She cleared her throat. “I…um…I have no technical writing experience, only teaching experience.”
“Yes.” Blythe nodded. “I’m well aware of that.”
“And I don’t know anything about proposal writing. I’ve taken technical writing courses, but this is just an idea, a concept. I mean, my expertise is working with children, not developing the actual programs.” Her heart beat a mile a minute. She couldn’t believe everything was happening so fast, and she wanted to lean over and hug Blythe for even offering the opportunity. Most of all, she wanted to be sure Blythe knew exactly what her skills were. She didn’t need to fail at her first job in New York.
“Think of it this way. If successful, you’ll be the brains behind a program that just might change the way children are taught.” Blythe sat back and smiled. “We’d have to find a technical staff to work with. An affordable one.”
I wonder if Dexy could help.
Blythe continued. “We would need your guidance to bring the program to fruition. You’ll be able to outline it, drive the development in the right direction, and make sure the kids would be getting what they need, without the technical aspects. But there’s a bigger-picture concern we need to address. You were with your last job for two years, which is a fair amount of time, but for our kids, we hope for more. They have enough instability in their lives. There’s security in knowing that the teachers they trust and rely on are here year after year. No one can promise to stay in a job, and we understand that, but we do like to know where our employees stand with their three- and five-year goals.”
Ellie took a deep breath and wondered if she’d unknowingly walked through a patch of four-leaf clovers. Between coming together with Dex and finding her dream job, she felt like the luckiest girl on the planet.
She’d already explained that she’d grown up through the system, and Blythe had seen that as a benefit. You’ll understand what some of our students have been through. That makes you even more relatable to them. She might as well lay it on the line with her. Sort of.
“I left Maryland because I found out the man I was dating was married.”
A deep V formed between Blythe’s eyebrows. “Oh.” She nodded as if she understood, but Ellie knew there was no way she could.
“I’m not someone who dates married men. In fact, if you want the truth, I’m not really someone who dates at all. I’ve been focused on school, then on my career, and when I met him, he told me that he was a traveling sports agent. I actually didn’t agree to date him until he’d asked me out four or five times over the course of a month. It’s a little hard for me to trust. Anyway, I know this is more than you need to know, but I need you to hear it. We dated for a few weeks, and I began to let my guard down and trust him, and that’s when I found out that he was married.”
“That sounds very painful,” Blythe said in an empathetic voice.
“It was. More so because I realized that there was a woman out there who hadn’t had any idea what he was doing.” Ellie paused, worried she was being too open, but Blythe was leaning forward, nodding, as if she understood completely, so she continued. “I left Maryland because I didn’t want any part of the situation. It was a rude awakening for me, and I didn’t realize why I came back to New York until recently, but my best friend is here, and I needed to regroup.” I needed Dex. “I’m committed, even though it might not seem that way given my short tenure in Maryland.” And my history of taking off. “But I can assure you, what I want more than anything is to make a difference with underprivileged kids. I want to instill the belief that they can do whatever they put their mind to. I want to help them avoid falling into the path of becoming a product of their environment. I want to help them be more. So much more.”
Blythe’s lips lifted into a smile, though she was shaking her head.
Oh no. I was too honest.
“Ellie, where have you been hiding?”
THE STREETS OF New York felt completely different than they had when Ellie had arrived. The breakneck pace of the people and the congestion on the roads now offered excitement rather than annoyance. They carried an aura of hope and forward motion instead of appearing as impediments between Ellie and her destination. She was about to text Dex when she had an idea. She had never been to his office, and though she knew he was probably busy, she also knew how much it would mean to him to have her publicly claim their relationship. Showing up to give him the news in person seemed not only a meaningful thing to do, but also, it made her heart soar. There was no one else on earth she’d rather share her excitement with than Dex.
A quick Google search located his office, and forty minutes later she walked through the doors of Thrive Entertainment. From the distressed metal sign above the desk reading LIVE, PLAY, THRIVE! to the mismatched furniture, the office felt very Dexish. The wide-planked hardwood floors were heavily scuffed, which made her smile because only Dex would pay to have scuffed floors installed in the middle of Manhattan.
Her nerves tingled as she approached the reception desk, feeling overdressed in her skirt, blouse, and heels and wishing she had her favorite boots to ground her. It had seemed like such a great idea to show up unannounced, but now that she was there, the idea of popping in felt a little presumptuous. As much as he wanted her to stay and as much as Dex might love her, it didn’t mean that he wanted his entire company to know about them. The young man behind the desk wore a black T-shirt with thrive! imprinted across his narrow chest and a pair of black jeans. He had on a thick studded leather wristband, and his short, dark hair stuck up in thick, gelled spikes.
“Hi.” Her voice came out just above a whisper. She cleared her throat and forced herself to speak louder. “I’m here to see Dex.” Whew. Okay. I did it.
“Sure.” He looked at his computer. “And you are?”
“Ellie Parker.” Bad idea. Truly a bad idea. She should just turn around and walk out. Tell him never mind.
“Let me buzz him. I don’t see you on his schedule.”
“No, I’m not. Um. It’s okay. I can talk to him later.” She turned to leave, and the young man’s voice stopped her.
“Hold up, hon.”
She closed her eyes and feigned a smile before turning around.
“I already buzzed a message through the system. If you wait one sec, I’m sure he’ll respond quickly.”
“It’s really okay. I don’t need to—”
“Ellie.”
She turned toward Dex’s voice and watched him cross the floor, arms open, looking drop-dead gorgeous in his jeans and button-down shirt. His eyes locked on hers and sent her stomach on an instantaneous roller coaster ride. Then she was wrapped in the warmth of him, and his lips were on hers for a split second, in a very appropriate, quick, claiming kiss. She felt her cheeks flush when they drew apart, his hand clutching hers.
“Sam, this is my girlfriend, Ellie Parker.”
Girlfriend? Girlfriend. She tasted the word…and liked it. “Hi, Sam.”
“Ellie, it’s a pleasure. I’ll just put your name on the always-allow-in list.” Sam winked at Dex.
“You know it. Thanks, Sam.” Dex led her through the office, which was open, like an enormous loft, and lined with workstations. There were no interior walls, no cubicles, and more computers than she could count. Every employee was dressed casually, sporting a wide variety of denim, leather, and tattoos. An orange couch was tucked in the far corner of the space beside three oversized chairs and faced three enormous television screens. At least they looked like television screens, but they appeared to be fed by computers.
Dex raked his eyes down Ellie’s body as they walked. “Wow, you look hot. I’m surprised to see you.” He squeezed her hand.
“I do?”
“Smokin’.”
She tucked that compliment in the secret Dexy compartment in her heart, right beside the memory of his voice telling her he loved her. That he’d always love her. “I’m sorry for just showing up like this. I wanted to give you my news in person.”
He stopped cold. His eyes darkened. “Please tell me you didn’t come here to tell me you’re leaving, because it’s not true what they say about public spaces. I would totally make a scene here.”
She knew he was only half kidding. “No. It’s great news.” She saw Regina approaching from the far end of the room.
He let out a fast breath. “Good.”
“Dex.” Regina touched his arm. “Small problem.” The tattooed head of the viper that ran across her collarbone poked out from beneath her tank top. The hoodie she wore dipped low in the back, weighed down by the hood, and Ellie caught another mass of colorful tattoos that crept up the back of her neck. Regina smiled at Ellie. “Hey there, Ellie. Nice to see you.”
“Hi.” She didn’t know what to make of Regina. The thick makeup and tattoos, combined with the harsh stares she’d given Ellie the night they’d met at the bar, contrasted sharply with the kinder woman who had made her breakfast and just flashed a sincere smile in her direction. Had she chosen a more visual path for her own walls and worn her mistrust on her sleeve, she wondered if it would have helped her deal with life in the long run. Regina seemed comfortable in her own tattooed skin, while Ellie, even after twenty-five years, was just beginning to get used to hers.