REJECTION

“I’ll be right back,” I snarled, turning away.

I hoped that a few minutes alone would give her the time she needed to clear her thoughts and calm down. Maybe I should tell her about the curse and the reality of why I couldn’t involve myself with her and her sister.

Bring back tonight’s pay, too!” Selina yelled after me. “I’m not coming back.”

I whipped back around to look at her.

“You didn’t do anything tonight.”

She scoffed.

“I came here, didn’t I? It’s not my fault if you didn’t let me work.”

The anger was laced with hurt, but I swallowed again and nodded.

“You know, you’re no better than Ernest, Jeff.”

I reeled around, stunned and infuriated by the comparison.

“What?!”

“You say you will help me one second and then redact it the next. You say that we can’t do…” She motioned between us. “Whatever this is, and then you go down on me until I scream,” she muttered, blinking furiously. “At least Ernest is upfront with what he wants from us. He’s made his intentions clear.”

I inhaled shar