Page 38 of Austin

If Jalynn were here, she’d tell me that it serves me right. She’d also get down here with me and lend a hand because she’s a decent person. Too decent for a guy like me.

I stand up and wash my hands in the sink, noticing she left her purse sitting on the counter, wide open, showing feminine hygiene products lying across the top. I know her reaction to what I said is not because she’s hormonal, but I’m sure it didn’t help.

In all my years as a single guy, I haven’t had to deal with a girl during her time of the month. The only experience I have is from my mother explaining it to me when I was ten.

I remember coming home from school, dropping my backpack on the ground, and declaring at the top of my lungs that girls were disgusting. When she asked what had brought out this sudden change of heart, I explained what we had learned about in school that day. The look on her face was unforgettable. With a pout, I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I listened to my mother say something I’d never forget.

“Don’t put down the things you don’t understand. A woman’s heart and body are far stronger than a man’s. That’s why God gave her the ability to do something that you cannot—create a life. And I’ll be damned if I let you grow up to be the kind of person who runs away from a girl just because of what is happening with her body.”

“What am I supposed to do then when this disgusting thing happens?”

“You buy her candy.”

I open the refrigerator door and see a container marked Jalynn. Inside are a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and an apple. I grab her purse and her lunch and decide it’s time I do exactly as my mother instructed.

10

JALYNN

Let’s go over all the ways today sucks, shall we?

First, I missed my bus and was late to the office, only to arrive and realize I forgot my security badge and had to go through the process of getting a temporary one before finally getting upstairs.

I messed up my morning analytics report for Bryce and accidentally copied my cable bill, which I brought to work to pay on my free time, and had it bound in between Bryce’s proposal for his nine o’clock meeting.

I’ve had cramps all morning, and I’m stressed, trying to learn the ins and outs of this place. I reach for my purse and realize I don’t have it. Trying not to freak out, I think back to retrace my steps.

I enter the break room and where I’m positive I left my bag, is now bare of everything, except for a few plastic cups stacked neatly. Checking the fridge for my lunch, I see a note taped to my Tupperware container. Correction, it’s a ransom note printed in a way to have each letter look like it was cut out of a magazine.

I have your purse.

Come to lunch with me, or you’ll never see me naked.

There’s only one person who would leave such a ridiculous note. From the high-gloss paper and way the letters are printed, I know it was made in the advertising department.

Still, he’s not winning any brownie points with me.

I remove the note and open the container, where I see he’s dumped my food, leaving it completely empty. Anger fuels my rage, and I storm out, heading straight to his office.

Yes, I agree, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t much of a lunch, but I haven’t gotten my first paycheck yet, and my budget is paper-thin until I do. People have cable bills to pay, you know.

Austin’s assistant is outside his office and rises from her desk when she sees me coming. “Hi, Jalynn,” she cheerfully greets me, surprising the hell out of me.

I’m fuming mad and ready to barge into his office with an epic speech, but my manners get the best of me, so I stop and reply, “Hi. I’m sorry. I forgot your name.”

“I’m Stefanie. We never officially met at the meeting your first day. I take it, you’re here for your purse.” She pushes her glasses up her nose with a giggle.

“How did you know?”

“Austin told me you’d stop by, and when he flung a black purse over his shoulder, I figured it was yours.” She gives a little eye roll in jest. Clearly, she has a good relationship with Austin and finds him quite … charming.

“Is he always this frustrating?” I ask.

“Coming from the woman who works under Bryce Sexton? I always felt lucky that I got the easy brother. Austin seems one-dimensional, but he’s actually really complex. Once he lets you into his self-proclaimed circle of trust, you realize that he’s actually amazing to work with.”

“His circle of trust? He has a movie reference for everything.”

“Yep, and he doesn’t let many people into it.” She sits back in her chair, crossing her arms and assessing me from head to toe. “You’ve caught his attention though, which is amusing to me.”