“I guess I’m lucky then.” I slick on one more coat of mascara and put the tube away in my cosmetics bag, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Not bad, though I’m wearing the same dress from yesterday when I went out and dropped my resume off at a few businesses around town.
Despite my encounter with Rhett, I didn’t let it get me down. Nope, I let our stupid argument fuel me, push me to try my best to find a job despite what he said and how he acted. Savannah’s wrong and he’s wrong too. I don’t need him to change my life for the better. I can do this shit on my own.
I got this.
“I suggest if anything looks strange or if you have a weird feeling about the interview, you should run,” Savannah says as she follows me out of the bathroom and into the living room.
“What are you talking about?” I sit on the edge of the couch and slip my shoes on, then run my fingers through my hair. I’m nervous. The business that contacted me has a position listed for an assistant, and I’ve never assisted someone in my life. I don’t even know why they emailed me. I don’t have any administrative skills. Everything on my resume is restaurant or fast food work. Oh, and that one time I worked at the grocery store in my hometown, but that job barely counts. I think I worked there two weeks, tops.
“I think it’s odd how this place sought you out and asked you for an interview out of the blue.” Savannah presses her lips together. “I Googled the business, but there’s nothing listed.”
Of course she Googled the business. I’m the queen of Google, so why didn’t I think of that? I was so impressed and excited that they actually wanted an interview, I guess I forgot. “So?”
“So, it’s as if MP Industries doesn’t even exist. And that’s strange, Jen.” Savannah starts pacing the short length of the living room, chewing on a fingernail. “I want to go with you to your interview. Make sure you’re okay.”
“Savannah, I appreciate your concern, but that is the lamest thing ever.” I rise to my feet and grab my purse, slinging it over my shoulder. “I don’t need you to babysit me. I’m a big girl. I can handle this.”
“What if it’s a setup? What if it’s that—” She hesitates, her eyes wide as she stares at me. The fear on her face makes my stomach churn with nerves. “What if it’s that Greg guy trying to get back in contact with you?”
My stomach dips. I never did tell her about my run in with Greg at the Montgomery house. She’d probably call the cops if she knew I hadn’t done anything, and that could’ve caused an even bigger problem. One I absolutely don’t need.
“That’s crazy, Sav. Your imagination is running wild.”
I head for the front door, but she’s quicker, inserting herself in between me and the door so I have no choice but to stop. I don’t bother arguing. What’s the point? May as well let her do what she wants. Plus, she might have a point. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
“Fine, you can drive me to the interview.”
Her expression turns hopeful. “Are you serious? Let me get my shoes on.”
“Hurry up! I don’t want to be late,” I tell her as she runs toward her bedroom. With a big sigh I check my phone, secretly hoping for a notification from Rhett, but there’s nothing. Not that I should be surprised.
Guess I finally pushed him away once and for all.
The ache in my chest is hard to ignore and I rub at it absently, reminding myself I’m being overdramatic. Like Rhett and I had a fighting chance anyway. My lies are too big to overcome. It’s a relief, really, not having him around anymore, not having to pretend that everything is fine when it’s so not.
But as I sit in the car while Savannah drives me to MP Industries, I realize that these last few weeks together, I wasn’t pretending with Rhett. I care about him. I had fun with him. He’s so sweet to me, so thoughtful and caring and smart. I liked that his father approved of me. I liked getting to know Addie—funny since at one point in my life, she was the Montgomery I hated the most, I was so jealous of her and the relationship I thought she had with my dear old mother.
Even his brother Park’s okay, though he’s kind of an ass. I know I could handle him if I had to. I’ve dealt with guys like that before.
It’s my own mother I don’t know how to deal with. I don’t understand Diane Montgomery. She’s so callous, so rude, so incredibly selfish. Every time I came around her, she couldn’t even look my way when all I wanted to do was shout and say, “See? This is me! I’m your daughter! The one you forgot all about!”
I have a feeling that even if I would’ve
shouted all of that at her, she never would’ve heard me.
When Savannah finally pulls up in front of the mostly abandoned-looking building in the middle of the industrial part of town, we send each other skeptical glances.
“I don’t like this place,” Savannah says uneasily. “It’s creepy.”
“It’s fine.” Taking a deep breath, I grab my bag off the floor, shoving my phone inside.
“It’s not fine. There’s no one around. Where are all the cars?” She’s leaning over the steering wheel and peering out the window, looking up and down the street. She’s right. There are no cars around. It’s weird.
“I don’t know.” I grab the handle and open the door, stepping out of the car, Savannah doing the same. I study the drab building looming in front of me, holding my hand to my forehead to shield my eyes. There’s no sign on the front, the windows are dark, and the unease that slips cold down my spine gives me major second thoughts.
“Maybe you should walk inside with me,” I say to Savannah.
“Absolutely,” she agrees with a firm nod.