Page 12 of Soft Rebound (Mad City Moments #2)

Liz

I n the first three weeks since I left Minnesota, I didn’t get many bites on the resumés I’d sent out.

But the few weeks since have been better—almost like meeting Joe was a stroke of good luck—and I’ve had three interviews this week alone.

Today, I am on round four of a very elaborate interview process with Qpik, a local software behemoth.

It’s a far larger company than I’ve ever worked for—it might actually be scary big.

I’ve had multiple meetings with everyone from Accounting, which makes sense given that that’s the division I will be working for, but then I met several people from Human Resources, then representatives from Purchasing, Legal, and Marketing & Sales.

However, today they also want me to see the rest of the campus and I get to meet a few of the software developers.

They say knowing people in different departments increases company cohesion and loyalty. I hope this is a good sign.

But I have seen so many new faces and heard so many new names and shaken so many new hands that my head is spinning. Coupled with the fact that my morning involved multiple cups of coffee and bottles of water, I need an urgent bathroom break.

When I get out of the stall, there’s a striking woman at the sink. She’s really tall, in jeans and a simple top, and she looks like a cross between Cher and the Stella Kidd character from Chicago Fire. She’s leaning back against the counter and giving me a curious look.

“Not many women in the women’s bathroom on this floor,” she says.

“Uhm.” I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond. “Okay?”

She chuckles. “I mean, it’s mostly software developers in this building and I’m one of the only two female developers on the floor. The other one is on family leave now, so I don’t usually see anyone else here.”

“Erm, okay. Sorry.”

She throws her hands up in the air. “Oh, my God, I am coming across like I’m upset that you used the bathroom—I’m not! I meant to imply it was great to see a new female face here.” She sticks out her hand. “Hi, I’m Roxie.”

I shake her hand, feeling embarrassed for some reason. “Liz.”

“Are you a new developer on Mitch’s team?”

“Uhm, no. I’m interviewing for Accounting. They’ve been showing me around all morning.”

“Oh! That’s great. Did you meet some of our managers? Sometimes they will introduce new nontechnical hires to group leads.” I nod, and she continues. “So who did you meet? Mitch, I assume. Gordon is my team lead. On this floor, there’s also Steve.”

“I did meet Steve and Gordon.”

“Good. Good. I hope they didn’t scare you off. They’re good people, just not the most congenial.”

I smile. “They were pretty great.”

“I hear a bit of the northern accent. Are you from upstate?”

“No actually. From Minnesota.”

“Oh? Where in Minnesota?”

“St. Cloud. It’s a small town.”

“Not that small. I know it. I also watched Fargo the series, Season 3.”

I laugh at that.

“So you’re new in town, huh? Do you know people here?”

“Not many.”

“We will have to fix that. Gimme your phone.”

I’ve never in my life had so many people want to give me their numbers. A little dazed, I hand over my device.

She enters her number and texts herself. “There,” she says. “Now we have each other’s numbers. I offer my services as your Madison friend and tour guide.”

“This is so weird,” I mutter. “We’ve just met.”

“I like you,” she says, shrugging. “I could always use more female friends, what with spending all of my time drowning in testosterone around here. Let’s go get drinks after work today if you don’t have anything better.”

“Ugh.” I’m not sure what’s going on here. “I don’t know.”

She laughs. “I’m not hitting on you. I’m annoyingly, terminally straight. But we can go get drinks and ogle men together if that’s your thing, and talk about St. Cloud and how come you moved to Madison when you had no job waiting and no friends.”

I relax and smile. “That honestly sounds amazing.”

“All right then. Meet me at Hop Scotch at 7:00 PM today. Do you know where it is?”

“I’ll figure it out.” I smile. “See you then.”

“Good luck with the rest of the interview. I hope you get the job!” She waves and then she’s out.

I remain by the sink, more than a little dumbstruck. What the hell just happened?

****

A nd just like that , Roxie and I are eating cheese curds and wings and burgers and drinking beer and laughing like we’ve known each other our entire lives.

This is so strange. In St. Cloud, I’ve pretty much had my family and Jake, and not much else. Here, a whole new world seems to be opening up, with all these cool people who want to get to know me.

I keep wondering what the catch is.

But perhaps there is no catch. Perhaps there’s never been a catch. Perhaps there have always been people like Joe and Roxie, I just never really paid them any attention because I had my small world centered around family and Jake, and that was enough for me.

That was supposed to be enough for me. But it was never really enough.

“You got quiet again,” Roxie says. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve been having epiphanies on the regular since I moved here. It’s all blowing my mind a little.”

“Oh, yeah? What do you mean?”

“Like, I’ve jumped into this new life, expecting it to be scary.

I was taught it would terrifying to be on one’s own, far from family, but I find that I’m calmer and more hopeful than I’ve ever been.

It feels so weird, and I feel so guilty.

” I take a sip of my beer. I like this one more than the one Joe gave me two weeks ago.

I wonder what Joe’s up to? “Does any of what I’m saying make sense to you? ”

“I think so. Look, I’m the patron saint of loving your parents and siblings, yet living far from them.

I’m so much happier on my own. I have a job I like and it pays me well, and honestly that’s the main thing.

I can take care of myself, build my life how I want it.

I’m okay alone, which means I can be selective about whom I let in. ”

“That’s amazing.” I look at Roxie with admiration. “Do you ever get lonely?”

She shrugs. “Sometimes. But I have friends. And I see guys casually when I need to scratch the itch. So far it’s been working out okay.”

“So you don’t want to get married?”

“Not really, no. It’s never been something I’ve dreamt about.

I know girls do, and no shade on those who do, it’s just never been me.

I used to play basketball, you know. Had big dreams and all, but got injured in college and that was the end of it.

But I liked my classes and I’m happy I got a good degree and a really good job that I enjoy, and as much control over my life as I want, so I think I’m doing better than most, honestly. ”

“How old are you?” I ask.

“I’m twenty-eight.”

“And you’ve been with Qpik the whole time.”

“Mm-hmm.” She takes a swig of beer. “Since graduation. I’m expecting to be promoted to manager in the next year or so. My own manager, Gordon, is really good about lifting people up, giving them opportunities. I think I will enjoy leading my own team.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you,” I say with awe. “Seriously. You are officially the coolest woman I know.”

Roxie smiles and takes another sip. “I talk a big game, but I promise you I’ve got issues like everyone else. Which you will discover over time. But I take my work very seriously. Doing a good job gives me satisfaction.”

“I wish I felt like that about my job,” I say.

“You don’t like being an accountant?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it. I mean, I’m good at it. It’s just that I feel there should be more to one’s career than that.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Roxie says, shrugging.

“As far as careers go, accounting seems pretty great to me. You can work anywhere and it pays well. A lot of people find the math too hard, so it’s not a job that anyone can do.

I mean, you were able to up and leave and move to a random new city and get interviews right away. Most people can’t do that.”

I sink into my chair. “Yeah, I know. I know I sound ungrateful...”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.

” She reaches out and briefly squeezes my hand.

“What I meant to say is that you already have a great vocation and some experience. You can support yourself, create the life you want. But if you want more, or something different, you can do that while you live your life. You can make things better for yourself. You can do whatever you want.”

I can do whatever I want.

“It doesn’t feel like it,” I say. “I feel like ... like I’m on some kind of stolen vacation time. Like this is a wonderful escape, but it will soon be time to pack up. Go back to my family. My ex-fiancé.”

“You don’t owe your parents your life, you know. Or ex-fiancé, whatever his name is.”

“Jake.”

“Jake. You don’t owe your parents or Jake your life. It’s your life.”

“But my parents sacrificed so much for me...”

“They’re your parents, it’s their job. And what do you think they sacrificed?”

“They paid for my accounting school. Well, the first two years. Then I worked.”

Roxie laughs. “My parents paid for my college after I’d lost my scholarship. I don’t think I owe them my life. Even though my father never fails to mention that it took me several years to pay them back.”

My eyes widen. “You paid them back?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want it hanging over me. It still does, though. Dad continues to bring it up all the time. All it does is make me want to spend less time with them.”

“Wow, I didn’t think about paying them back. I could do that.”

“Yes. And with your good job, you can buy them stuff. Every time you feel guilty, buy them something nice. You’ll feel better.”