Bait (Wake, #1)(25)
But she got the job.
She'd be traveling.
She'd be away from her boyfriend and he might not like that. They, sadly, might not work out. What a shame.
And I'd be traveling too. She might not text me that day, but she would soon. I’d wait.
The possibilities were endless.
Monday, June 23, 2008
“THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, Micah.” And for the first time, in I didn’t know how long, I felt like things were going in the right direction. I pretended I didn't hear her say hello to Casey and focused on our conversation. “They said they liked my ideas and offered me the position on the spot. I can't believe it.”
“I can. You're awesome. When do you start?” I could hear the excitement in her voice. One of the best parts about the job was that they had two main offices, one in San Francisco and one in Seattle. Couture Dining Incorporated specialized in the hospitality industry. They designed restaurant themes and menus for hotels all over the world. They were the benchmark in hospitality dining and, branching out, a new part of their company would focus on the invention of new restaurants and another other part on revamping already established ones with fresh menus and systems.
That morning, when I woke up after getting some of the best sleep I'd had in ages, I was excited. But after going to the interview and then out to lunch with Bridgett and Lance, the owners of CDI, I was having a hard time not coming out of my skin. It felt so right.
“I start next week. They have a trade show in a week or so in Chicago and invited me to go. Ahhh,” I screamed. “I need to call Reggie. I might just stay with him. Ah, he's going to love this.”
“That sounds fun. I'm so happy for you.” I was so happy that I might get to see her more. “Call me when you find out when you'll be in town. You can stay with me if you want, it’ll be like we're roommates again.”
“I will. Micah, I'll never be able to thank you enough for recommending me. Ahhh. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Talk soon. ’Bye, B.”
When we disconnected, I immediately called my brother Reggie and waited for him to pick up. But then I realized it was almost two in the afternoon and he'd still be working. I heard his voicemail message, “Hello, this is a Reagan Warren, I'm not available. Leave your message and I'll return your call as promptly as possible.” My brother was becoming such a stiff.
“Hey smear, it's your baby sister and I've got great news. You're going to love it and that's all I'm going to say. You'll just have to call me back to find out. Don't make me wait,” I rambled and then I hung-up.
I called my parents next. My dad was a professor and my mom a grade school teacher, so I knew they'd be home at that time of day in the summer. They were so excited for me. They invited Grant and me out to dinner to celebrate. I shouldn't have accepted, because of the special night I had planned with him, but the job trumped that. It was major. We could do dinner some other night that week. I placated my real thoughts with these reasons for re-nigging on my night with Grant; deep down I knew it was because I chatted via text with Casey the night before and I was back at square one, feeling neutral towards Grant and the promise of his proposal.
My fingers itched to text Casey my news, but I didn't. Doing what my brain told me was the right thing, I sent Grant one instead.
Me: I got the job. It's much more that I thought it was going to be. I can't wait to tell you about it. Rain check on our night in. The parents are taking us out to celebrate.
I didn't expect him to text back in quick fashion. Grant worked for his father's real estate company and he was often with clients or on the phone during working hours. I tried not to bother him much. He'd reply when he could.
I needed to tell my boss at the restaurant about my new job, but that could wait until the next day. I had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.
I'd been working my way up and they relied on me a lot. It would come as a shock, but sometimes opportunities happened when you least expected them. I hoped they saw it that way, too.
My luggage found its way back to me about a week after I got home from San Francisco, but it would never be the same. It was really wrecked. I decided to make use of the rest of my day off and shop for new travel gear.
I found the perfect charcoal-gray luggage set right as I walked into the department store. It was the least painless shopping experience ever.
As I walked my bags to the car, I noticed a sign at the salon across the mall parking lot. It was a photo of a woman with a cute haircut and it compelled me to walk my happy ass over.
I felt impulsive and spontaneous. It was becoming a habit, I guessed.
I walked in and signed my name to the list and noticed there was only one other lady before me. I sat down on the row of plush chairs facing her and grabbed the magazine she'd discarded. I thumbed through it reading celebrity gossip and fodder. I looked at the pictures mindlessly.
“I hate waiting before a haircut,” she said.
“Yeah, I know. I just decided to do it, so I suppose I can wait a few minutes,” I admitted. She looked older than me by a few years and she dangled her sandal off the end of her foot nervously. I politely smiled and looked back down at the magazine.
She asked quizzically, “Are you cutting a lot off? Your hair is sort of long.” I ran my hand over the braid on my shoulder and considered it.