BooksBarbecue
Back Someone Had to Do It
Chapters (39)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Authors
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  37. THE STORY BEHIND SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT
  38. SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT: THE PLAYLIST
  39. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

My eyes dig a hole in his back as he walks off, so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t wince. When I look down, my hand is trembling.

8

BRANDI

The words on the screen taunt me.

It’s been five minutes since I’ve opened it, but I can’t bring myself to delete it from my inbox. I keep reading the first paragraph over, hoping I’ve read it wrong.

I am writing to inform you that Mr. Van Doren no longer requires your presence Friday morning.

The front door opens, a low click above the sounds of blaring horns and traffic outside the window, then closes softly. Nate says something to me, probably his usual wanna order food? as he steps through the kitchen, coming into the bedroom. I hear him, but the words don’t process.

We have chosen the intern who will accompany Mr. Van Doren in Milan based on your performances throughout the program to date and regret to inform you that you were not selected.

It has to be a mistake.

When we spoke at the party, he seemed genuinely interested in me. We had a connection. A rapport.

But a part of me knows there is no mistake. The only mistake was me thinking I had a chance, getting my hopes up just to have them shot down. Going to that party was stupid. Who the hell did I think I was anyway?

Please accept my sincerest apologies for such short notice and any inconvenience this may have caused.

It was too good to be true. It always is. I have to be real with myself. He was never going to hire me.

“Babe, you okay?” Nate’s at the edge of the couch now, but I still don’t look up.

I scroll down and read the rest of the email, realizing there’s more.

Due to information we’ve recently been made aware of, we also regret to inform you that your internship with Van Doren will be terminated as of today.

My eyes hold on to those words way longer than it takes me to read them, then fly across the rest.

This decision has been finalized.

If you have questions regarding signed policies or returning of company property, please contact HR.

My heart pounds, a loud hammering in my ears. Not only did I not get the Milan job, but I’m also fired. Officially fired.

Nate sits down on the couch next to me. His hand eases across my back, warm and sincere. “Babe?”

I finally blink and look up to him, feeling like I’ve just come out of a tunnel. He’s fresh from the gym, sweat stains darkening his shirt, clinging to his torso.

I don’t know what to say.

“Babe, what—”