Page 29 of The Unexpected

Chloe peeks through her fingers, her face an impossible mix of horror and glee. “Are you and your uncle… like, is it a one-time thing? Or are you… you know.”

I let out a breath. “I think it’s a thing-thing. We’re even doing therapy together now.”

Chloe’s mouth opens and closes. “Wait, what? Why?”

“Well, let’s be honest. The relationship is fucked up. Hooking up with him is fucked up, so I wanted to go into couples counseling to talk it over with a professional.”

“And?” Chloe asks, mouth agog. “I can’t believe that any therapist would say it’s okay.”

I pause delicately.

“Well, we decided not to see a psychologist-type therapist because it sounds so uptight and rigid. We’re seeing a pastor for couples counseling. You know, how engaged couples go in to talk to their pastor before they get married.”

Chloe stares at me.

“That’s less rigid? And you’re getting married? To your uncle?”

“Of course not!” I exclaim, blushing wildly. “But we needed to talk about, like, the taboo aspect of our relationship without all the degrees hanging on the walls. So we had a session with the pastor yesterday, and it was productive.”

There’s a long pause, then Chloe shakes her head, as if to clear the static. “I literally do not know how you manage to live your life, Stells. I mean, when you got thrown in jail and did a striptease for the guard, I thought that was taking the cake. But now, we’re at new levels of unbelievable.”

I can’t help but laugh, the tension running out of my hands. “I think about that a lot, actually. It’s like, I’m living three lives at once. Work Stella who was Employee of the Month last month, home Stella who spars with her dad, and then the one who does—” I wave a hand vaguely “—this.”

Chloe, finally, regains composure. “I need details. Was it weird? Was it hot? Are you traumatized forever?”

The questions tumble out, and I’m grateful for the chance to just let it all spill.

“Being with my uncle? It was definitely weird at first,” I say. “But then it was just… I don’t know. Hot, I guess? I mean, he’s insanely good in bed, and insanely handsome. You’ve probably heard of him—Hunter Roberts. He’s a construction dude.”

Chloe shakes her head.

“No, I don’t know anything about construction.”

I nod.

“Yeah, but have you heard of Roberts Construction?”

Chloe stares, her blue eyes wide.

“The one that’s building that new development over by the west side?”

“Yeah, that one. My uncle is the CEO and founder. He’s raking it in.”

“Holy fuck,” Chloe murmurs, amazed. “I know your dad is some hot-shot billionaire, but I had no idea your uncle was too.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m surrounded by rich, handsome dudes, and get this—our pastor, whom I’d never met before because I don’t go to church—turns out he’s the hottest pastor I’ve ever seen. Like, he could could be a professional Crossfit athlete, he’s that ripped and muscular. It’s honestly insane.”

Chloe’s face is a mix of awe and jealousy. “This is some next-level stuff, Moreland. So, let me get this straight: you’re sleeping with your billionaire uncle, going with him to therapy with a mega-hunk pastor, and still managing to show up here in a skirt the size of a napkin for $19 an hour?”

I nod. “That’s the bullet-point version.”

Chloe reaches across the table, grabs my wrist, and gives it a little shake. “I’m obsessed with you. No one in this place even suspects. They think you’re, like, a regular salesgirl who’s good with old ladies.”

“Maybe I am,” I say, grinning.

She barks a laugh. “Yeah, right. You’re my hero.”

The overhead lights flicker, and the sound of the front-door chime rolls in from the sales floor. We both sit up a little, instinctively ready to play it cool in case Miriam or one of the other lieutenants stalks through the break room. But it’s just another customer, the familiar drone of high heels moving past.