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Chapter Twenty-Six
CHARLIE
“This is hopeless,”I groaned as we closed yet another developer profile. “None of these people have the experience we need at the rate we can afford to pay.”
“Don’t go all doom and gloom on me yet.” Lila tipped her chin and shoved my latte closer to me. “Here. Caffeinate yourself. I promise we’ll find someone.”
“How are you always so optimistic?”
“Because if I don’t believe in us, who will?” she asked as she pulled up another resume for us to look at.
“Ouch,” I said, sipping my drink. That remark felt like a direct jab at me and my wishy-washy attitude about resigning.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I meant if we”—she gestured between our chests—"don’t believe in ourselves, then no one will.”
“And I do,” I insisted.
Do it. Tell her. Stop being a coward.
“I drafted my letter of resignation the other day.”
Lila nearly choked on her sip of coffee. “Oh my god!” she squealed. “It’s about time!”
“I was thinking of sending it out two weeks after the launch party.”
She squealed again and grabbed my shoulders. Her sudden outburst had garnered the attention of the barista behind the counter.
“That’s perfect. I can’t even believe it. We’re going to have so much time to dedicate to this app. It’s going to be huge.”
“I know. And I don’t want you to think I’m not all in, because I am.” I smiled at her genuine excitement, and my chest swelled with anticipation of my own. We were actually doing this.Starting our own company. Well—expanding our own company. ConnectHer had morphed into a significant small business right before our eyes. We had surpassed two hundred members at this point.
“I promise this is a risk you won’t regret taking. There are hundreds of tech jobs out there, but how often do you get the chance to build something yourself?”
“You’re right,” I said, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Forget what my parents thought. Screw unsupportive exes. I could do this—Iwasdoing this.
“Will it be awkward telling Nathan?” Lila asked.
When I told her we were seeing each other, she had been quick to voice her hesitation. If we could miscommunicate that badly after one night together, what would that mean for our future? She also hadn’t been impressed when I told her we had to keep it a secret at the office.
“Surprisingly enough, I don’t think it will be that weird. He’s been so supportive. He even offered to do some developer work on the app for us.”
Lila’s eyes got so wide I thought they’d bulge out of her head. “That’s…interesting,” she said.
“What? You don’t want his help?”
“I guess I just don’t get why a big shot like him would help us. It’s not like we can afford to pay his going rate.”
“He thinks it’s a good idea.” My tone grew defensive. Not having the wholehearted approval of my best friend hurt. I could sense her distrust of Nathan.
“Or he thinks it’s a good idea to keep the woman he’s sleeping with happy. Especially since he’s asking her to keep such a big secret for him.”
“Lila,” I hissed, not caring for her implication. “He’s not bribing me to keep this secret. I’m keeping us a secret because I care about him, and I want things to work between us. Besides, I told you he’s finding a way around that policy.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I just think you should be careful. It’s one thing to have the fantasy about being with the handsome, mysterious boss, but it’s another to have it play out in real life.”
I rolled my eyes. “I love you and I appreciate your concern, but Nathan is a good guy. I just…I just get him. He doesn’t open up with everyone like he does with me.”
“Maybe that’s true but he’ll always put one thing above you no matter what.”
