students.”

“I’m going to throw it out then,” Erin says, like this is a threat. She’s been pawning this stuff off on anyone within a ten-mile radius. “You sure you don’t want these?” She picks up a box of chocolate scotch shots and Kelsey shakes her head.

“Fuck no. You know I don’t like it when things squirt into my mouth.” Her nose is crinkled up and she shakes her head quickly, but Erin doesn’t let her off the hook that easily.

“Oh really? I’m pretty sure Beck would disagree with that comment.”

“Erin!” Kelsey screams, but we’re all laughing so loudly I’m certain her guests can hear us.

“Speaking of Beck, you guys ready for the party tomorrow?” Erin asks, wiping the tears from laughing that streak her cheeks.

“Yeah, I think so. I’m a little worried people won’t come dressed up, but I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate.”

“I think the famous TV and movie couples thing is super fun. I’m totally in,” I say, but both Erin and Kelsey give me a look that says they’re a little confused.