When he collapses on top of me in a gorgeous, sweaty heap, I wrap my arms and legs around him, holding him close. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper.
He lifts his head and gives me a gentle kiss. “I’ve missed you too. Only two more weeks, and I’m on break, and we can relax more.”
I give him a cocky grin. “Like this?”
Chuckling, he withdraws and grabs a washcloth from the pile we keep by the bed just for this purpose. “Yeah, babe. Just like this.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Abby
Lance lets out a heavy sigh when we get into our place and pulls out his phone.
After hanging up my coat, I turn to him with a concerned look. “Everything alright? Is something wrong with one of your clients?”
He shakes his head and shoves his phone back in his pocket before taking off his jacket and hanging it up as well, then he pulls me in close and wraps his arms around my waist. “No, my clients are all fine as far as I know. It’s, uh …”
Disengaging, he wraps a hand behind his neck and gives it a squeeze as he paces the length of the living room. “Matt talked to me tonight.”
I sink onto the couch and pull a throw pillow into my lap, torn between amusement and apprehension. I mean, of course he talked to Matt. We were at Matt’s house. They’re friends. But the way he’s acting means it was something serious. “Is he okay? Or Hannah? Are they both okay?”
Lance glances at me with a quick, reassuring grin. “No, no, everyone’s fine. No one’s sick or pregnant or in trouble.” His mention of pregnancy sends a spike of adrenaline through me, because that statement isn’t actually true. Megan’s pregnant. But Lance doesn’t know that yet.
Has she told Chris? Since neither of them mentioned it tonight, I kinda don’t think so. Which seems strange to me. I figured she would’ve told him at the first opportunity. I know she wanted to wait to tell him in person, but he’s here now, so …
But Lance keeps talking, and I have to leave Megan and her issues for later. She’ll tell Chris when she’s ready, after all. Maybe he passed out as soon as they got to the hotel. And I can understand not wanting to tell him in the car.
“Um, well, so …” Lance stammers. “Matt.”
I have to fight back a grin, because this level of hemming and hawing isn’t at all like Lance. And the fact that he’s so discombobulated is reassuring in and of itself—when there’s bad news, he just spits it out and helps clean up the consequences.
“Yes. Matt. What did Matt talk to you about?”
He finally squares his shoulders and meets my eyes, turning back into the direct and confident man I know and love. “He offered me a job.”
My eyebrows wing up in surprise. I don’t know what I expected him to say, but that wasn’t it at all. “Oh?” It’s all I can manage to say, stalling while I process this.
Matt offered him a job? Is Matt’s business that steady that he needs two marketing people? Although Hannah did mention working part time for an environmental organization and feeling overwhelmed, so maybe she’s not going to be working for Matt anymore?
If that’s the case, does that mean there’s trouble in their relationship? Or that working and living together isn’t working out so well? But then, Matt’s gone often enough that it’s not like they’re in each other’s space twenty-four seven.
“Hey,” Lance says softly, sitting on the couch and taking my hands in his. “If the thought of me quitting my job and working for Matt makes you that uncomfortable, I can tell him no.” He gives my fingers a squeeze, and the way he’s obviously trying to comfort and soothe me makes me realize my surprised face has turned into a scowl.
I give him a smile and squeeze his hand in return. “No, sorry. I’m just confused. What about Hannah?”
Lance sighs, like he’s relieved I’m not as upset as he originally thought I might be. “You know she’s been working for Earth Ambassadors.” At my nod, he continues. “According to Matt, she’s having a hard time juggling working for them and running his marketing. Plus, Earth Ambassadors really wants her full time, and that’s her dream job, so Matt’s looking for someone to replace her.”
“And he wants you.”
He lifts one shoulder an inch and lets it drop. “Yeah.”
“What are your thoughts?” I ask, because I’m still not sure what mine are. But it’s even worse since I can’t read his. Is he excited by the idea? Torn? Wants to reject it outright and it would be easier if I were vocally against it from the beginning so he doesn’t make his friend mad? Well, you know how Abby is. She doesn’t like change, and security is important to her. Which is true, and would make a convenient excuse if he doesn’t really want to do this. But if he does … do I want to be responsible for holding him back?
His dark eyes search mine. “I … don’t know, actually. Part of me thinks it sounds really cool. I’d get to work with one of my best friends, and since we were teammates and roommates for years, I’m confident we can work together without wanting to kill each other. He sent me a financial overview of his company to prove that he can afford to actually pay me a salary.”
“That’s good,” I murmur.
Lance nods. “Yeah. It would be less than I’m making now, but we’ve been living off less than I make already. We have savings, and his email said as revenue increases, so would my salary.
It’s my turn to study him, catalogue all his tells. He’s cautiously optimistic about this idea. “But?” I prompt, knowing him
