“Seriously, Logan, you need to live a little. Buy the damn bikini,” Stacy says as she flings said bikini into my cart.
“You call that a bikini? It’s tiny pieces of fabric strung together by . . . string.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “We’re going to the beach, a private beach in Hawaii. You finally got rid of the loser, and you need to let loose. Here.” She pulls the same bikini off the shelf, checks the size, and tosses it in her cart. “Now, we’ll both be barely dressed and living the dream.”
“I still can’t believe they rented us a freaking beach house in Hawaii!” I say as my phone dings, alerting me to a message. Digging it out of my purse, I swipe the screen and see Daniel has sent me yet another message.
Daniel: Why are you ignoring me?
Is he for real? I’m ignoring his dumb ass because he’s, well . . . a dumb-ass. UGH!
“Daniel?” Stacy asks.
“Yep.” I hold my phone up so she can read his message.
“What the hell? He’s delusional,” she says, shaking her head.
“He’s something,” I say as I delete his message and slide my phone back in my purse. He’s texted me at least twice a day for the last week. Six days since he gave me his ‘I need space’ speech. Six days since I’ve been single, knowing this time it’s really over. Six days where I have felt . . . free. It’s weird how you don’t realize how much someone is holding you back until you are able to really open your eyes and look at it from a different perspective. Daniel is toxic.
“This trip is going to be amazing. We’re both single and beautiful.” She winks at me. “We’re going to live it up, experience one last hoorah before entering the wonderful world of adulthood.”
“Stacy, we’re already adults,” I remind her.
“Yeah, but now we have to become straight-laced members of society. We can no longer be the young girls hiding behind the ‘they’re in college’ façade. We actually have to be full-functioning members of society. Which reminds me, how’s the job search coming?”
I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in business administration. “I’ve applied for every damn entry-level admin position I can find. I even applied for a few assistant positions that I am overqualified for.” I shrug. “I have to start somewhere. I’ve had a few interviews, but no callbacks yet.”
“I start my new job the Monday after we come back. It’s not what I thought I would be doing with my degree, but I’m excited to try something new.”
Stacy has a degree in education. She wanted to be a high school science teacher. However, teaching jobs are few and far between. She ended up accepting a teaching position for a pharmaceutical company. She’s going to be giving presentations to physicians and their staff about the company’s products.
Stacy is outgoing, so this is actually a great job for her.
“That’s awesome, Stacy! I’m so excited for you. You’re going to kick ass at this job, you know that, right?”
“You know it.” She laughs. “Don’t worry, you’re going to get the call that will change your life.”
Turns out, she was right. After hours of shopping, we head to our apartment to pack for our trip. Our flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I’m right in the middle of examining the strings I purchased, which the store and Stacy refer to as a bikini, second-guessing my purchase when my cell phone rings. I’ve applied for several jobs, so I answer even though I don’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” I try to sound as professional as possible in my greeting.
“Yes, can I please speak to Logan?” The polite voice comes through the line. I fight to keep my voice steady and the excitement clamped down.
“This is Logan.” I manage to not squeal into the phone.
“Logan, my name is Cassidy. I’m calling from Stone Records. You applied for a position with our organization.”
Holy shit! Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I reply, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent. Mr. Jones reviewed your resume and asked that I call and offer you the position. You will be working as a personal assistant.” She continues to explain details of benefits and salary, which is a hell of a lot more than I ever would have expected. Is this really happening? Hired without an interview? “The position is salaried and often requires long hours and travel. What do you say, Ms. Andrews?”
I say, holy fucking shit, Batman! “Yes, thank you. That sounds wonderful,” I say instead.
“Excellent, we would like for you to start as soon as possible,” she gets right back to business.
“I’m actually flying out for a week’s vacation tomorrow. I’m available the following week,” I explain. I can’t believe this is happening. She just hired me without ever laying eyes on me.
I’m stunned.
“That will be fine. I’ll courier over the address of where you and I will meet that Monday morning at, say, ten? I will include your contract, benefits, and salary breakdown in the packet, as well. I look forward to meeting you, Ms. Andrews.”
“Logan, please. Thank you, I look forward to meeting you, as well.” I hear the click over the line, and just like that, the call has ended and I’m no longer unemployed.
Gripping my phone in my hand, I squeal as loud as I can before running out of my room heading for Stacy’s. “Stacy!” I push open her bedroom door, not caring about invading her privacy; we’re best friends after all. She’s walking toward the door, I’m sure to see what the hell I’m screeching about.
I raise my phone. “I just got a call.” I can feel the grin splitting my face. “Stone Records just hired me over the damn phone. No interview needed. I start the Monday after we come back from our trip.” I squeal again, causing her to cringe.
“I told you,” she says, throwing her arms around my shoulders in a hug. “That’s so freaking awesome. You’re going to kill it.”
This causes me to laugh. “You don’t even know what I’m going to be doing,” I remind her.
“Doesn’t matter.” She shakes her head. “I know you, and you don’t do anything halfway. You’re going to dazzle them with your skills.”
“Okaaayyy. Well, I’m going to be a personal assistant. She mentioned a Mr. Jones, who I’ll be working for.”
“You’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I honestly have no idea what I’m getting myself into, but I’m ecstatic.”
“Just think, this time tomorrow, we’ll be stretched out on the beach soaking up the rays. Our freedom is almost over,” she whines.
“Speaking of, I need to finish packing. Are you done?” I survey her tornado of a room. I don’t know how she finds anything in here. I’m just glad she’s not this messy in the rest of our apartment.
“Almost, your screams kind of sidetracked me.” She winks.
“Hey!” I protest. This causes her to laugh. “As I recall, you were cheering right along with me.”
“Hell yeah I was. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. I’m nervous, but excited. I’m finally gainfully employed.”
“You got this. Now off with you.” She waves her hand toward the door. “I have to finish packing.”
I salute her order and head back to my room. I rush through my packing so I can call my parents and give them the news. They’re happy for me, yet disappointed. I think they were hoping I would get a job in Ohio. I’m still only a five-hour drive away, but they would prefer five minutes. Mom cried for days when I left for college, and Dad called more times than I can count, asking if I decided to come home yet. I love my parents; I got super lucky in that department. My little brother chose to stay closer to home. He’ll be going to college in Ohio, just a two-hour drive from my parents. This made them happy.
“Honey, we’re so proud of you,” Mom says. “I wish you were coming home, but I understand.”
“I know, Mom.” We’ve been through this before. No point in hashing it out yet again.
“All right, you girls have a safe trip and enjoy yourself. Call us when you get there, so we know you’re safe,” she tells me.
“I will. Tell Dad and Jase I said hi. Love you.”
Lying back on the bed, I close my eyes and take a minute to let it sink in. I have a job, and was hired over the phone, no interview. I’m still shocked, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? I need some luck in my life. It’s time to move forward and do me, focus on my career. Happily ever after just isn’t in the cards for me.