“We really can’t tell you how much we love it, Tab.” Rani’s smile is bright white, lifting her smooth brown cheeks. Her dark hair is cut short, and she keeps a lock tucked behind her ear. “The articles you added about Vis and The Great Blue Hole really set us apart. I doubt many people have even heard of those places.”
“That’s what our adventurous travelers want.” AJ bends down to wave at me from behind her shoulder.
I wave back. “I did my best to ask questions and dig deep. The only thing left is to go there in person and take pictures of our own.”
I’m only half-teasing when I say it, but Rani clears her throat, sitting a little straighter in her chair. “That’s actually something we wanted to discuss with you.”
My eyebrows perk up. “It is?”
AJ rolls up a chair beside Rani. “How would you feel about being sort-of a field scout for us?”
“You want me to be your field scout?” I’m going to have to pick up my jaw off the floor. “What does that mean?”
“Basically, you’d take our planned trips, give us firsthand feedback on what works and what doesn’t, whether the accommodations are as good as they say, if there are sites we haven’t included people should see or vice versa…”
“So you’d be paying me to travel?”
“Not very much,” Rani’s dark brows pull together. “We could arrange the accommodations, even get you decent fights. The only thing that would leave is your meals and drink, clothes, incidentals…”
“We know this means you’d probably have to sacrifice other work.” AJ adds. “And we’re not quite in a position yet to pay you for that loss of revenue. Our hope is the adventure would make up for it.”
I rock back in my chair, thinking about what they’re saying. I’d be going to the places they tell me for the stories they want. It’s not exactly my dream of freedom to travel wherever I want to go, but hell, it’s pretty damn close.
“My work is pretty portable.” I study my calendar, looking at the open dates ahead. “It’s possible I wouldn’t have to give up too many other jobs.”
AJ rests his chin on his hands. “I guess what we’re trying to say is we’d want you to prioritize us. There might be times when you’re in remote locations, poor connectivity. Something might have to give. We don’t want you to be surprised. We want everyone to go in with clear expectations.”
“Okay… Umm… I guess I’ll need to think about it. Is that okay?”
“Of course!” They both cry at once. “Take your time. We’re confident in the material we have for the launch, and it’s not like we need something new right away. We’re more concerned the stuff we’re pushing is as good as we say it is, being able to answer questions.”
Nodding, I look over the packages on the site. “I get that. I won’t take too long.”
“Great!” They both smile, but I feel tense. I’m anxious and uncomfortable, and I’m not really sure why.
“I think we’re ready for tonight,” I say, attempting to calm my anxiety. “But I’ll run through everything again one more time to be sure. Then we’ll just wait on family and friends to pull all the levers and press all the buttons.”
They laugh, and from behind, I hear a knock on my door. “Tabby, it’s me!”
It’s Chad, and my insides are on edge. “I just have someone at my door.”
“No worries! We’ll say goodbye for now.”
I disconnect the call and close the window before I hurry to answer it. Chad’s dimpled grin on the other side only adds to my swirling emotions. My stomach is in knots from my uncle’s dumb speech at Emberly’s, now the job offer from Rani and AJ is hanging over my head. I’m all mixed up. I should be thrilled by their offer. What’s wrong with me?
“What are you doing here?” I sound irritated.
I guess I am.
His brow lowers, and he reaches for me “I came to see you. I missed you.” He leans down to capture my lips in one of his schedule-altering kisses, but at the last minute I turn my face, pulling away.
“No…” I grasp his wrist, exhaling a frustrated groan. I step outside, turning him on the threshold, and closing the door behind me. “I can’t do this tonight.”
His frown deepens. “Why not? What’s going on?”
“I have to be focused on the soft launch for Travel Time.” I release his hand, twisting my fingers and pacing. “I have commitments and responsibilities. In the last four days, since we had our date on Friday, I haven’t done anything!”
“You said you’d gotten a lot done on Sunday.”