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Me: After that comment, I’m rethinking engaging you.
Anon: We’re engaged? Shit. I haven’t even introduced you to my parents. I don’t even know your name.
Me: Darcy. Do I get to know yours? And I’m sure your parents will love me. Well, either that or they’ll hate me.
Anon: I’m James.
Me: Hi James. So, you think my profile is a fake? That’s a risky assessment to make. What if it’s not?
Anon: Did I offend you?
Me: No. But I’m sure you will.
Anon: It’s like you know me … wanna be friends?
Me: How do you know I’m not a middle-aged man with a beer gut who still lives with his mom?
Anon: How do you know that’s not what I’m hoping for?
I giggle to myself as I walk downstairs and into the kitchen. I stop in my tracks when I see Cameron sitting there. He’s the last person I expected to see sitting at the table.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Breakfast with Dad,” he explains. “Well that was the plan. Only he forgot to tell me he was called in for an early meeting. On a Saturday, no less.” He reaches over and slaps Mack on the back. “But it doesn’t matter. I still get to spend some time with my favorite brother.”
“Coffee?” I ask while grabbing a cup for myself.
“No. Caffeine will keep me up all day and night.” He winks at me. “It’s also notorious for keeping me awake.”
“Good one.” Mack guffaws, slapping himself on the leg.
“God, don’t encourage him,” I groan.
“It’s sweet of you to call me God, but Mack will do just fine,” he says with a straight face.
“Fuck, you’re both as bad as each other,” I groan.
“Darcy.” I turn to Cameron, who is nodding at his brother. “Really? Cussing in front of a twelve-year-old?” he shakes his head. “I expected more from you.”
“Are you kidding me?” I laugh. “Have you heard some of the shit that comes out of his mouth?”
“He’s a child who doesn’t know any better,” Cameron mocks. He turns back to Mack. “So, Mack Attack, what’s been happening?”
I turn back to making my coffee, tuning out of their conversation behind me. Until Mack turns it into one about me.
“Well. I don’t the full story, but the gist of it is Darcy’s into having sex with guys, while they’re dressed as Care Bears.”
“Mack, you little shit,” I hiss. I lunge for him, but he ducks out of my grasp and runs out of the room, laughing hysterically.
“So, is it strictly Care Bears you’re into or will any childhood toy satisfy?” Cameron asks. He raises his eyebrows. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve still got a Winnie the Pooh costume somewhere at my apartment.”
“Of course you do.” I plant my hand on my hip and smile sweetly at him. “Because what grown man over the age of twenty-five doesn’t have a Winnie the Pooh costume hanging in their closet?”
Mack pokes his head around the corner.
“Hey, Cam,” he says casually. “If you happen to have that old Winnie the Pooh costume lying around, do you mind if I borrow it?”
Cameron starts to laugh. I narrow my eyes at him and then turn my glare onto Mack.
“Go,” I order. “Both of you. Get out.”
Mack shrugs innocently. “What did I say?”
“If you’re not leaving then I am,” I say, flouncing out.After the nightmare that was breakfast, I escape to my room as quickly as I can, which means I’ll get to work nearly forty minutes early. It’s still a better option than spending those forty minutes sitting in the kitchen with Cameron Hunter. I shake my head because I can’t even think about him without getting worked up. He irritates me so much.
I quickly finish getting ready, so I can leave for work. Even though I’m going to be early, it beats hanging around here, waiting for time to pass.
Me: So, aside from someone who trawls personal ads, who are you?
James: Aww, you want to spoil the fun already?
Me: Sure, it’s fun till I end up on some C grade TV show, chasing you and your seven cats around a warehouse because you’ve been catfishing me.
James: Well that’s a little farfetched. I’m allergic to cats.
Me: Really?
James: No.
I giggle, then I panic when I see the time. I have two minutes to get my ass through security. I smile at the guard on duty, the same one from the other day. He winks at me again, waving me through. At least now I don’t have to hide my phone, because once I signed that agreement confirming I wouldn’t take photos or record video or audio, I was good to have my phone with me.
By lunchtime, I feel like I’m starting to settle in. I spent most of the morning sitting in on admission assessments—with the permission of the client of course. Watching Sarah, I feel like I’m learning a lot, probably more than I did throughout my entire time in college. She still acts like she thinks she’s better than me, probably because I haven’t earned my position here. I was handed it. I can handle her, but the biggest problem is the one I have with myself. How can I embrace this opportunity when I don’t feel like I’ve earned it, either?
