Page 70 of For One Night

“I can’t believe you took his shirt.” She rubs her face on it. “He did smell so good.”

“You have no idea, so nice.”

Her mouth twitches. “I bet he smelled like sex and candy today.”

“Well, his face probably smells like my who-ha now.”

Millie’s face contorts. “Eww!”

“Why eww?”

She sticks her tongue, gaging. “You kissed me, on my face!”

“Yeah, so? I do it all the time”

She looks at me, eyes wide. “But if his face smells like your muffin mound, does that mean your lips taste like the center of his lollipop?”

“I can’t with you right now.” I push her away as she falls into the chair, kicking and screaming with laughter.

“Hey!” I yell from my bedroom. “When are you leaving?”

“Are you kicking me out?”

“No! I need ideas for my next interview.” I pop around the corner with a huge smile.

Millie leaps in the air, squealing as she dances over to me. We hug and bounce in a circle as we celebrate.

“I’m so excited for you,” she says as we sit at the bar. “Where is it?”

“Here, in Cherry Grove.”

She looks puzzled. “What company?”

“They’re new here, relocated from Charlotte.”

She pours milk in her bowl. “Well, congratulations. We both know it’s yours.”

“We shall see. They’re sending me an email with the basics later. I want to be prepared for this one. The signing bonus is ah-mazing!”

Her spoon stops mid-air. “How much are we talking? Like, you can afford a new car?”

“I’ve told you, Proud Mary isn’t going anywhere soon. But yes, in cash.” I open the refrigerator for some juice.

“Wowza! I need to work with you.”

I freeze mid juicing. “Why don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t believe I haven’t thought about this before.” I wander out of the kitchen in a daze. “I’ve started my own company. I can hire people if I want.”

Millie rubs the back of her neck. “I can’t do it. I won’t do it to you.”

“I’m hiring you, Millie. No more freelance. If I get this job, we’re doing this, and it’s going to be amazing.”

She sighs heavily. “I appreciate it, I do, but this is the first thing you’ve done for you, and I can’t take it from you.”

“You won’t be.” I smile. “If I land this, it’ll bring so much more, and I’ll need the help. You’re the only person I trust.”