If you’re a good boy and play pickleball with me, I’ll let you come on them tonight.
Jordan
Fuck. Now I’m hard, and I’m about to go into surgery.
Me
*dusts off shoulder*
My work here is done.
I slip my phone into the pocket of my jeans, grinning madly as I walk to Monica’s office for the meeting she put on my calendar this morning. I super did not expect Jordan to be all in like this, so fast, but I’m not mad about it. Being with him, bantering with him, just literally everything about him, warms me straight to my core.
“That’s a happy face,” Monica says as I waltz into her office and flop into the chair in front of her desk.
“It’s a really good day.” I take a sip of the Dr. Pepper I brought in with me, trying—and failing—to wipe the smile off my face.
“Anything you want to share?”
“I think I’m kind of, like, having a summer romance?” I don’t mean for it to come out like a question, but I guess despite all the “my girl” stuff, I’m still trying to work out what we are. Or, at least, what we could be.
Monica leans back in her chair and beams at me. “That’s like something right out of a Nora Ephron movie. Girl comes to New York for the summer and falls in love.”
“Right?” I blow out a happy breath and flop back in my chair, digging a Fireball out of my pocket. “He’s my summer friend and we were spending a lot of time together and it just kind of…happened. He has a lot going on in his life, and I was determined to be his friend, but then we just became more all of a sudden.”
Monica studies me. “So…what’s the problem?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What makes you think there’s a problem?”
She shrugs. “Just a feeling.”
I consider that for a second before responding. “I’m not sure if it’s a problem yet because it’s only a few days old, and we haven’t exactly defined what we are. But I guess if there was one, it would be that he lives here and I’m going home in five weeks where I have a job I love a lot waiting for me. We’re geographically incompatible.”
“Well, that’s one of the reasons I wanted you to come talk to me.”
“To discuss my potentially long-distance relationship?”
Monica laughs. “No, to discuss your job.”
“What about it?”
“Okay, so I’ve sent the first part of the planning handbook you’re creating out to some of our sister museums, and the response has been absolutely incredible. Everyone loves it, and they are salivating for more.”
I lean forward with my elbows on my knees, feeling that glow of pride in what I created, excited for all the kids this is going to help. “That’s really great. I’m glad the reception is good.”
“It’s more than good, Jo. I have heard back from at least four different museums that not only want to use your program guide, but they want to hire you to implement it.”
I sit straight up and stare at her. “Wait, what?”
Monica grins at me. “I was kind of expecting this, especially given how successful you’ve been in Pittsburgh and how much you’ve accomplished in your short time here. I mean, you somehow convinced the New York City school district to bus kids here after school, and I never, in a thousand years, thought anyone could do that. You’re so talented, Jo. You care so much about giving kids a safe place to learn and explore and about making the museums accessible to everyone. That dedication shines in your work.”
I blow out another breath, this one incredulous. “How would something like that even work?”
Monica leans back, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I mean, just off the top of my head, I think you would go out on your own and start a business as a museum consultant. Then these museums can hire you on a short-term basis to establish their programs either wholly or partially. You could set up your business model however you want. The sky is really the limit here. It would probably involve some travel, but a lot could be done remotely.”
I stare at her, the wheels in my brain turning. “I can’t even imagine leaving the Carnegie Museum. It’s been home for so long.”
“Listen, I’m not saying you have to do this. You can absolutely go back just like you planned, but you are so good at what you do, and I wouldn’t be a good friend or colleague if I didn’t at least plant the seed.”
