Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
“Oh?” I frowned to myself. I thought we covered everything in the interview. “What’s that?”
Noah paused for effect. “Are you ready for this?”
My heart didn’t just skip a beat. It stopped entirely.
I dropped the towel and blinked. “Pardon me?”
He sounded mildly amused. “You got the job, Emily. It’s yours if you want it.”
Eyes wide in disbelief, I leaned back against the counter, swallowed hard and asked a slow and incredulous, “Did everyone else die or something?”
Noah laughed. He laughed loudly and for a long time. “Uh, no, they didn’t.” His laughter finally quieted and he uttered, “What do you say, Emily?”
What did I say?
Was he crazy?
“Yes,” I whispered. I covered my mouth with my hand and started to laugh. Lifting my head heavenward, I dropped my hand, and stated a poised, “Yes, I want the job.”
When Noah told me how much the job was paying, I almost swooned dead away. Instead, I choked on my tongue then let out a little unhinged laugh.
Oh, God. I could finally breathe again. My money worries were over.
I’d miss Nanna terribly but this position was a blessing.
First thing, I was calling St Jude’s.
Chapter Two
Suspicious Minds.
Emily
It took three buses and my entire morning to make it to the address Noah had provided. My feet were sore but I didn’t mind. However, the slight sting in my step reminded me that I needed a new pair of sneakers. The ones I had on were years old and worn to the sole. Truth was, if I had the money to buy a new pair, I would have.
Such was life, I supposed.
Regardless of how my feet were feeling, internally, I was beaming.
Okay, so maybe I was beaming on the outside too. I couldn’t help it though. Somehow, everything had started to work out, and that was a marvel.
It was exciting being in Los Angeles. I’d never had the need to go out to West Hollywood but here I was, walking a strip, something right out of a movie, with my thumbs tucked into the shoulder straps of my backpack, my eyes taking in everything they possibly could.
Unfortunately, my phone was old and analog. I wanted to upgrade but honestly didn’t see the need. Also, the cost of smartphones?
Sheesh.
What a rip-off.
So, no digital maps for me. Luckily, I had the trusty map I’d picked up at the bus station, and it did what it needed to do.
After an hour travel and fifteen minutes of walking, I finally arrived at my destination. It was a huge building, three stories high, and when I approached the high gate and pressed the button on the intercom, I took a deep breath before letting it out slowly, getting my bearings straight.
“Yeah?”
“Uh…” For some reason, I leaned into the small black box. “I’m here to see Micah.”
“Emily?”
I all but yelled into the speaker, “Yes.”
I swear the person on the other end was laughing. “I’ll buzz you in. Push the gate hard, okay?”
My eyes searched the gate. It looked heavy. “Okay.”
I heard the latch click over and I pushed as hard as I could. The gate barely budged but after a long moment of fighting with it, I managed to squeeze past the gap I’d created. When I let go, the gate shut with a boom, making me spin back to it as I jumped in fright. With a hand on my chest, I was so focused on the gate that I didn’t hear the person coming from behind.
“Hey.”
Jolting a second time, I let out a squeak of surprise but when I twisted and saw Noah standing there, grinning down at me with his hands in his pockets, I smiled through the assaulting flush heating my cheeks. “Hey.”
Wearing a pair of black jeans, white sneakers, and a charcoal gray tee, he grinned harder and a pair of deep dimples appeared. Lifting his hand to cover his mouth, he coughed out a laugh. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I liked Noah.
Biting my lip, I reluctantly admitted, “It doesn’t take much, I’m afraid.”
His throaty laugh made my smile widen and when he didn’t speak a while, I squinted up into his hazel eyes to find him grinning back. He huffed out a breath and ran a hand over his neatly buzzed hair. “Ready to sign your life away?”
Did he mean for that to sound as foreboding as it did?
“Sure am.” My stomach dipped quickly and my smile fell, but only slightly. “Lead the way.”
The second we walked into the building, I frowned in confusion, eyes darting around at the interior I hadn’t expected.
This wasn’t just a building. It was a house.
A home.
Framed photographs lined the walls but before I could get a good look at them, a very pretty, very pregnant, barefoot woman made her way down the stairs. She was wearing a long, loose dress and was clutching her huge belly. “Oh. My. God.” She peered over at Noah. “Is this Emily?”