Uber Bossy: A Small Town Romantic Comedy (Jobs From Hell Book 2) Read online

  I folded my arms, not to look tough, but to put some pressure on my chest, right where it hurt like I was being split in two.

  “The town prison brought the criminals here to our town, but I didn’t see you protesting that business. How is this any different?”

  Dad nodded once. “Perhaps we should have protested that too. I see now we’re just in a fast slide down the hill of morality.” He paused when Mom slid her arm through his. When he continued, his voice was lowered so just Jayden and I could hear him. “We expected better from you, Lenora Delancey.”

  My chin wobbled at his words, my heart of stone cracking under the pressure of parental disapproval of the public variety. Jayden took a step away from me before I could formulate a reply, leaving me standing there on my own. Without a glance at me, he addressed my parents.

  “I changed my mind. Lenora isn’t working for me any longer.”

  My jaw dropped open and I couldn’t believe my ears. I thought for a second he said I was fired on my second day of work. After I’d just defended him.

  In front of my parents. And the whole town.

  And he called me Lenora.

  “Jayden?”

  His gaze darted to me and then he shifted nervously to face my parents again, dismissing me as if I didn’t matter. “If you have issues with this business model, I suggest you take it up with the mayor. He’s the one who approached me in the first place with this opportunity.”

  I could see my parents replying, but none of it was hitting my ears. I just kept hearing Jayden, over and over again, saying I was fired. The sounds of the crowd faded into the distance as I stood there, mortified and confused as to how I’d lost everything in one sentence.

  A heavy weight came out of nowhere to sit on my chest, the feeling quite foreign and unwelcome. It bore down until my little stone heart shattered, the ricochet of sharp fragments slicing me open from the inside. My view of Jayden and my parents with the protestors as a backdrop began to waver.

  Shame and heartbreak.

  That’s what was crushing me.

  I didn’t wait to explore this new feeling any further. Escape was my only thought. I spun on my heel and ran, pushing my way through the crowd, not seeing or hearing anything until I made it across Brinestone Way. I sagged against my car and tried to take a deep breath, finding I couldn’t. Each jagged pant was like a slice to my heart. I needed to get far, far away from this mess. Somewhere I could forget all about gray-eyed men who kept secrets and stole hearts and rescinded job offers just when I thought everything I ever wanted was in my grasp.

  I fumbled with the door handle and plopped down into my car. I slammed the door closed and rested my head against the headrest. Was I even in any condition to drive? No way in hell was I getting back out of this car and into the mess that waited in the parking lot. Prying my eyes open and forcing myself to take control of the situation, my gaze landed on a little flutter of white paper tucked under my windshield wiper.

  A fucking parking ticket.

  “Thanks a lot, Penelope.”

  18

  Lenora

  My phone started ringing before I even made it back home. I waited until I had my car in park before I answered. Shit, even in a full-on clusterfuck I was a safe driver. I also happened to curse a lot more when my whole life imploded.

  “Hey, Amelia.”

  “What the fuck did he do?”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear. “Damn, woman. I’d like to keep my eardrum intact.”

  “Seriously, what is going on? I heard there’s a protest going on at the new hardware store in town. When the hell did we get a hardware store? And why are people protesting some screws and hammers and shit? I mean, the dude has money. Why’d he invest in a goddamn hardware store?”

  She finally quit talking to take a much needed deep breath.

  “How do you know he has money?” I could only focus on one crazy question at a time.

  “Duh. It’s called the internet. Ever heard of it? You can dig up dirt on anybody.” She made some weird lip-flapping noise and carried on. “Anyway, that’s beside the point. Why are they saying you and Jayden are at the forefront of this whole fiasco?”

  “Listen. It’s a long story and right now I don’t want to get into it. I just got home. I’m going to change clothes and head to the beach. Mental health day or some shit.” I climbed out of the car and saw Mrs. Walker down the street staring at me above her tortoiseshell reading glasses while she watered her plants.

  A spark of anger flared hot and bright. “Jesus, take the fucking wheel. This town!” I slammed into the house, throwing my bag down on the floor and wanting to break something. Why was my heart the only thing breaking around here?

  “Lenora!”

  “What?” I barked into the phone.

  “Did you hear me?”

  I blinked. “No, what did you say?”

  Amelia sighed, but for once it sounded kind. “I’m going to make the calls. We’ll meet you down at the Point within the hour. You hear me? Get the hell out of Hell right now.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.” I hung up, a numbness starting to seep into my veins.

  Hanging up on people was not something Lenora Murphy did. I gave hugs and encouragement. So who did I turn to for hugs and encouragement when I was the one who needed them most? Apparently the Hell Raisers were to be my giant group hug. For some reason I had a feeling they’d burn the damn town down for hurting me before they gave straight-up encouragement and a hug.

  But I couldn’t worry about that right now. I just needed to change into a swimsuit and get the hell out of here before my parents or some other well-meaning adult came traipsing through the door to lecture me on the sins of the flesh. I managed to change, pack a bag, and get back on the road before the first tear hit my eyes. Then it was a mad race to see if I could get to the Point before I sobbed and couldn’t see the damn road. I made it. Barely.

  After sitting in my car for ten minutes and crying, ruining the makeup I’d carefully applied that morning for my new job, I climbed out of my hot car and traipsed down the rocky hillside to the beach. I refused to sit there and cry over a man who didn’t deserve me. Not if he’d drop me without even a single word between us. He just caved to my parents immediately and didn’t care about my feelings. I did that acquiescing thing enough in my own life. I didn’t need a boyfriend who did it too.

  The trail was hot in the full midday sun, but I knew the shade down below and the cool water would be the perfect balm to my broken heart. My friends and I loved this spot. It was a hidden alcove, too small to draw many people and too many overhanging trees to allow for a safe bonfire. When you wanted some peace and quiet, the Point was where you went.

  The tiny beach was pleasantly empty on a Tuesday. I spread my towel out and shucked off my jean shorts and T-shirt, leaving me in my skimpiest bikini, the one I wore when I knew Mom and Dad wouldn’t see me. Twenty-eight years old and still worried about my parents’ reaction to my clothing choices. I knew it was pathetic, I just didn’t know how to stop letting them have that effect on me.

  “Hey, sugar! You ready to drink that man right out of your hair?”

  My eyes popped open to see Hazel above me, a halo of sunlight circling her head.

  “Hey.” I sat up as she set down a small cooler, then spread her towel next to me. “I must have fallen asleep.”

  She laughed as I rubbed my eyes. “The others should be here shortly. I brought the craft beer. Lucy’s bringing the chocolate. And Amelia’s stopping by Forty-Diner to grab mozzarella sticks and garlic fries. It’s the perfect trifecta of breakup food.”

  “We’re here!”

  Hazel and I both turned to see Lucy and Amelia picking their way down the hill, arguing the whole time. Hazel rolled her eyes.

  “Sorry we’re late. I had to get a sitter and then Amelia said she’d pick me up, but she was late as usual.”

  “Listen, bitch, Forty-Diner was packed. I guess a go
od protest works up some hunger.”

  Amelia laughed and then cut it off to look at me. “Sorry, is it too soon?”

  I glared at her and she sheepishly offered me one of the bags she held. I could have given her a piece of my mind—I was in the mood to do just that—but then a waft of greasy garlic hit my nose and my stomach rumbled in response.

  The girls sat down and we had a junk food feast, washing it down with beer, sharing our red Solo cups so we each got to taste the different flavors. No one asked me any invasive questions. They just kept sharing about their day, being careful to steer clear of any mention of the protest. Lucy kept us up to speed on little Roxy, which made me think of Red. I quickly focused on the hot cheese stick in my mouth so the tears wouldn’t start. When the last fry had gone in my mouth and the Ghirardelli chocolate squares Lucy brought got pushed aside for later when we could fit something else in our stomachs, they got to the point.

  “Bain said the chief broke up the protest not long after you left. Want to tell us what happened?” Lucy gently asked.

  I brushed the crumbs from my fingers and regretted the tiny bathing suit. My food baby was epic.

  “Well, Jayden fired me in front of my parents without discussing it with me first. Which I can only assume means we broke up too. Going for a record over here. Only worked for one day in a professional job and only had the man for one day. I don’t even think it was officially twenty-four hours.” I pouted. “I defended him to my parents. In front of the whole goddamn town! And this is how he repays me? He fires me?”

  “Okay, listen, that man has some serious issues.” Amelia launched in, counting off on her fingers. “First, he wears a disguise and secretly visits Auburn Hill. Then he moves here and wants your deliciously hot bod but doesn’t want to officially date. Then he hires you and tells you he wants to date you for real. And then the next day he fires you? That’s some messed-up shit, Sunshine!”

  “All of which is not your fault,” Lucy said firmly. “I know Jayden and there has to be a reason he fired you like that.” She held her hands up when Amelia, Hazel, and I looked ready to jump up and start pulling hair. “Now I’m not saying he was justified in what he did. Clearly he fucked up.”

  “Thank you.” I tipped my head, liking that my girls had my back, but it still didn’t solve the issue of my heart and its current state of affairs.

  “So how does one tape together a broken heart?” I asked softly, my fingers tracing over the huge picture of the sun on my beach towel.

  “Well, you start by hanging with your best girlfriends. And we catch some goddamn grunions!” Hazel whooped it up.

  A smile crept onto my face before I could pull it back. “Wait, they’re running?”

  “They sure are. Everyone was so caught up in the protest—sorry, Lenora—they weren’t listening to poor Bobby at Forty-Diner trying to tell everyone he saw some last night.” Hazel hopped up and threw her hair into the highest pineapple bun allowed by the laws of physics.

  “Well, shit. We gotta catch some grunions tonight and have Bobby fry ’em up for us.” My heart pumped out a sad little beat, limping along despite this morning’s devastation. Maybe, just maybe, I could survive this. I’d only had the job and the man for a day. Certainly they hadn’t ruined me for all jobs and all men for life. I just needed to give it time. Didn’t somebody somewhere say that? Time heals all wounds? I’d just hide out here at the Point until my heart was fully mended.

  “Did you bring the beach tent, Lucy?”

  She pointed over to a blue cylindrical bag closer to the rocks. I knew she brought it to seek shelter to keep from burning her ultra-white skin, but it looked like an opportunity to me. I’d be borrowing it at the end of the night. No laws restricting camping overnight at the beach, right?

  We stayed the rest of the day, ending a perfectly good beach day—had my heart not been running around behind the scenes and wreaking havoc—standing in a line, our feet in the surf, our arms laced over each other’s suntanned backs. The sun dipped into the ocean to end what started out a horrific day with my girls supporting me, emotionally and physically. I lost the job, the guy, and the respect of my parents, but I didn’t lose my ride-or-die best friends.

  “Let’s pack up our stuff before the light’s totally gone and then we can catch some grunions, baby!” Hazel was the first to step away.

  “Hey! Get back, you beast!”

  We whipped around to see her running back up the beach to our towels, hands flying above her head. Several seagulls flew up in the air and swooped around in a circle, probably to see if she meant business. We all ran up to help her pack up our empty food containers. There was no way I was letting a beady-eyed seagull eat any of my junk food. That shit was for me and my broken heart.

  Lucy grabbed her long tent, already packed up and ready to go back in her trunk, flailing it around in the air as best as she could given its weight. She actually came close to one of the seagulls. She literally scared the shit out of it, dodging the dropping with a yelp. The birds finally cleared, heading off to easier pickings and leaving us to our peaceful evening.

  We sat in the sand and waited for the grunions to appear, our flashlights at the ready. As the moon rose in the sky, we did this little game we’d been doing for years. We went one by one and talked about what our future life looked like in ten years. The only rule being we couldn’t restrict ourselves in any way. Ludicrous dream of owning five houses? You bet your ass. Want five kids and two husbands? You ride those dad bods, girl.

  But for the first time ever, I lied. When it came my turn, though I pictured that gorgeous house I’d sent Jayden as a joke, him, Red, and me filling it up with life and love, I told the girls I wanted a simple house in the heart of Hell and a decent job outside of town. I didn’t reach high, I didn’t dream big. I’d already done that my whole life and look where that had gotten me.

  Maybe it was time to be realistic.

  Lucy stepped aside to take a phone call, probably Bain checking in to make sure we were okay. All day and all evening away from each other was a longer time period than either of the lovebirds could stand. My heart ached anew seeing how much he loved her. What would it be like to have a partner in life? Someone who stood by your side and supported you in all your dreams? Lucy kept glancing over at me and then saying something into the phone, so I could imagine she and Bain were discussing Jayden and me. They could discuss all they wanted, it still wouldn’t make any sense to me.

  “Grunion!” Hazel jumped up and shouted, pointing down at the water line where the surf hit the sand.

  A flash of silver caught my eye and I jumped up too. Then several flashes of silver lit by the full moon showed up in the wave as it hit the shoreline. Hazel grabbed the cooler where our beers had been earlier in the day, running down to the water. We followed behind her with our flashlights, Lucy having hung up the phone in order to join us. We bent over and struck with lightning speed. Well, in my mind, we were lightning. In reality, we’d spent the day in the hot summer sun drinking beer. I’d be surprised if we caught anything.

  Amelia whooped and I shined my flashlight on her to see a silver grunion wiggling in her fist and a huge smile on her face. She put it in the cooler and went back to scooping down around her ankles, her flashlight in her mouth. Before long we were giggling and racing around in the dark, trying to catch little female fish who only wanted to lay their eggs on the sand and have the males fertilize them. It was ridiculous, but the easiest fishing you could ever find. No need for worms on a hook came as a bonus.

  By the time we filled the cooler with enough grunions to make Bobby delirious, we were exhausted, but happy. We loaded up all our stuff and headed back up the cliff, going slow to make sure we didn’t trip in the dark. When everything was back in the trunk of our cars, I grabbed my friends and pulled them into a group hug.

  “I love you, bitches.” I sighed.

  Lucy giggled and Amelia pulled me in tighter. “We got you. Things will work out, you’l
l see.”

  Hazel stroked my hair and the sweetness of it made me tear up. “And if it doesn’t, we’ll all just move to a new town and start over. I’ll go by Karen.”

  We all cracked up. “Karen? Seriously? You get to pick a new name and you go with Karen?” Amelia sounded offended.

  “What? I could wear mom jeans and drink wine every night out of a box. It would be awesome.”

  I snorted. “Y’all are crazy and just what I needed today. Thank you.”

  “We love you and we’ll always be here for you. But you need to let me go home to Roxy before my breasts explode.”

  “Ew…” Amelia broke the group hug, backing away from Lucy’s nursing breasts with a rueful headshake. “I am so not looking forward to that.”

  We all headed home, even me, having abandoned the idea of camping out at the beach for fear of another seagull attack while I slept. While there was a smile on my face, it was a flimsy cover to a soul that ached. I went through the roundabout without seeing a single car this late at night. Of course, that just made me think of Jayden. And so did my driveway where he helped my dad into the car that night. Even the crumpled suit pants on the floor of my room reminded me of the perfect job with a hot boss I didn’t have anymore.

  Despite being angry and humiliated, I missed Jayden more than I missed the job I’d spent years dreaming of.

  When would my heart get with the program and accept my mediocre dreams?

  19

  Jayden

  “Black coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, please,” I asked the vaguely familiar kid behind the counter at Coffee. He narrowed his eyes at me, but gave me the right change. I was pretty much a pariah here in Hell now that everyone knew about The Hardware Store.

  Just as I went to move down the counter and wait for my food, he leaned in and whispered, “Lukas wants to kick your ass, but we also can’t wait until you’re open. Ever think about doing private tours of the place?”