“That’s a shame,” Kyle muttered. “His sales numbers were great.” He poured more coffee into his cup. “If it’s not about Adam, then what?”
“Because Dad suggested I work here full time and I think I’m gonna take him up on the offer,” I said without looking at him. Idecided I didn’t really want to see his reaction. “Maybe work on getting my shit together.”
He made a noise, spit out his coffee and turned toward me. “Are you fucking kidding?”
“He said I would work in a different area of the dealership so we wouldn’t butt heads,” I said, trying to placate him. “We could both work here without issues.”
“I fucking knew you were going to do this,” he snapped. “As soon as he said he was ready to make me partner, you were going to come in and trash it.” He took a deep breath, because his voice had raised and it had garnered attention from the two men in the waiting room.
“I don’t want to be partner,” I said, trying to keep my cool. There was something about the accusation that irked me, but with clients so close by, I couldn’t let myself fall into our usual habit. “I don’t want responsibility.” I took a breath. “I just want some time, and working two jobs keeps me from having it.”
Kyle eyed me, frustration clear on his face, but he didn’t voice further argument. “I want it in writing,” he said after a beat, “that you won’t ask for a partnership. Then I’ll let you work here without issue.” He paused and raised a hand. “Forty hours a week, no more. You don’t get overtime, period. If Dad mentions putting your name on the business, you tell him you’re not interested.”
I nodded, surprised that he seemed to cave so easily. “Write it up. It stays between us. I get a copy, you get a copy.” I turned toward him. “But if I sign this agreement and you call me a whore one more goddamn time, I’ll burn this place to the ground.”
Kyle snorted. “If you don’t like me telling you what you are, maybe don’t be a whore.”
“Maybe it’s less me being a whore and more you just being mad that your friends like me better than you,” I saiddismissively. “They picked me over you,” I continued. “That has to hurt. None of them were loyal to you.”
“And you think they’re loyal to you?” he asked, stepping close to me. “What happens when they lose interest? Because the only one that’s had anything long term is Darius. So whatever fun you’re having is definitely short term.” He shook his head. “The real question I have is, was it worth it?”
I struggled to seem nonchalant. “Why do you think I want to work here instead of trying to balance life between two jobs and three men?”
He made a face, showing his disgust. “I don’t want to know the details,” he grumbled. “Do we have an agreement?”
“Write up the contract,” I said, turning so that I could see the main lobby of the dealership. I spotted Dad walking in, a coffee cup in hand. “If there’s anything I disagree with, I’ll come to you. We leave Dad out of it.”
Kyle nodded, then turned, spotting our father, too. “The only place you can work where we won’t clash is the parts department. Do you know anything about cars?”
“Nope,” I answered without hesitation.
“So, no matter where you’re put, you’re useless.” Kyle sighed as he turned back to me. “You’re just here for a paycheck.”
“Are you two still at each other’s throats?” Dad asked as he came to stand in front of us. “It’s past time you get over petty arguments and learn to deal with one another.” He looked at me. “You’re here early. I thought you had to work late on Thursday nights, so you had to have a late shift to start on Friday.”
“Today wouldn’t be the first time I worked on four hours of sleep,” I assured him. “I’m here before my shift because I was hoping I could talk to you.” I gestured to the coffee cup I held in my hand. “And to drink all your coffee.”
“As long as you make more,” Dad said as he led the way to his office. “I don’t know who makes the first pot in the mornings, but it’s usually god-awful.”
“I’ve already remade a pot,” I assured him. “That first cup I got was a little too bitter for me.”
“You made this?” Kyle asked, looking worriedly at his cup.
“I’m drinking it too,” I said as we went into Dad’s office. “I didn’t put anything into the pot. Especially if customers are going to be drinking it.”
“That’s good,” Dad said wearily. “I don’t know why you think your sister would jeopardize her job here like that.” He looked at Kyle, then back at me, “Is everything all right? The last time you two came into my office, there had been a concerning exchange between the two of you. Don’t tell me that’s happened again?” He put his travel mug onto his desk and turned to give us the fatherly disappointed look, folding his arms over his chest as he sat on the edge of his desk.
“I think I want to take you up on the offer of me working here full time,” I said, feeling suddenly awkward. I nodded in Kyle’s direction. “He objected, but I think if we came to an agreement. If we’re not working in the same departments, it should be all right.”
Dad’s mouth opened, and he looked visibly surprised. “You came to an agreement?”
I glanced at Kyle, and he just met my gaze, raising his eyebrows like he expected me to shoot myself in the foot. “If we’re working in separate departments, I’ll stay in my lane. I’ll pull my weight,” I explained easily. “I’m not gonna make the business crash and burn.”
Dad just blinked at me. “That’s good to know.” He looked mildly uncomfortable for a moment before shaking it off. “I see how that was a concern for him,” he said, coughing in his fist. He looked at Kyle. “I was thinking she could work in the partsdepartment. I’m sure if I put her with George, she’d be able to run the department in no time.”
“I don’t need to run the department,” I protested, raising both hands. “You don’t need to fast-track me into a position that I haven’t earned, especially when you have people that really deserve the position.” I took a breath and let it out. “I don’t need partnership. I don’t need a manager position. I just need a job so I can pay rent.”
“You’re capable of so much more,” Dad argued, pushing off his desk. “I know you are. You don’t have to worry about your brother. I know the two of you can learn to work together.”