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“Brooks! My man.” He sounds ecstatic to even be getting a call from me. “I knew this day would come! The day you finally reconsider my offer.”
I smile at the sound of his voice. “Hold on, hold on. I’m still considering.”
“You serious? I knew I’d gotten your attention with my last email.”
“Well, it turns out, Foster and Foster is closing its doors, so I’m out of a job,” I explain.
“No kidding? That’s crazy. When are they shuttering?”
“Actually. They already did. It’s kind of sudden.”
“Shit. Well, you get on the first plane out here, and you’ll be employed by tomorrow morning. You’re going to love it here.”
I swallow. “I mean, yeah, it sounds great. But I have… other things…”
“I get it. Whatever we can do to make the relocation process easier for you, you let me know.”
“Yeah…” There’s one thing that would definitely make it easier, on all of us. “You have any other open senior attorney positions there?”
A pause. “Oh, I get it. No… not at the moment, unfortunately. Things are always opening up, but I can’t make any promises. Something could open up in a week, or a couple years. You never know.”
Shit. That doesn’t help. I’m sure there’d be lots of opportunities for Tenley if she moved with me to Chicago, but I want her with me. Not working for a rival firm. “Oh. Okay. Just thought I’d check.”
“So when can I expect you here?”
I grit my teeth with indecision. “Hey. I don’t know yet. Just putting out feelers. Trying to figure out the logistics.”
“Okay, buddy, I get it. Well, just say the word whenever you know for sure, and I’ll pull the trigger with HR. Sound good?”
“Yeah. Take care.”
I end the call, feeling listless, trying to figure out how all this would work.
Tossing my phone on the bed, I’m about to get up and go downstairs when I see Jace, standing in the doorway.
"Who were you on the phone with?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No one. Why are you out of—”
“Are you moving to Chicago?”
“No. Of course not,” I say instantly, taking him by the shoulders and leading him down the hall to his room.
But am I? The last thing I ever want to do is lie to this kid.
As I reach the end of the hallway, I notice Ellie, standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, doing her hair. Looks like she’s going out.
I help him back into his bed and put the covers back on. “Look at me. I’m never leaving you. Okay?”
He nods. “Okay.”
Another kiss. “This time, go to sleep,” I whisper, making a silly face and heading out the door as he giggles.
The smile disappears from my face the instant I close the door.
When I get downstairs, Ellie is piling her things into her purse. She’s dressed for a night on the town. Things have been a lot better for us in the time since Jace was left home alone. Ted must like her, because he added an extra couple of shifts to her waitressing schedule, and either she feels guilty over leaving Jace or she’s too tired to go out, most nights. So I can’t complain as I walk past her, to the couch, and flip on the game.
She glances at me in the foyer mirror as she applies lipstick. “You should go, you know.”
I flip off the television, sure she didn’t say what I think she said. “What?”
“To Chicago. Did you get offered a job there?”
I nod. “Foster & Foster is shuttering.”
“Really?” She doesn’t seem all that fazed by it, likely because she’d had plenty of businesses she worked for shutter, in her long employment history. “That sucks. So what is this new job?”
“It’s partner.”
“Partner? Isn’t that like a big deal?”
I nod.
“Wasn’t that the position you were fighting Tenley for, here?”
I nod.
“It pays more?”
“Substantially.”
“Dude. Why haven’t you jumped on that? And don’t give me your excuses. I don’t want to hear that bullshit about me dragging you down.”
Now I really want her to go out; I don’t want to get into this. “I never said—”
“You might not say it. But you’d think it.” She caps the lipstick, tosses it in her bag, and spinning to fix me with an accusing stare, folds her arms in front of her. “You already think it.”
I glance up the stairs and keep my voice low. “Don’t. I’ve never—”
“Right.”
Raising my voice so that it’s not much of a whisper anymore, I continue. “I’ve never considered either of you to be dragging me down.”
“Oh, yes you did. Me, at least.” She pushes aside the curtain and looks out, probably for her ride. “And so I think you shouldn’t worry about us. Just go.”
I give her a doubtful look. As if I could do that.
She catches me and shrugs. “It’s true. Ted loves me. I made over $200 in tips last night alone. I’m doing well.”
