A Guide to Being Just Friends(42)
“I know you like to pretend that he’s just an everyday buddy, but Hailey, he’s loaded. He probably has a half-dozen lawyers on retainer and speed dial.”
Her shoulders fell. Did no one believe in her? What would Fiona, or Wes, say if Hailey didn’t have a rich friend in her back pocket? She didn’t like to think about Wes’s money. “I’m not asking anyone to swoop in and fix my problems. This is part of running a company and I can do this. I will do this. It’s a setback, not an ending.”
“You know there’s such a thing as having too much pride, right? I’m not saying you do. Just don’t rule out all of your options because you think it says something negative to ask for help. When I decided to write full-time, I was terrified I couldn’t swing it and at first, I didn’t. I moved back in with my parents for six months. I felt like a total failure. Like I should have realized quitting my job to chase a dream was idiotic. Those six months damaged my pride but I recouped it when I landed on my feet.”
Hailey smiled at her, doing her best to turn her own mood around. “I appreciate you sharing that. I won’t rule anything out. I just don’t want to wave a ‘help me’ flag at the first sign of trouble.”
They were finishing up the salads that Hailey would deliver first thing in the morning, dressings on the side—shoot, she needed to remember to order more mini to-go containers. A knock on the front door brought her chin up, making her realize how long she’d been hunched over. Wes stood on the other side of the door, a tall, dark-haired teenager at his side. She remembered those years well—those ages where she’d felt so grown-up, ready to take on the world, but young enough to believe the world wouldn’t fight back. Ha. Those years. You felt like that before the rent increase.
Brushing her hands off on her apron, she went to let them in. She smiled at Wes, then greeted the teen. “You must be Leo.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She locked the door after them. “Call me Hailey. This is my friend Fiona.”
Wes and Fiona said hello after Leo shook her hand.
“That’s a lot of salad,” Wes said.
“Catering gig,” Fiona said, setting the prepared cups in a flat so they could be transferred to the walk-in fridge.
“You’re letting Fiona help.” Wes’s gaze twinkled.
“She has her food safety certificate. Trust me, it’s an uneven trade at best,” Hailey said, shooting Fiona a look.
Her friend laughed. “She’s right. I might still owe her even after this.”
“Have a seat, Leo,” Hailey said.
“I’ll go help Fiona,” Wes said, giving Leo an encouraging shoulder squeeze.
Leo brushed a hand through his short, curly hair. He waited for Hailey to sit before taking the chair across from her.
“This is fairly informal, Leo. I need help desperately with the Christmas season coming and Wes has already vouched for you. Tell me why you want to work here.” She’d never interviewed anyone before but he didn’t have to know that. It was kind of thrilling but she was nervous too. She might need this kid more than he needed her.
“I like working. I’m saving for college.” Simple. He reminded her of Wes when they’d had dinner with Aidan and Ana. She smiled, wondering if Wes had coached him: “say only what needs to be said.”
She felt Fiona and Wes’s presence and momentarily wondered if she should have googled what to ask in job interviews. She cleared her throat, reminded herself she was in charge. “You’ll have a variety of duties, including helping customers, prep work, and deliveries. I don’t mind training you for each of those things and others as they come up.”
He leaned in, his gaze more mature than his years. “Whatever you throw my way, I’ll catch it. I’ll do my best. You have my word.”
Straight shooter. She liked that. More than that, her instincts told her Leo would be a good fit. She was tired of second-guessing herself. She’d gotten here without any savings and would get over the next hurdle the same way. “Can you start tomorrow?”
She’d deal with the rent increase. Everything would be okay. She kept wondering if others believed in her but if she didn’t hire Leo, when she knew she needed someone, it would be like she didn’t even believe in herself.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She shook his hand. “Hailey. Would you like a salad?”
He laughed. “Sure.”
“Good. You can make your own. It’ll be good practice.”
She watched him walk behind the counter, wash up. Her gaze met Wes’s and she saw a myriad of emotions. They mirrored what she felt. Most of which was happiness.
17
“I would have helped you make salads. This is a ridiculous trade,” Wes said. They’d decided to shop right after she closed her store that Saturday because the speed dating started at eight.
“You don’t have any food prep training. Plus, it’s not really a trade. She asked me to go so she didn’t have to go alone. I would have done it even if she didn’t make salads.” Hailey put two boxes of the same cereal into the cart. Wes pulled one out, set it back on the shelf.
The store was fairly quiet even at this time. Most people probably didn’t spice up their Saturdays with a supermarket visit but Hailey had come to love this part of her week.