“No, you like your job.” I quit. Oh my God. I quit.

“Not really. I just like it a lot more—but still less—with my new boss. But the work isn’t challenging, and I’m tired of having to fit myself into the corporate mentality. Did you know Kenzie wears jeans to work? Sometimes shorts? And Rachel and Lila take turns getting energy smoothies and donuts whenever they want and start their days whenever they want.”

“Huh?”

“You remember, Kenzie and her coworkers, who work out of Kenzie’s basement? That’s such a terrific office! So what are we going to name our company?”

“Huh?”

“You said that already.” Katie snickered. “I can’t wait to go back in there and see how Frank handles his job without you to keep him going. Talk to you later. Drive safe.” Katie hugged her then darted back inside the building.

The entire way home, Justine kept flashing back to telling Frank off, and it was the absolute best feeling. Up there even with sex with Xavier. She felt euphoric, excited, and nauseated all at once.

As she parked her car, she got a phone call.

“Aunt Rosie?”

“Hey there, my favorite niece. I hear there might be wedding bells in your future.”

“Not exactly, but I did just tell my boss to kiss my ass.”

“Oh, ho! Then we do have something to really celebrate. Take me through it, play by play. This sounds juicy.”

“It was. It soooo was.”

CHAPTER 36

When Justine came bouncing into his apartment later in the evening, Xavier felt as if spring had returned, the scent of flowers and joy bundled tightly with her.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked as he saw her wide smile.

“I quit today, Xavier. And it was glorious!”

He caught her as she jumped into his arms and twirled her around, captivated by her laughter and her newfound sense of freedom.

“I have never been so happy as I was leaving that awful place behind.”

“Tell me all about it.”

But as she went through her day, he thought about his. Counseling three couples on the verge of divorce and a teen with anxiety hinting at family problems at home.

Ever since hearing his sister’s take on how he didn’t like his mother’s boyfriend, Xavier had been reexamining himself. Looking deeper inside and not liking what he saw.

“Hey, are you okay?” Justine tugged his arm.

They sat at his kitchen table, and he got up to fetch them two lemonades. “Sorry. I’m thirsty.”

“And distracted.”

“Ignore me.” He forced a smile. “I’m being a bad listener, and I hate that. So you really told Frank to shove all those jobs up his ass?”

Her proud smile had his heart racing. Even though they’d committed to dating, he still felt nervous, his heart fluttering when he saw her. Mooning over a girl. How high school.

Yet she got to him the way no one ever had. A love so deep he feared dipping even a toe into its water.