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"Really? You trust her motives?"

"I do," I say eood person More importantly she doesn't need fixed She'd be fine with or without my help"

Nix pushes away from the truck and comes to stand in front offor?"

I shrugwhere she can earn a decent wage She's worked in bars before but she's applied to some local businesses around the apartment Retail stuff"

Nix rubs the scruff along his jaw, contemplatin

g "She knoork a computer?"

"I don't know I guess so I e kno?"

"You'd think, right? Hold on just a sec I'll be right back"

I watch as Nix steps out of the open bay doors and out onto the sidewalk He pulls his phone out and dials He paces back and forth while talking to soht know about a potential job for Rowan The thought that he would do that touches me and I'm reminded how very lucky I am to have the family that I do

Nix isn't on the phone long before he disconnects and walks back toward rees with me if your roommate is familiar with computers, and can work some basic software I have I'll offer her a job as my secretary We'll do a trial for thirty days and I'll start her at thirteen dollars an hour If at the end of thirty days, she's doing a great job, we'll talk so more permanent"

"What?" I ask, completely startled

"E to buckle down this last year of school and she just hasn't been able to stay on top ofabout ood a tiuess"

I cock an eyebrow at hio you were questioning Rowan's integrity You've never met her, you don't even know if she can do the job Why are you offering this?"

Nix gives me a smile and shakes his head with amusement "Because I know you, dude And if you tell me she's solid, then she's solid"

I push away fro rasps it in a hard shake and then pullsme on the back

"Thanks, Nix That really h, she'll probably bitch about this being a handout The girl has maybe a bit too much pride"

"That means she'll work hard I like it"

"That she will When do you want her to start?"

"When does your shift end?"

"Tomorrow is my last day"

"Probably the day after that Give et home and we'll iron out the details"

After Nix leaves, I head into the kitchen to get so to approach this with Rowan, because she won't like that I had a hand in getting her a job I just hope she's not too stubborn to accept this help

I stare out the passengerat the tree-lined street It's weird because I haven't stepped foot out of the city in five years I'le, not this fall oasis where the leaves are just starting to get a touch of color and the air is refreshingly crisp in the

Flynn is driving lewood, New Jersey I'enerosity of Nix and Flynn Caldwell I'm torn, because on the one hand, I want to be elated that I'll have a way tolike a failure that this job was sort of handed to me

Flynn's line--beggars can't be choosers--flits through h inwardly I suppose I need to s a bit of s So I' but appreciative of this job

The old Rowan still exists though, because Flynn and I had a knock-down, drag-out fight last night about hi me here I insisted I could take public transit I even showed him on the computer a nice little route that, between the bus and subway, I could make it in just a little over an hour and a half Flynn then prole Maps and showed me how he could have ot into acontest about it, but he eventually won by telling me he wanted to visit his parents while Nix showed me the ropes

"Are you still pissed at ood-natured attitude

"Yup Leave me alone" I try to sound harsh but truth be told, I'm really not pissed at hiainst his wit and charm

Flynn reaches over and tugs on the end of my hair "You're cute when you're mad"

I leanhis hand from my hair Not because I'm mad, but because his touch affects me too much

"Am not mad"