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“Soul-searching, self-reflecting. Contemplating. I…I don’t just have all this free time,” she argues defensively.
“Seriously?” he whimpers like a little puppy dog.
Slowly entering the reception area, I stand on the periphery of the conversation. I busy myself with the stack of patient files that are remaining for the day, so that I’m not blatantly intruding.
“Just because I’m on a break between going after my goals doesn’t mean I’m sitting around doing nothing.”
Felix shoves a hand through his hair. “Come on, Karli. You can self-reflect here at the reception desk between phone calls. Don’t act like you don’t need some extra cash.”
“I live a simple life. I don’t need too much money,” she says modestly. “And besides, you hadmonths and months to find a replacement. Why didn’t you start looking sooner?”
“Itwason my to-do list to try and hire someone to replace Yvonne during her maternity leave,” Felix is saying. “But nobody was interested in a temporary position. And now, we’re too late. That maternity leave started a bit early, and we’re left in a lurch. This’ll look really bad with Dad if I don’t find a replacement ASAP. This means a lot to me.”
She’s still trying to put up a fight but I can tell that Felix is starting to break her down.
Her brother sighs. “I know you’re overqualified for answering the phones and processing intake forms, but you can really learn stuff here,” he tries reasoning with her. “You’ll get experience you can put on your resumé. You just helped deliver a baby, for god’s sake. Don’t pretend that wasn’t more exciting than sitting at home, staring at your navel all day.”
Karli glances helplessly in my direction.
Aw, crap.
“Come on, Karli. Please? We really need you,” Felix begs, palms pressed together in prayer. “Right, Mason?”
Now they’rebothstaring at me.
Fuck.
I clear my throat. “Uh, yeah. Right.”
Wrong.
The last thing I need is my roommate—whom I can’t keep my damn hands off of—to become my coworker. Especially when my best friend—who happens to be the protective big brother of said roommate—is the boss. Holy hell, talk about so many conflicts of interest.
I like this job, and I’d really like to keep it. I’d also prefer not to get my ass kicked by the Brighton boys. But the clinic is in a dire situation here. We need help.
Karli meets my gaze again and then she exhales in defeat. “Okay. Fine.”
My stomach drops to the floor.
Felix whoops and hollers. “Welcome aboard, sis!” He grabs her shoulder and yanks her into a one-armed hug.
Meanwhile, I die a little bit inside. On top of everything, Karli Brighton is officially my co-worker now.
This is turning into the clusterfuck of the century.
18
MASON
By the time I get home from the clinic, my head is pounding. Big shocker.
When I walk through the front door of the Brighton house, I find Karli already there, pacing around the living room like a caged animal.
Her head snaps up immediately. She stabs her finger in the air, pointing at me and seething. “You! You kissed me!” she clips accusingly, nostrils flaring.
“I know.”
“That’s against the treaty!” she squawks.
