Once and for All(18)

Despite Bee’s breakdown and the tape explosion, there was only one thing I noticed as my mother said this: for the first time, she was talking in We when it came to this wedding. Bee was surely embarrassed. But thanks to said outburst, it looked like my mom was finally in.

“People never believe me when I tell them this,” Ambrose replied, folding his arms on the table. “But I’m not trying to annoy her. She’s just very sensitive.”

“You really think that’s the issue?” my mother asked.

He nodded, somber. “Always has been.”

“I heard your mother sent you here because she was so frustrated with dealing with you.”

“True,” he agreed. “And I wrecked her car. But in my defense, she is also very sensitive. I think it’s a genetic thing.”

Oh, for God’s sake, I thought, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Of course it was everyone else’s fault. Next he’d blame the tape dispenser. My mother, however, smiled at him, clearly amused. “Did I hear Bee say you need a job?”

“That’s what I’m told,” he replied.

“You’re told?”

“It’s actually more of an ultimatum,” he admitted. “Apparently I am both annoying and expensive.”

Instead of replying, my mom just studied him, one hand twisting the diamond necklace she wore every day. I didn’t like the look on her face even before she said, “How about this: you work for me this summer, and I’ll take your wages off my fee, which your mother is paying.”

“Really?”

“Mom?” I said, stunned.

Ambrose grinned at me. “Did you hear that? We’ll be co-workers!”

“But you have to actually work,” she told him, firm now. “I don’t do annoying or expensive. And you show up on time. Is that clear?”

“Absolutely,” he replied. “When do I start?”

“Now.” My mom pushed out her chair, then pointed under the table. “Pick up all this tape. Then come find me for a coffee order. I need caffeine.”

“On it,” Ambrose said, giving her a mock salute as she started into her office. I followed her, glancing behind us just before shutting the door to see him crouched down on the carpet, picking up the tape one piece at a time. He saw me looking at him and gave me a cheerful thumbs-up. Jesus.

“Are you crazy?” I said to her, closing the door. “Why in the world would you hire him?”

“It’s our job to keep brides calm and focused,” she replied, pulling her wallet out of her purse. “This wedding is a mess so far, and yet the only time I’ve seen Bee upset has been because of Ambrose. This way, he’s out of her hair and helping us at the same time.”

“No way,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ve never hired anyone on the spot like that. You background check the rare person you do take on. There’s no way you’d risk your name and your event just to keep someone busy.”

“I can’t do a good deed?” she asked, amused.

“You don’t do good deeds,” I said flatly.

“Hey!” she protested. I just looked at her. Finally, she sighed and said, “Okay, fine. I may have gotten a phone call earlier from Eve about how Bee was at her wits’ end with her brother and asking if, for an additional fee, we could divert him somehow.”

“She’s paying you to babysit him?”

“Not babysit. He’s working, or no deal. I told her that.” She slipped a twenty out of her wallet, handing it to me. “And I’m not going to trust him with anything crucial, God knows. Errands, physical labor, last-minute details, and coffee runs.”

I thought for a second. “But that’s my job.”

“Exactly.” She smiled. “And you are about to graduate and have your last summer before college. I’d like to see you actually try to enjoy it.”

“Do not do this for me,” I said, in a warning voice. “I’ve already dealt with him enough to know I’d rather work alone than with that kind of help.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, as if I hadn’t spoken at all. Then, before I could protest further, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to my forehead. “Give him this and the standard coffee order and point him toward Jump Java. Then you’re officially off duty. Okay?”

I wanted to keep at this, stop what would surely be a runaway train before it even had a chance to gain speed. But over her shoulder, the clock said four fifteen and I had a date to meet Jilly in line, Steve Baroff between us or not, in two hours. Plus, based on all I’d already seen of Ambrose Little, he wouldn’t need me to sabotage him: he’d do it himself. Probably before I even flipped my tassel.

“Okay,” I said, taking the bill from her. “It’s your funeral.”

“What a charming way to put it,” she replied. “Spoken just like a high school graduate.”

I rolled my eyes, reaching down to open the door. When I pushed it open, it banged hard against something on the other side. Which, I saw as I peeked around it, was Ambrose, who was still on the floor and, most likely, close enough to have heard everything. Whoops.

“I think I got it all,” he said now, not sounding offended at least. “Man, that is some sticky tape.”