Scar
I lean back on the bench across from the climbing wall. The gym’s quiet on a Friday afternoon. Rita claps her chalky hands together before getting into position and beginning her line up toward the top, her harness on, the safety rope connected to the overhead anchor with an auto belay device.
God, she’s gorgeous. Her back is lean and toned, her muscular ass, legs, and arms working as she pulls her way up a difficult wall.
I can’t help but stare at her and feel a sense of pride as she gets higher and higher.
She’s really good-there’s no denying it-and really fucking hot. I smile to myself, glad I decided to take a mid afternoon break to watch her get some time in at the gym.
She wanted me out there climbing too-but fuck that. This is her thing. I’ll sit right here, sip my coffee, and enjoy her.
My phone rings. I glance down, worried it’ll be Ford-I haven’t spoken to him yet and I’m dreading it-but instead, it’s Janine, the recruiter. “Hello,” I answer. “How are you?”
“Hey, Scar,” Janine says, chipper as always. “Wanted to touch base about the new assistant. I have a list of candidates-”
Ah, fuck.
“Sorry, gotta interrupt you.” I grimace, rubbing my temple. “Something came up and it looks like I won’t need a new assistant after all. Well, not right now.”
“Oh,” she says, sounding disappointed. Not that I can blame her. I’m sure she had to put in some work to find someone qualified and willing, much less a whole list. “Well then. I guess I’ll just fuck myself.”
I bark a laugh. From anyone else, that’d be unprofessional. But I know Janine from college. “Sorry, seriously, an opportunity dropped in my lap. I’m moving to Boston. Not sure when, but it’ll be soon.”
“Boston, huh? Cool city. How’d that happen?”
“Opening a new practice there. Got a big client and just decided to take the plunge.”
“Well, great, how about you make this up to me by letting me staff your new place? How’s that sound?”
“Deal,” I say, grinning. “You know, I’m sitting in a rock-climbing gym right now. Can you imagine me in a climbing gym in the middle of the day?”
“No,” she says in all honesty. “I never dreamed you’d leave your desk during work hours. What dragged you there?”
“Rita. Remember that assistant you hired for me? She’s really into it.”
“Oh, wow, good for her,” she says, laughing. “That’s, uh, surprising. That you’d go to a climbing gym… for an assistant.”
I grimace slightly. “I married her too.”
“Right. Now that makes more sense.” An awkward pause. “Congrats?”
“Thanks,” I say, leaning my head back.
“It’s funny, actually. There’s this extremely popular company, Appalachian Peaks, trying to hire for a few positions. I’ve been really digging for someone good.”
“Rita’s good,” I say automatically, not sure why I’m doing it. But fuck, she loves Appalachian Peaks. She’d absolutely kill to work there. “Smart girl, got a degree from Penn. You’ve seen her resume.”
“I know, which is why I was wondering why the hell she took your job. Desperate for a gig, I guess.”
“Thanks, that hurts though.”
“Just saying. Should I throw her hat in the ring? See if anyone’s interested? I still have her information. The job’s in Dallas though, if that matters.”
I hesitate. Rita’s going to move to Boston with me-because she says she has nothing else.
But this could be huge for her. She’s been so adrift lately, so desperate to find meaning in her life. After the fire, her parents leaving, her best friend moving away, she needs a win.
A massive win like getting a job at her dream company.
That win won’t be me, no matter how much I want it to be.
I’m not enough for her.
But a job with her favorite company though? A real shot at a future, a career? That’s the sort of good luck that could turn everything around for her.
I want to say no. I want to be a selfish prick and keep her all to myself.
“Do it,” I say. “See how it goes.” Maybe that’s a mistake, but Rita deserves this. She deserves better than a fake marriage to me.
I don’t know how we’ll work that out with the Callahans, but it’s my problem to solve, not hers.
“You got it. Tell your wife I said, uh, congrats. And good luck.”
We make a little more small talk then hang up.
Rita reaches the top of her wall. She lets go, the auto belay catching her and lowering her down to the floor. She floats like an angel, grinning at me huge, clearly excited to have made the difficult climb.
I wave to her, my stomach twisted into a knot.