"Hey, buddy. Talk to us. What's up?" My dad's voice came on the line, filling the car.
"You guys know what happened with Vivian and her ex. I told you on Monday over breakfast that he cheated on her multiple times after they were together for ten years. She's going to have hang-ups over me traveling all the time, unless I can get her to travel with me after she graduates school." I hit the gas and checked my mirrors as my mom spoke.
"Right, which is a great idea, but you can't expect a young woman that just finished paying for a four-year degree to leave her career behind to follow you around."
"Your mother's right, Easton. Women nowadays aren't like that." He yelped. "Ouch! Stop pinching me, Mary."
"Okay, guys." I shook my head. "I have a possible opportunity to get her into my company. She wants to be a food critic, and it's a hard gig to find an opening for. I'm having dinner with Jon now."
"So what's the question? Get her the job. That gives her income, speaks to her dreams, and lets her be beside you all the time. It's a no-brainer." My dad was forever the simpleton.
"But if she's already got commitment issues," my mother started, "then you helping her get her first job might push her away. I mean, if things don't work out for you guys, then what? She loses her job and her boyfriend?"
"Exactly!" I smiled, knowing my mom would get it. "So what do I do? I can't not try and help her with the job."
"Have you talked to her about it?" My mom asked.
"No. I wouldn't want her to know that I tried to get her the job. I need to think through all of this. I mean, how else would she get the job if I didn't get it for her?" I groaned. "Why does all of this have to be so damn complicated?"
"It doesn't. Get her the job and tell her she's welcome." My dad huffed. "Women. Such a pain in the ass at times. Ouch!"
"Ma. Stop pinching him. Seriously." I pulled up to a long line of cars waiting to get on the freeway and turned the heater down. "I should just call and see what she wants me to do, but I don't want to look needy."
"You're over-thinking this a lot." My mom complained at me. "If my boyfriend didn't call me all week long, I would think he was with another woman. Plain and simple."
"That's ridiculous, Mary. Easton is busy, and he's right. Calling a girl all the damn time makes you look silly and immature. Just stick to your guns, son."
"Alright, you guys have been no help at all, but I love you all the same. I'll call later. Stop beating each other up." I laughed as they gave their closing comments.
Calling Vivian was something I wanted to do, but I couldn't shake the fact that it wasn't something she would appreciate. I would ask Jon his opinion and see what he thought about all of it. He used to be a regular ladies man, though how I had no idea. The guy worked more than I did.
"So the baby is good, and Bethany is too?" I asked as I pulled my napkin into my lap and reached for the breadbasket.
"Yeah, they’re both great. The little girl is Starla Magnis. We couldn't agree, so we both got to choose a name. Beth still isn't talking to me over the middle name, but it’s fun." He shrugged and picked up his wine, drinking half the glass in two gulps. "Check out these résumés. One of them is green behind the ears, but the woman submitted an article. And honestly, I'm thinking of visiting the location just based on her write-up. It's sexy, fresh, insightful. I like her already, and I think that if someone like yourself would be willing to split your time between resorts and fine dining for a while, we could make it work."
"Alright, but I want to talk to you about the girl I met. She's incredible, Jon. Both from a critique perspective and just as a person." I took a bite of my roll, chewing it slowly before taking the applications and setting them down.
He scoffed at me. "You're not going to help me until I talk to you about this chick, are you?"
"No. She's soon to be my girlfriend, and I can't not mention her to you. She'll be graduating from NYU soon, and she would just be great for us." I shrugged. "I know you're not liking the part where she's connected to me, but it would work out well for me. We could travel everywhere together and I'll teach her all I know. Just the way you like things done."
"And what happens when you guys break up? You're married to your career, Easton. Everyone knows that. Even your folks." He sat his drink down
and picked up the menu. "You just want someone to tag along with your dreams. What are her dreams?"
"Alright, fuck the job idea for now. I need to talk through my shit with her any way." I let out an exasperated sigh and put my full attention on the man across from me. "She's been cheated on in the past, and I know she's not really ready to commit to anything with me because I travel. I don't blame her honestly, but I'm pretty sure she's the one."
"Wow. That's big coming from you." Jon picked up the bottle of wine and refilled my glass. "Was she cheated on recently?"
"Yeah. Back in February I think."
"How long have you known her?" He nodded toward the glass. "Drink. I'll take you back to the hotel if needed."
"I bumped into her multiple times at the airport, on the flight and at the hotel in Miami this last week. It was almost like everywhere I was, she was too." I picked up the glass and took a long drink. "I've not wanted to try to be stable for anyone in a long time. I spent my college years being a selfish prick and sleeping around. The last two and a half years working for you guys have been the best years of my life. I feel like to be the man this girl might need me to be, I'd have to give up what I love."
He chuckled. "I was in your same shoes years ago. I know exactly how you're feeling. But let me tell you this, Easton, the girl isn't as fragile as you think. Someone who's been cheated on doesn't need stability, they need honesty. Tell her how you're feeling and what you're up to. If you pull out anything that looks like a lie, then it quickly becomes one. Have you asked her about working for me?"
"No. I didn't want to seem too pushy, too interested, too involved."