Page 33 of Semi Sweet (Working For Love #1)

I ’d only been at my internship for two days before Evan had gone and thrown a wrench in things. As much as I wanted to hide under Sean’s down comforter, I made myself get up to proceed with my life as normal. What exactly was normal?

I pondered the question as I got ready. Sean was usually up and out of the apartment before I was awake, but after everything that had happened, he wanted to make sure I got to the Rocky Mountain Press in one piece.

We’d shared a bed. I’d expected it to be a bit weird in the morning, but we were moving in a strange sort of synchronization, utilizing the small space while not getting in each other's way.

“I called a cab,” Sean explained, buttoning the white dress shirt he was going to wear under his work coat.

“I would go with you if I hadn’t already pushed back my performance meeting with Gio Quittero this morning.

” He looked like he was having trouble with that, seeing as how he had been angry Evan wasn’t protecting me from train creeps.

Evan was the creep now. “I’ll tell the driver not to drive off until you are in the building. ”

“It’s okay,” I tried to muster. “I don’t think he would do anything in broad daylight.”

Honestly, I had no guarantees that was true. I hoped Evan was still trying to put on the air that everything was fine and he’d have to go to work to continue to keep the appearance up. There would be no emergency button to press this time around.

“I was actually thinking of a place we could go where Evan would never think to find you.”

“Don’t say Russia. I’m pretty sure my passport didn’t survive Evan’s rage,” I said as I headed towards the kitchen to make some semblance of a lunch.

“How about Aspen?”

I turned to look at him. The town kept coming up in conversation like some sort of omen. “You think so?”

“I’m overdue to pay my parents a visit and I’ve got a few friends who owe me favors. I could find you a place to lay low for a while.”

“I don’t really know what to say,” I replied, abandoning making lunch. I would see if Tasha or some of the other interns wanted to order takeout instead. “What about school? Your Job? My–” My voice trailed off.

Sean raised an eyebrow at me. “What?”

I remembered Chloe asking if I was interested in working in the resort town. “Actually, the Rocky Mountain Press has an editor in Aspen. That’s the only thing that could potentially work out in all of this.”

“I’ll take it,” he said. I wanted to talk through all the other issues that gave me anxiety about the situation, but Sean’s phone was buzzing and he was grabbing my jacket and guiding me towards the door. “The cab is here. If you see Evan, tell the driver to keep going.”

He walked me to the cab, giving the cab driver specific instructions and a description of what Evan looked like just in case. The driver asked if he would have to testify in court if something went wrong.

“It will only go wrong if you leave before she gets in the building,” Sean snapped. “No pressure.”

***

Chloe was reading a thick manuscript when I knocked on the frame of her office door.

“Hi Olivia,” she said cheerfully, pushing the stack of papers away. “Are you getting settled here?”

I nodded. “I’m really enjoying it, thank you for asking. I’m afraid I have to talk to you about something serious that has developed.”

Chloe’s expression became serious as I shut the door behind me.

I hated people knowing things about my personal life.

In the past, it had given people things to gossip about, but I was still going along with the idea of honesty.

If I was more open, I’d get more opportunities and hopefully be able to heal.

“Is everything okay?

“Honestly no, but it has nothing to do with the internship. If anything, being here probably helped me more than you can ever realize.”

I started at the beginning, explaining that I probably should have been more up front about why I needed new paperwork.

“I’d been in denial about how toxic the relationship was.

It wasn’t till he took things too far that I had to get out of there fast. I didn’t want to think you were taking on someone crazy.

” I smiled at her. “Getting involved in publishing is something I dreamed about for a long time.”

Chloe looked distraught over the news. “Please, never feel like you can’t be honest with me, with anyone here. We are all about creating safe spaces and being allies to people in all sorts of situations. Do you think you’re okay now?”

I shook my head. “It seems Denver isn’t big enough to keep him away from me.” I exhaled, hoping it wasn’t too late for what I was about to propose. “Does your colleague in Aspen still need help?”

“The position was never filled.” Chloe picked up the phone on her desk. “I’m sure she’d be happy to have you. Let’s try her now.”

A few minutes later, I was walking towards the common room to work with Tasha, pondering how life had gotten me to this moment. If I wasn’t living it, I probably wouldn’t have believed it.

“Everything okay?” Tasha asked when I finally sat down and took my half of the slush pile. How long were people going to keep asking me that before it started to bother me?

“It’s going to be now,” I said, more to myself than to Tasha as she shuffled everything into place.

“So how about getting those drinks tonight?” Tasha suggested. “Or do you have class again?”

I wondered if someday, when I could finally talk to someone about what I’d been through, if we would work on taking down my defenses. I decided being honest had worked so far.

“It’s kind of a long story, but today is my last day here.”

Tasha looked shocked. “But you’ve only been here three days! I thought we were getting on so well. If I’ve been bothering you about your roommate, I–”

I reached across the table and gave Tasha a reassuring pat on the arm. “It’s not that at all. I’m sorry we won’t get to wade the slush pile together anymore. It seems my life could be a story of its own and my next chapter is taking me to Aspen. I’m going to be working with the editor there.”

Tasha looked happy for me. “Angie is great. She comes to Denver from time to time. If you continue to work as hard as you have here, you’ll get hired for sure.”

I smiled. If I could still get a job out of this, I’d be thrilled.

“I’ve got to be honest about one thing, though.

” I tried to get it out before I lost my nerve.

“Things are complicated with my roommate. He used to be my boss, but he was something mysterious before that. He’s my savior.

He’s kissed me.” I watched Tasha’s eyes go wide at that admission.

“By all rights, we should be together, but my life is a little chaotic right now.”

“A little?”

“Okay, it’s very chaotic. I’ve been dealing with an unstable ex,” I confessed.

Tasha used her pile of query letters to fan herself. “Jesus, girl, say no more.” For a few moments, silence fell between us. I’d started to make my yes and no pile when Tasha said, “Do you think you’ll date him someday?”

I looked up at her and smiled. “I do.”

***

About an hour before I would have been done for the day, I got a text message from Sean.

What is the address for the Rocky Mountain Press?

560 West Ave. Why? I texted back.

Don’t take the train. Just stay put until you hear from me again.

My stomach dropped. Had Evan been to Cash Value Market today? Had Sean overheard him say something about looking for me? I pictured him pacing outside of the building, waiting for me to come out. I couldn’t deal with confronting him again. Not after how he’d been the night before.

I sat nervously in Chloe’s office as Tasha and I shared our findings for the day.

Chloe was looking for the perfect science fiction romance to add to her list–she was determined to make it the next big thing–and Tasha was convinced she might have found a possible prospect.

I wondered if there was a Tasha in Aspen or if I would be doing all of the slush pile sorting myself.

Would the silence of reading would help soothe my troubled mind?

“Olivia, I’m very sorry we didn’t get to work together longer,” Chloe said as she made note of who to ask for full manuscript requests and who to send a form letter to. “Though I highly doubt this is the last I will be seeing you. I think Angie is going to know a good thing when she sees it.”

After so many years of working for a person who seemed to despise me, I would be happy if she just honored the rest of my internship and didn’t make my life a living hell.

The Rocky Mountain Press began to shut down for the day and I went to collect my things, wondering if I could linger until the last editor went home for the day. I checked my phone, relieved to see that there was a new text from Sean.

I’m here.

I looked at the time. He shouldn’t have been out of work for another hour. I tapped his number and held the phone to my ear, waving goodbye to my colleagues as they went home.

“What do you mean, you’re here?”

Sean laughed on the other end. “Come outside and see.”

When I went out the door and down the steps there was a tough SUV parked on the curb. The passenger side window rolled down. Sean was in the driver's seat. A very excited Bear was panting on a blanket in the back.

“Get in,” he said with a grin. “We’re going to Aspen.”