“Well, if you can’t, I can always sneak you in.” She bumps my shoulder and gives me a sad smile.
“I appreciate it.”
After several minutes of her letting me cry on her shoulder, I suck it up and head to the library so I can job search. I find several places that are hiring and head to the first one. With the money I have in the bank, since I never paid my rent, I can rent a motel until I can come up with the money for another place.
I stop at the first place, but they’re only hiring part-time. I fill out the application anyway since it’s better than nothing and then move on to the next place. They’re closed today, so I make a note to come back. The third place is a strip club, who’s looking to hire a waitress.
“You sure you don’t want to learn the pole?” he asks, eyeing me up and down. “You’d make better money.”
“Not now,” I say noncommittally, handing him my application.
He scans over it then glances up. “You worked at Azul’s?”
I nod, praying he doesn’t actually call the manger. I considered not putting it on my application, but since it’s the only place I’ve actually waitressed at, I risked it.
“Arturo and I are good friends. Go way back. If he says you’re good, then I’ll hire you.”
My heart drops into my stomach as he reaches for the phone. I should speak up, but I remain quiet, hoping Arturo takes pity on me.
He answers quickly and they talk for a few minutes before he brings me up. Whatever Arturo says must not be good because he looks at me with a frown and hangs up.
“You left him hanging.”
“I did,” I admit. “It was a huge mistake and I tried to make it right, but he wouldn’t give me another shot. Aside from me quitting last minute, I was a good, hardworking employee. I—”
He puts his hand up, cutting me off. “You want to learn the pole, you have a job.”
I sigh in defeat. “Can I think about it?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “You have until Monday.”
“Thanks.”
Feeling like a failure, I walk toward the edge of the city where the motels are. My phone buzzes in my pocket several times, but I just don’t have it in me to check or answer the calls. If one of them is my dad, he’s going to ask why I didn’t show up today… but if I don’t answer, he’s going to worry.
I pull my phone out and sure enough it’s a number I don’t recognize. I answer it and my dad’s voice comes through the phone. “Cam, is everything okay?”
I drop onto the bench on the sidewalk and hang my head, trying to get ahold of myself. “Hey, Dad. Everything’s okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it today.” My voice cracks on the last word and I cringe, hoping he didn’t catch it.
He’s silent for several moments before he speaks again. “I’m worried about you.”
“Please don’t be.”
We sit on the phone, neither of us saying a word until someone tells him it’s time to get off. He must’ve asked to make an emergency call.
“Cam…”
“It’s okay, Dad. I promise.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The second we hang up, my face falls into my hands and I cry for the second time today, wondering when I’ll catch a break. I like to think of myself as a strong person, but there’s only so much a person can take before they finally break. And right now, it feels like I’m awfully close to my breaking point.
I’m crying for who knows how long when a hand lands on my shoulder, making me jump. When I look to see who it is, I find Isaac standing in front of me.
“Are you stalking me?” I half-joke.
He doesn’t laugh. “You’re on my docks.”
I look around and realize he’s right. The bench I’m sitting on is located in front of the marina he owns. “I didn’t realize these were yours.”
“Most of the city is mine,” he deadpans, having a seat next to me. “Since you didn’t realize where you were, I’m assuming you weren’t looking for me.”
“No, I wasn’t.” I avoid looking at him, knowing my face must be a puffy and red mess from crying, but Isaac doesn’t stand for it and lifts my chin, so I’m forced to meet his gaze.
“What happened? Is something wrong with your dad?”
“I didn’t go see him.” I sigh. “Ever wish you could rewind the day so you could start over?”
He nods and edges closer, his arm sliding behind me to comfort me. “What day would you like to start over?”
“So many…” I laugh humorlessly. “But right now, just today would be good.” I rest my head against his open arm and inhale the masculine scent of his cologne.
“What would you do differently?”