Jasper Vale (The Edens #4)(77)

The thought of Jasper leaving made my entire body ache, so I shoved it aside and focused on work, biding my time until an angry kid with black hair and thick glasses walked through the front doors.

Blaze crossed the lobby, his eyes on the floor and his shoulders curled in. He was in those awful jeans again. The Fuck You Moms had been touched up at the thighs and knees.

This kid. He needed more than a job.

“Hi, Blaze.”

He blinked.

“Thanks for coming in today,” I said. “Give me one minute.”

Mateo had come in earlier to help out. He’d been installing a shelf I’d bought for the break room, so I shot him a text, asking if he could watch the front desk for a few minutes.

He came striding down the hallway minutes later, giving Blaze a flat look.

“We’ll be in the office,” I told him.

“Take your time.” The look he sent Blaze was full of warning.

Jasper wasn’t the only man in my life not keen on this kid and me being alone.

But despite everyone else’s opinions, this was my mess. Not my mother’s, mine. I should have told her no. Since I hadn’t, then I’d fix this mistake.

So I escorted Blaze to my office, taking the chair behind the desk I rarely sat at while he sat on the opposite side. My heart thumped as I faced him, my palms clammy. God, I hated firing people, even strange kids who creeped out my desk clerks. But I kept my shoulders straight, my chin held high. And I crisply delivered the lines I’d practiced over and over last night when I hadn’t been able to sleep.

“Blaze, I’m going to have to let you go. I appreciate your time here. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been a fit for our housekeeping department.” I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.

There was no outburst or argument. Blaze simply shrugged. “Fine. This was my mom’s fucking idea anyway. When do I get my money?”

“Your final paycheck will be sent to your address on record when we process payroll on the first.”

He stood from the chair and let himself out of the office.

Huh. That’s it? Well, at least one thing had gone right today.

I stood from my own chair, then flipped off the light as I left the room, rejoining Mateo at the desk.

“How’d that go?” he asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “Could have been worse.”

Mateo glanced past me toward the fireplace.

Blaze stood staring up at the hearth’s column of stone that towered to the rafters.

I did a double take. Damn it. “He’s still here?”

Just when I’d thought this had been easy.

I sucked in a fortifying breath, then walked toward the couches. “Blaze, was there something else you needed?”

He kept his gaze fixed to the ceiling. “Taylor is working today, right?”

“Um . . .” How the hell did he know that? I’d just called her a couple hours ago to see if she wanted a few more hours. She’d agreed to sit at the desk while I finished the next schedule and documented Blaze’s termination. How did he know she was coming in? “Did she tell you that?”

Maybe they were friends?

“I saw her walking. She was in her work clothes.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Taylor drove her Honda Civic to work because her family lived out of town a few miles. Sure, she could have come downtown early. Maybe she’d stopped by the coffee shop or another store on Main and that’s when he’d spotted her. But regardless, when she walked through these doors, I didn’t want him here to greet her.

“Why do you need to see Taylor?”

He dropped his chin, and for the first time, he looked me in the eyes.

A chill raced down my spine.

Yeah, this kid had to go.

“I want to tell her I got fired,” he said.

Because he thought it was her fault? I couldn’t tell with that flat tone.

“I’ll be sure to let her know.” I held a hand out toward the door. “Thanks again for coming in today. I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”

He cocked his head to the side and a swoop of that black hair fell into his face. But otherwise, he didn’t move.

“Blaze, you need to leave. You can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.” And apparently, I’d just become my mother.

And it was the wrong thing to say. If Blaze’s gaze had been cold before, it was arctic now.

Goose bumps broke out on my forearms, and suddenly, I saw the kid who’d brought an injured bird inside this building and broken its neck.

“I want to talk to Taylor,” he said.

“Well, she won’t be here today after all.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent her a quick text.

Change of plan. Don’t come to the hotel. I’ll call you later.

If Blaze had an unhealthy obsession with Taylor, the last place I wanted her was in this lobby.

With my phone tucked away, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Time to go home, Blaze.”

He stared at me. Unmoving.

Ugh. I didn’t have time for teenagers today.

The lobby door opened.

Shit. Taylor. My heart climbed into my throat as we both looked toward the door.

But it was Jasper.