Page 14 of Searching for Love

ChapterFive

“What have you done?” Avery’s brother stood over her while she devoured a frozen meal in their parents’ kitchen.

“I’ve quit my jobs. All of them,” she said with her mouth full.

“Yeah, the entire town is talking about it. Why?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“What does it matter to you?” she asked, not sparing him a glance. Instead, she scrolled through the dozen or so messages from Hannah, basically asking the same thing.

“Because I finally found a job that I like more than the others,” she answered and typed the same thing to Hannah.

“You’re serious about this then?” Wyatt sat next to her and reached over to take a tater tot from her plate. She slapped his hand away.

“Get your own.” She scooted her plate away from him. If she let him eat one, he’d devour the entire thing. “Yes, I’m serious. So serious that I quite half a dozen jobs today.” She smiled up at him.

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “Is it that guy?”

Avery’s eyes narrowed as well. “That guy? Lucas?” She shook her head; the truth was that he was only half of the reason. She was tired of running around town. Tired of working dead-end jobs and never going anywhere.

The chance to manage a brand-new business, one that she had no doubt would be a success with her help, thrilled her. For the first time in years, she was excited about her future.

“Don’t mess with me,” she warned Wyatt. “All those years I tried to convince you not to be an ass with Hannah.” She rolled her eyes.

Her brother’s attitude suddenly changed. He leaned back in the chair and was quiet for a moment.

“Fine.” Wyatt threw up his hands. “Fine. Don’t come crying to me if things don’t work out.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. That’s the job of my best friend that you’re marrying.” She smiled when Hannah replied to her text message with positivity. “See, your soon-to-be wife thinks it’s a great idea.”

Wyatt sighed loudly. “Where are Mom and Dad this week?”

“Hawaii,” she answered. “You know, I think they travel so much just so we come home once and a while.”

“They hated it when we moved out,” Wyatt agreed.

“They’re proud of you though. Coming home. Taking over the grocery store. Finally coming to your senses with Hannah.” She nudged his elbow with hers.

“They’re proud of you too.”

She shook her head. “They’ll be prouder of me now that I’ve finally settled on one job.” She beamed. “You should be happy for me too.”

“You haven’t told them yet?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. I will. When they get back.”

Wyatt stood up. “I’m going to head home. For what it’s worth, I am proud of you. Just… it’s my job to protect you too.”

“Remember, I am older than you, which would mean it’s my job to protect you.”

“Older, but I’m still your big brother.” He smiled.

“Size doesn’t matter.” Avery rolled her eyes and then stuck her tongue out at her brother. “Go home. Hannah’s waiting. She says she cooked you some dinner.”

Wyatt groaned and Avery laughed, pulling her plate of tater tots away from him once more.

“I’m telling her you groaned,” she called after him while typing on her phone.

Staying at her parents’ place wasn’t all that bad. The guest room used to be her room and was cozy. Still, she missed the beach. She’d gotten spoiled living in the small cottage right off the sand.