“This feels really shitty. I’m just making things hard for people. I should probably find something else.”
Richard rubs his forehead. His hair was black when I went to Europe, but now it’s snow white; unlike my father who artificially keeps his black. I’ve already decided that when my hair goes white, it’ll stay that way.
“Listen to me, kid,” Richard says. “It’s important for family harmony that you stay here, at least for a while. If you can stand out from Jeremiah, the position could be yours.”
“But there’s no way I will, and you know it.” I can hear it in his tone. Disappointment settles over me. Here I thought I was on somewhat equal footing for this role, but I’m not. It’s already Jeremiah’s, and, for some reason, Uncle Rick is placating my father. I’m going with “what is family blackmail for two thousand.”
“I assure you I’m presenting you both equally to the board, but they’ll have questions. It’s an important role.”
“Got it.” I force a smile. “Thanks for being honest.” Sort of. “Guess I’ll go…follow Jeremiah around.”
Richard nods, his brow still furrowed. “One thing I know for sure, kid, things always work out, even when it seems impossible.”
I nod. “Yeah. Thanks.”
I exit his office and stand at the railing overlooking the planetarium. Jeremiah is below with several employees I’ve met and a few I haven’t. Samuel is very animated, waving his hands around as he speaks. I’m guessing he’s sharing his plans for February. It is a really good idea.
I feel stuck, torn between running away and digging in to prove I can do it. No one believes I can. Not Jeremiah. Not Rick. Not any of the people who work here. I feel about as welcome as I did after that final game. I’m not.
Exhaling, my eyes shift back to Jeremiah to find him watching me. I’m expecting some kind of smug expression, but instead he motions for me to come down. Really? That wasn’t expected.
I nod, making my way down. When I reach the group, silence falls over everyone, while Samuel borderline glares at me.
“Hey, Gabriel,” Jeremiah says. “I wanted you to meet a few more employees who work evenings.” He motions to a cute, tall guy wearing suspenders over a T-shirt with the solar system on it. “This is Asher. He works in the auditorium and café sometimes.”
We shake hands.
“This is Marlowe,” Jeremiah says, gesturing to a woman standing next to Penelope. “She works in the gift shop.”
“Pleasure,” she says with a strong British accent. She’s strikingly beautiful, with dark skin, bright-blue hair twisted into two long braids, and numerous facial piercings. She’s wearing a T-shirt with a rainbow on it and baggy jeans with Converse. Cool style.
“This is Greer,” Jeremiah says, gesturing to a woman standing next to Julien. She has purple hair, facial piercings, and a scowl on her lips.
“I work in the café, the gift shop, and I’m learning the auditorium engineering.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she says, somewhat unconvincingly.
“Okay, guys,” Jeremiah says. “We’ll talk more about February at the staff meeting on Sunday. I’m taking Gabriel to show him boring paperwork stuff.”
I get a polite wave from several people as I follow Jeremiah.
“Everything okay with Richard?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder at me.
“Yep. He was just reinforcing that I should be attentive to everything you’re showing me.”
“Cool.”
We spend the rest of the day going over payroll. Jeremiah understands all of it easily, while I’m struggling to keep up. I know how to use computers, but I have next to zero business experience. Payroll audits? Tax withholding? Unemployment tax? My head is spinning by the time the day is over.
As I bundle up for the day, I glance outside, feeling my nerves kick up when I see the snow still on the ground.
“Do you live far?”
I twist around to see Jeremiah watching. “Uh, no, not really. About four miles.”
“Which direction?”
“South toward Oak Street.”
“I go that way. Do you want a ride?”
“Oh, um, I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not. It’s literally on my way. I could swing by and get you in the morning on the way in.”
Accept his kindness. I smile. “Thanks. That’d be great.”
“No problem. You’ll get used to it again in time.”
“Hope so.”
He taps something into his phone, then nods at me. “Ready?”
“Yeah. Are we grabbing Samuel?”
“No, he works later. In fact this is early for me, but I told Aiden I’d eat dinner with him.”
“Is he your…um...boyfriend?” Taking a wild guess here.
His eyes widen before he laughs. “Oh, no. Definitely not. He’s my best friend, and we’re not remotely compatible. He’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but we’re almost too similar. It would be a disaster.”
“Ah. Got it. Sounds like me and Nate, my roommate.”
Jeremiah nods, wrapping his scarf around his neck. “So, you’re not dating anyone?”
“No. You?”
He laughs again. “No.”
I follow him as he hustles out of the office and then the planetarium. He always moves at lightspeed. I chuckle to myself at my unintended space joke.
We crunch through the snow to Jeremiah’s truck. It’s big and black, and not at all what I would have expected him to drive. I guess I would’ve pictured more of a sensible sedan.
“It’s very safe,” he explains as though he can read my confusion.
“Great.”
“That your Mercedes,” he asks with a tinge of disgust in his voice.
“Borrowing it.”
I hop in the passenger side, buckle my seatbelt, and wait nervously while Jeremiah starts the truck to warm it. He reaches in the back for the snow brush.
“Oh, let me,” I offer. “Please. Least I can do for being a big baby who can’t drive in snow.”
Jeremiah actually smiles at me. “Won't fight you for the honor.”
Laughing, I grab the brush and climb out, working quickly to get snow and ice off the front and back windshields. By the time I get back in, the cab is toasty, and he’s turned on the seat warmers.
“God it’s cold.”
Jeremiah nods, pushing his glasses up his nose. Man, that’s cute. “Yeah. Let’s get you home.”
I give him directions as he drives cautiously. Twenty minutes ago, I was full of nerves, but I’ve never been so calm in snow as I am right now. When we pull up in front of the apartments, he bends slightly to look at them.
“These are nice.”
“Thanks. It’s Nate’s place. He’s just letting me crash while I get settled.”
Jeremiah nods.
“Okay, well, thank you. I should expect you around what time in the morning?”
“Seven-thirty? I like to get in before everyone else.”
“Then why did you tell me to come in at eight-thirty?”
“Because you’re everyone else.” He grins slightly.