He raised an eyebrow at her, then looked toward the cart of unshelved returns.
“I’m on mybreak,” she pointed out. “Someone reheated fish in the lunchroom microwave yesterday. I’m not staying in there.”
Someone really needed to get around to criminalizing that. “It’s just—this is dumb. It’s not like being a kids’ librarian was even my life’s ambition.” He didn’t bother validating theprofession—Taylor knew he didn’t look down on it, but that wasn’t the same as believing it was the perfect fit for him. “But I like serving the community or whatever. I like books. I like talking about programming needs. I like my coworkersmostof the time. I’m going to miss it here.” He paused as he hopped up on the desk beside her. “Well, and also I’m going to miss having a stable income and being able to afford my own place to live.”
Taylor leaned her bony shoulder into his. “You’ll find something. Once you get around tolooking, you loser.”
“I know, I know. I think part of me’s still wallowing. And the other part of me is… distracted.”
“With your DILF.”
He didn’t bother protesting that if Jordy were just a DILF, he wouldn’t have a problem. “He invited me to go to New York with him and the kiddo. Some work thing. He says his mom can come if I don’t want to, but I feel like I should stick around here and look for jobs.”
Taylor hummed. “And also not fall hopelessly in love with your hot single dad boss?”
“I’m not answering that.”
“Uh-huh. So let me point something out to you.” Taylor paused, because she was all about dramatic effect. It made herverypopular with the kids. “You said you feel like you should stick around here. But you didn’t actually say you want to.”
Rowan’s shoulders slumped. “You’re supposed to be stopping me from making irrational life-ruining choices.”
“Maybe I am,” she said cheerfully. “Maybe what I’m doing is telling you to stop getting in the way of your own happiness. You want to go to New York?Go. But don’t spend the trip playing happy family with your boss. Be gay. See a musical. Have an ill-advised hookup in a public bathroom in the Village.” She nudged his shoulder again. “Maybe what you really need is a vacation,is what I’m saying. And here’s your chance at a paid one, right when you need it. Stop thinking so hard. It doesn’t suit you.”
He yelped out a laugh. “Wow, thanks. Oh gee, look at the time—I think your break’s over—”
She stood from the desk before he could shove her off, but she didn’t run away. Instead she gripped him by his shoulders. Her surprisingly strong bony fingers dug into his flesh. “We’ll miss you too,” she promised, uncharacteristically serious and fierce. “But Rowan? Nobody is dying. Come visit. Bring the sproglet. You know we’ll keep you in the loop if there are any openings, and we’re all happy to be references and help you look. You live in a big city. There’s tons of things a librarian can do here. You’ll find something.”
If Rowan felt a bit misty-eyed over her support, no one had to know.
They also didn’t have to know about Rowan’s watery eyes when he discovered theWe’ll miss you, Rowanbanner and cupcakes in the breakroom. They were pineapple upside-down, from his favorite bakery.
WITH TAYLOR’Sadvice in mind, later that night Rowan said yes to the trip, and a week later he found himself boarding a flight to NYC.
“What, no private jet?” Rowan joked as Jordy guided Kaira into the business-class section of the plane.
“I thought about it,” Jordy said dryly, “but when I asked to borrow it, the team said it was already booked to take the goalie golfing in Miami this weekend.”
“Not Scotland?”
“For one night? Of course not. That would be a ridiculous waste of resources.”
Rowan snickered as he settled into his seat across the aisle from Jordy and Kaira. It had been a while since he’d last flown anywhere in such luxury. When he left England for Canada, his parents had already cut the purse strings, so he’d saved his pennies and suffered the cramped seating of economy class.
Kaira was apparently also used to flying in style, because she settled happily into her seat and chattered away to Jordy about what she wanted to watch and eat and do on the plane.
“Remember, this flight isn’t as long as the ones we took when we flew to Curaçao,” Jordy said gently. “You might not have time to watch a whole movie.”
Kaira agreed with him in a way that suggested she didn’t believe him but was willing to humor him. Jordy rolled his eyes at Rowan, plugged her into her tablet, and let her pick one of her predownloaded films.
God, they were cute.
Rowan tore his eyes away and looked at the drinks menu tucked next to his seat. He was taking advantage of the free vacation; he wasnotplaying happy families. Which was why he should definitely order something alcoholic, because he wasn’t on duty.
The flight attendant stopped to check on Jordy and Kaira and promised to bring her juice and Jordy a water straightaway.
“And for your husband?” she asked, turning to Rowan.
Rowan blinked at her. It was an innocent enough mistake, and he didn’t want her to feel bad. But he couldn’t just claim that role in Jordy and Kaira’s lives.
