Ah. The dropout friend. Standing, I gather the empty pizza box and beer bottles, taking them over to the galley kitchen and washing my hands. Snagging two more beers, I open them and take a seat on the cushion again. Mel takes her beer, tapping the bottle with mine as she watches me.
“So. Your contract?”
Her face lights up, and she nods eagerly, placing her bottle on the glass coffee table and scrambling into the bedroom. The door is open, and I can see the corner of a full-size bed. Christ, I need to get my head out of that room. It’s not happening.
She reappears with a beaming smile, holding a pile of papers stapled together. Hugging them to her chest, she sinks onto her cushion. I place down my beer, holding out my hand as she puts the bundle of papers in it.
“I’ve been offered a paid internship!” Her voice rings with excitement. I can’t help grinning back at her.
It drops off my face quickly as my eyes land on the logo at the top of the offer letter. Sea Nest Constructions, Inc. The name is ringing bells in my head, and I can’t work out why.
Throwing her another quick smile, I scan the cover letter cursorily. It looks like a typical cover letter, nothing out of the ordinary. Mel is watching me, slowly sipping her beer.
Flipping over the page, I scan through the contract. Typical shit. I still can’t put my finger on the unease running through me or my brain scratching about the company name. I get to the last page and stare down at the non-disclosure agreement, a bitter taste in my mouth.
Finally, Andy’s voice rings through my head. I don’t work with Sea Nest. They offer good contracts, but they have a bad reputation for burning through female interns. No one talks about it, but the whispers are that there is a lot of sexual harassment. Oh, fuck no.
“What?”
I glance up quickly, frowning as she blinks at me.
“You need to thank them and turn this offer down, Tinker Bell.”
Her mouth drops open, and she sets her beer down, crawling closer and angling her head to look at the contract.
“Because they want me to sign an NDA?”
“Because they have a reputation for treating interns badly,” I growl. She tips her head back, blinking up at me.
“How can you possibly know that? You work with sportspeople.”
“My friend, Andy, has a smaller construction company. It’s well known in the industry that Sea Nest burns through interns.”
“Oh. Well, it’s a good deal. Not many internships pay. I can afford rent with what they’re offering.”
I frown, dropping the contract on the coffee table and reaching for my beer.
“You can’t afford the rent for this place?”
“I mean, I have my loans and everything. But after Bee moved out, it’s tight. That’s why I do the hostess jobs at alumni events. This means I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”
Leaving my beer on the coffee table, I slide my fingers through her hair, drawing her face closer, my lips brushing hers. Shit. I wasn’t supposed to touch her.
Fuck it. My tongue swipes into her mouth, my hand cupping the back of her neck. She takes like beer and faintly of pizza.
“Don’t take the internship,” I murmur against her lips.
“I’ll think about it.”
I suppose that’s the best promise I will get out of her. Kissing her hungrily, I bite back a sigh as I set her away from me, stroking her cheek with my thumb, clearing my throat, and climbing to my feet.
“I should leave. I have an early morning meeting with the DA tomorrow.”
“Sounds intriguing. Have fun.”
I’d have more fun if I stayed here, but it’s not a good idea. As she stands, I tug her against me, tipping her head back and kissing her again.
“Seriously. Don’t take the internship.”
“Seriously. I’ll think about it.”
She better.