“Excuse me?”
“The position you were interviewing for has been filled,” the guy repeated in a monotone. “We hope this schedule change hasn’t inconvenienced you.”
Inconvenienced you. That’s how this ended? After a two-and-a-half-month interview process? What would’ve happened if he’d turned his life even more upside down for a chance at this job?
How was that even possible?
He’d given notice to his current employer, for Christsake.
He’d turned down two other job prospects in Omaha and Kansas City.
Maybe it wasn’t too late to reapply to those places.
But his heart wasn’t in it.
Because that’s not where your heart is these days.
“Mr. Hale?” the voice on the line prompted.
“Sorry. Just mentally rearranging my schedule since I’ll no longer be driving twelve hours to New Mexico.”
“We appreciate your interest in HTL. As always employment opportunities are listed on the website. Have a pleasant day.”
It was one thing to turn down a job offer; it was another thing to get passed over.
He swung into the Hardee’s drive-thru lane in Rawlins and ate in his truck, feeling more adrift than he had in a while. He should head to the Split Rock and talk to Renner about this latest development, but he really just wanted to take off his boots and chill for a bit.
When he pulled into Garnet’s driveway, he didn’t see her car, but Jade’s vehicle was parked up front.
No beautiful strains of the violin greeted him when he entered the house. In the entryway he ditched his boots and socks. Then he peeled off his long-sleeved shirt.
He was so focused on grabbing a beer out of the fridge that he didn’t notice Jade sitting at the kitchen table until he’d popped the top off and turned around. “Whoa. Sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“That’s because I’m hiding.”
He swallowed a mouthful of beer. “Why?”
“I’m debating on whether champagne or a big slice of carrot cake would improve my mood.”
“Have both.” He shrugged. “I won’t tell.”
“And here’s where I confess . . . I already had both. Now I have guilt on top of my crappy mood.”
When Jade stood and erased the distance between them, Tobin almost swallowed his tongue. She wore boy shorts and a New York Yankees baseball jersey. She looked fucking adorable.
“What made your day so shitty that you’re drinking alone?”
“I talked to my dad.” She pulled the elastic band from her ponytail and shook out her hair, completely oblivious to him eyeing her with lust. Or maybe she was doing it on purpose. “Why are you drinking in the afternoon?”
“I got a call from the place in Albuquerque.”
“What’s in Albuquerque?”
Tobin realized they hadn’t discussed his leaving—except Jade had briefly mentioned it the night he’d told her the reason he’d agreed to move in with Garnet. But that had been two weeks ago.
Be honest; it hasn’t been on your mind since before you kissed Jade when you figured out the attraction was mutual.
“A job. I was supposed to interview there next week.”
“Why is this the first I’ve heard of it?” she demanded.
“It’s not. You questioned me about me leaving more than once the first few days you were here.” He sipped his beer. “Did you forget?” He braced himself when he saw the flash of anger in her eyes because she had forgotten.
“It wasn’t like you’ve brought it up since we’ve been together doing”—she gestured distractedly—“whatever this is.”
Tobin lifted an eyebrow. Before he had a chance to respond, she snapped off another retort.
“So why are you telling me that they called you? Because you’re leaving?”
“Nope. They called and cancelled the interview.”
“Oh. Did they say why they cancelled?”
“They already filled the position. I assume the fact I asked for an extension on my final interview dissuaded them from hiring me.”
She frowned. “Why did you ask for that?”
Tobin took a swig of his beer. “You know why.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Fine, we’ll play it that way. I asked for an extra week for a family emergency when Miz G asked me to move in. It’s been three weeks and I’ve yet to see a moving van.”
“That’s because there aren’t any coming.”
He froze. “What?”
Jade went to jam her hands in her back pockets—something she did when she was nervous—and realized she didn’t have pockets, so she fiddled with her hair, which was another show of nerves. “Did I ever tell you that my dad planned to pack GG’s house up and ship her and her stuff off? No. That was all my grandma’s paranoia.”