Chapter 24

twenty-four

. . .

Ruby

I hada call with Dean Langston, and my palms were already sweating. Over the last two weeks, I’d had a few interviews for positions I’d applied to for different programs working with children in varying capacities. So far, I’d been told that I was overqualified for almost every single position.

And the truth was, I needed to have a job lined up when my father came home, which was not as far away as it once was. It was the Fourth of July weekend, and time was flying.

I couldn’t put the dean off much longer, as the fall semester was right around the corner.

I clicked on the Zoom link on my laptop, adjusting the collar on the button-up I was wearing, and smiled as Dean Langston came into view.

“Dr. Rose, hello. It’s lovely to see you,” he said. There was nothing informal about this man, and there would be no sense wasting energy asking him to call me Ruby. He’d called me Ms. Rose when I was a teaching assistant at the university for the last two years.

“Hello, Dean Langston. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

“Of course. Obviously, we’ve already interviewed you, and I’m sure you’ve had interviews at several other universities over the last few weeks. I would expect nothing less. However, time is ticking, and we’re going to need an answer now, as we have several applicants for the position. We offer what I would guess is one of the most competitive packages, so I’m hoping you have a decision made.”

I cleared my throat. I hadn’t officially made a decision, although I didn’t have any other viable options at this point. This was a grown-up position. I’d be a professor. It meant a generous salary, fabulous benefits, summers off, and any future children—which I had no idea if I’d ever have—would get a very impressive discount on tuition. Apparently, that was a big selling point for most professors.

“I’m so grateful you’ve given me the time to explore my options. I was actually looking into different ways I could work with students that are a bit younger—you know, kids that maybe need that support.”

A pretentious laugh escaped his mouth, and he shook his head. “You didn’t go through all this schooling to be underpaid, did you? You’ve earned the right to teach at the collegiate level. The hours are great; it’s a nice career. Why would you want to mess with younger, troubled kids?”

Spoken like a wealthy asshole.

“Probably because I once was one.” I met his gaze via the computer screen. “I think psychology offers many avenues where I can put my education to use.”

“And let me guess—they’ve all said you were overqualified.”

“I’ve heard that a few times,” I admitted.

“If you wanted to be a school counselor and break up schoolyard arguments, you could have taken a different path in your education. You have a Ph.D.”

Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.

“I was just looking into a few different things. But I agree, teaching at the collegiate level is probably my best option for a number of reasons.”

“Spoken like a true doctor of psychology,” he said, his lips pursed and his unibrow impossible for me to look away from.

My stomach twisted at the thought of what I was agreeing to. It didn’t feel right. Maybe that was just part of growing up. That I’d just decided what I was going to do for the next thirty years. I was agreeing to be the next Dereck Hamilton. I’d buy a house, drink wine, and go to happy hour with all the professors once a month. I’d stand in front of the classroom, pretend to be an expert in my craft, and go through the motions until I retired.

It was boring and mundane.

But consistent and responsible.

“My only concern is that my father will not be home until the first or second week of August, and I know you’d need me there by the first of the month when classes start. Perhaps I could start my contract mid-year and start in January for the second semester?”

The thought of spending six months here made me feel better. I wasn’t ready to leave. I’d fallen into a routine that I was enjoying. And I wanted to spend some time with my father once he came home.

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll hire a substitute professor to cover for you until you arrive. I’ll have your contract sent over in the next week or two for you to sign. Welcome to the family, Ruby.”

I nodded, but an enormous lump formed in my throat.

“Thank you for being so understanding. I appreciate it.”

“I’ll be in touch. Take care.” He ended the call, and I sat back in my chair, processing the conversation. I should be excited. This was what I’d wanted, right? No more driving myself crazy about what I wanted to do with my life. No more struggling to make rent. No more living month to month.

I would even be able to help my father financially so that he didn’t have to work so much if he didn’t want to.

There was a knock on the door. I moved to my feet, and when I pulled it open, both of my brothers came barreling through.

“Hey, sis, we came to take you to dinner,” Zane said, as he scooped me up and spun me around like the barbarian he was.

“What? You’ve never taken me to dinner.”

“Well, I got hired at Knockout Gym full-time. Romeo was impressed with the job I did painting the locker room, and his maintenance guy is moving, so he offered me the job,” Rico said. “We thought we’d take you out to celebrate.”

“Hey. I also got promoted at the auto shop. I came to pay you back the money I owed you from when you paid off Sam for me. So, Rico will be buying dinner,” Zane said over his laughter as Rico flipped him the bird.

I was stunned. Zane had never made an effort to pay me back, and Rico holding down a job had surprised me, as well.

All of it surprised me.

I’d barely heard from my mother over the last few weeks, which meant she was doing better.

No news was good news in the life of Wendy Rose-Dane-Holt-Smith-Slaughter.

“Well, don’t look so stunned that we want to do something nice for you,” Rico said, looking sheepish. “We like having you home. It’s been nice.”

“Don’t get too attached. I just accepted a teaching position at the university. I’ll be leaving as soon as my dad comes home.”

“Then I guess we better savor this time together,” Zane said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

“Savor? Look at you, talking all fancy,” Rico said over his laughter.

“Hey, my older sister is a professor at the University of Western California. People will expect that from me now.”

I grabbed my purse and followed them out the door.

When we arrived at the Golden Goose, Midge reached for the menus and walked us to our table.

“I heard that Oscar got Boone back,” I said, as my brothers stopped to talk to everyone that we passed on our way to the table.

Midge turned around. “I know you think I’m a terrible person, but I love animals, and Boone just showed up at my doorstep one day, just like your pup had done.”

For the first time since I’d known her, Midge Longhorn didn’t look guilty—she looked downright pathetic.

Sad and heartbroken.

The dog wasn’t even hers. What was her deal?

“You do know that you can go and rescue a dog of your own from the pound, right?”

Her shoulders stiffened, and she glanced around before her eyes met mine, and she kept her voice low. “Doug Callan has run the pound for the last twenty-five years.”

“I know that. Do you not like him?”

“I was married to him right out of high school. We were young. It didn’t work out. He’s rejected every application I’ve filled out over the years, so I stopped trying. And I’m not buying a boutique dog from a fancy breeder.”

She has a problem with breeders but not with stealing dogs?

I sighed. “Did you break the guy’s heart? Why would he do that?”

“I married his brother.” She held up her hands in defense. “I was young. I divorced him a few years later.”

This shouldn’t thrill me, but it does.

Midge was a rebel, and I kind of loved it.

“Well, that doesn’t give him the right to block you from having a dog.”

“I agree, but that hasn’t stopped him.” She shrugged just as my brothers waltzed over and slid into the booth, grabbing their menus.

“Let me look into this,” I said, and she nodded before walking away.

I moved into the booth beside Rico as Zane proceeded to read every item on the menu aloud. We’d been coming here since we were practically babies. The menu hadn’t changed.

I reached for my phone to send a quick text to River.

Hey. I need a favor.

Arrogant Prick

Sixty seconds of my time?

I’d put him in my phone under the name Arrogant Prick when he’d first texted me, and I’d kept it there because it drove him crazy.

So cocky. That’s not the favor, though.

We spent an unusual amount of time together. Every night. Every minute we weren’t working, we found a way to hang out. I wasn’t overthinking it anymore; I was just going with it.

Arrogant Prick

Name it.

Midge wants a dog.

Arrogant Prick

You want me to steal one for her? <head exploding emoji>

No. Of course not. I want you to help her rescue one.

Arrogant Prick

Why can’t she do that herself? Why do you need me?

It’s a long story. I need you to scare Doug Callan with some legal jargon.

Arrogant Prick

I thought I wasn’t good at being lawyerly?

Stop pouting about that. I told you that you’re brilliant.

Arrogant Prick

You better not still have me in your phone as Arrogant Prick. I will do no favors for you if you don’t change it.

Of course, I changed it. <winky face emoji>

Arrogant Prick

I want a screenshot. Not doing any favors until I see proof.

Damn you. Changing it now.

<Screenshot>

Hot Lawyer

Nice. I’ll take it. Why the fuck do I need to scare Doug Callan? Anyone can adopt a dog from the pound.

He keeps rejecting her because they used to be married.

Hot Lawyer

No shit?

Yes, shit. And… Are you ready for it?

Hot Lawyer

Waiting with bated breath.

She broke his heart and married his brother.

Hot Lawyer

Dennis Callan? He’s a preacher, isn’t he?

Bless you. Midge is full of surprises. <praying hands emoji>

Hot Lawyer

Fine. We’ll go down there tomorrow before my first client. How did your call go with the dean?

I chewed on my fingernail. We both knew this would be ending soon. Why was I nervous to say it?

Good. I took the job.

Hot Lawyer

I thought you didn’t want the job.

It’s my best option.

Three little dots moved around the screen, but no message came through.

Are you at a loss for words because you’re going to miss me?

Hot Lawyer

I guess I better get in as much time with you as I can then, huh? Where are you?

Dinner with my brothers. Rico is treating.

Hot Lawyer

I heard Romeo offered him a full-time job. Good for him. And he should treat you.

Don’t get sentimental. Our clock is ticking. Our arrangement is coming to an end.

Hot Lawyer

You better take what you want from me now, Queenie. You’re going to miss this. <eggplant emoji>

Don’t flatter yourself.

Hot Lawyer

Get your hot little ass over here when you’re done with dinner. I’ll show you what you’re going to be missing when you leave.

See you soon.

We placed our orders, and both of my brothers started talking a mile a minute. They’d been by the bar a few times over the last few weeks, but things had been fairly uneventful. Now that Rico was working all the time, he wasn’t going out as much.

Maybe they were both actually growing up a bit.

“So, Zane and I are thinking of getting our own place. Panda will move in with us, as well. We’ve started looking.”

My eyes widened, and I quickly fixed my features so as not to be an asshole and act completely shocked.

But I was completely shocked.

“You want to move out? Does Mom know?”

Zane rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “We can’t live with her forever, and honestly, it’s a shitshow over there. She and Jimbo are always breaking up or making up, and Mom’s moods are a lot to take.”

I figured that out at a very young age. Dealing with someone who was an emotional roller coaster all the time was not pleasant. You never knew which Wendy you were going to get.

I was happy they were recognizing that.

“I cleaned the trailer yesterday, and then Jimbo showed up with a bunch of friends, and he and Mom partied their asses off. The place was a mess this morning. I spent the night at Panda’s because they were so fucking loud.”

“I’m proud of you guys. I think that’s a step in the right direction.” I smiled as our food was set down in front of us.

A weight lifted off my shoulders.

My brothers were going to figure things out.

My mother probably never would, and that was okay.

It wasn’t my job to fix her.