Page 50 of Show Me

“I’ve seen how you work,” I continue. “You’re good at it.”

Better than good. Efficient. Calm under pressure. Doesn’t escalate unless she has to. And she notices things. Important things. I don’t hand out positions like that unless I trust the person to handle it.

“I wouldn’t offer it if I didn’t think you could do it.”

She folds her arms. “It’ll be two weeks.”

“That’s fine.”

“And I didn’t quit to work for you,” she says. “I’ll find something else if this doesn’t…. I can’t just wait around with nothing lined up.” She folds her arms tighter, like she’s bracing against the uncertainty.

“It will.” Her head snaps toward me like she’s ready to question my proclamation. I don’t give her time to interject. “I was serious, and I still am.”

The piglets move behind us. Samson grunts low, adjusting his stance and always watching, always between them and anything else.

Ruby exhales. “I’ll think about it.”

“You’ve already decided.”

She huffs a laugh. “Know-it-all.”

“Astute,” I reply.

“You’re ridiculous.” Her shoulder brushes mine as she steps past me. Brief. Accidental. But it sends a sharp current through me, and I let it. I watch her go.

“Yeah,” I say, and the word lands harder than it should. The silence after feels louder than either of us.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ruby

Later that Night

“I quit.” I tuck the phone between my shoulder and ear as I nudge the front door closed with my hip.

“Okay. Start from the top,” Emily says, calm and steady, though there’s a hint of shock in her tone.

I twist the lock into place, then check it again before moving deeper into the house.

“You know how I told you that Greg has been acting weird.” I stride through the living room to the kitchen. “Not yelling. Not anything I can point to and say, ‘That’s it.’”

“Right. You said he’d been acting differently.”

“He’s been changing things. Watching everything. Acting like I need permission to breathe.”

At the sink, I grab a glass, fill it with water, and take a sip I don’t need before heading on.

“And the other stuff? The notes. The flowers. You don’t think it’s him, do you?”

“I don’t know. It could be him. He’s been that kind of off lately, but I’m hedging my bets on Brent. He’s been creeping around the gym.” I press my palm flat to the counter. “Xavier offered the opening at his dad’s office. And called his dad, saying he’d found someone.”

There’s silence for a moment too long, and then. “You said yes?”

“I implied yes, but I might change my mind.” Doubtful. Unlikely. He’s right. I sigh. I’ve already decided to work for him, for his dad. There’s likely not a difference.

“And what do you think?” Emily’s voice is softer as she asks the question.

I look around the kitchen at the half-finished trim, the dust, the quiet that settles when the day is done. “I think it was the right call to leave. I don’t know about the rest.”