“You’re my mother. It is my problem. Just tell me.” I could feel myself breaking down. “Do you have cancer? I can’t take two parents going through that within two years.”
Her voice dropped, and she got serious as though she was scolding a little boy. “Listen to me. You go to that interview, and you hit it out of the park. And if you don’t give it your all, what will that mean to me? I’ll know in a few days what’s going on in my body, and you will be the first person I tell. I promise. Until then, go get that job. For me, for yourself.”
I couldn’t say anything.
“Did you hear me, young man? Do not do this to me or to your father’s wonderful legacy. He did not raise you this way. Keep it together.”
I was on the verge of tears. I couldn’t stop thinking about losing her. When I hung up, I looked at the clock. If I didn’t literally run all the way to the building, I would be late.
Sprinting with my messenger bag under my arm, I made it into the lobby five minutes before my interview. It felt like the elevator was the slowest one I had ever been in. I tried to collect myself.
Once I hit the eighth floor, I made my way to the offices. The secretary flirted with me—I thought that couldn’t hurt. I went into a large boardroom and did my presentation. It went by in a blur, but everyone clapped at the end.
Bradley, the man in charge, walked me out, slapping me hard on the back. “You did great, man.”
“Thanks.”
“You were our last interview. We’ve had a lot of really qualified applicants, but I could tell everyone in there liked you and the presentation.”
As we headed toward the elevator, I tried to read between the lines and decipher what he was saying. Was he letting me off easy or was he telling me I got the job?
“We should have a decision by tomorrow,” he said.
BLOWING OFF THE rest of the day drinking wasn’t usually my style, but I had nothing else to do. I was a worried sick about my mom, who was spending the evening with her best friend.
Walking up the hill, I passed the Star Wars bar. I hadn’t been in there in a while. I didn’t recognize any of the bartenders. I sat on the tattered red vinyl stool.
“Two fingers? Scotch right?” the bartender asked.
“No, I’ll just have a beer. I’ll take that Belgian on tap.”
The bartender shook his head. “I thought you were a whiskey guy. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”
I had never seen the guy in my life, but I did think it was funny that he was dressed as Princess Leia. They usually didn’t cross-dress at the Star Wars bar.
“What’s your name?” he said.
“Lucian.”
“I’m Zack.” He shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you, man.”
“So what brings you in?”
“I live close by,” I said. “Just wanted to pop in for a beer.”
“Ah, I see. Well, welcome.”
I sat in that bar, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. Princess Leia wouldn’t take his eyes off me. He kept shaking his head and making me feel really uncomfortable, so I decided to call it quits after two beers and head home.
I WOKE UP to my phone ringing at eight sharp. It was my mom.
“I’m clear. No cancer. Nothing. Just some benign, old lady crap.”
I rubbed my face. “You’re not old, Mom, but geez, I’m so relieved.”
“Do you want to do brunch? You can tell me about the interview.”
“I don’t think I’m going to get the job. Just fair warning,” I said, before rolling out of bed and heading to the kitchen to make coffee. Spotting a framed picture of Laura and me in Rome, I rolled my eyes. What a waste of seven years.
“Why don’t you think you’ll get the job?” she asked.
“Just haven’t felt lucky lately.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not about luck.”
“I’m grateful for the good news I’ve already gotten today. Nothing could ruin that. Believe me, even if I don’t get this job, I’ll consider this a good day.”
“Okay, honey, well, you’ll keep trying if you don’t. Let’s go have a good meal. I feel revived.”
I was smiling when I left my apartment to meet my mother. My phone started buzzing from my pocket. It was Bradley from the design firm. My heart sank a little, but I pulled it together, popped into an alley, cleared my throat, and answered.
“Hello, Lucian Bertrand.”
“We all want you on our team. It was unanimous.”
“You’re kidding?” I tried to keep my voice steady as I acted like a teenage girl, jumping up and down in the alley.
“No, we’re not kidding at all. We’d like you to start Monday. How do you feel about that?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Great, we’ll see you then.”
I almost hung up but caught myself and said, “Bradley, thank you so much! I’m truly psyched about this job.”
“We know. Your talent was enough, but it was your enthusiasm that sold us all. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
I went skipping into the restaurant, and my mother knew. She jumped out of her seat. “You got it, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“I told you.” She cupped my face. “Good things always happen in threes.”
We were laughing as we took our seats. “You said it’s not about luck. Was number one Laura breaking it off with me?”
She smiled. “No, number one was that I am cancer-free. Number two was that you landed the job.”
“And number three?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” She winked. “Keep your heart open.”
After brunch, I walked my mom home and then headed back up to the Mission. On my way, I passed a magazine rack. Browsing the design magazines, I felt an excitable presence next to me.
“Oh my God, is it here?” she asked.
Glancing over, my eyes met hers. She smiled, warmth radiating from her chocolate eyes.
“Hi,” I said, a bit awestruck by her unique beauty.
“Hi. Sorry, do you mind? Can I squeeze in here and grab that?” It was a copy of Vogue.
“Of course,” I said. “Although I can’t actually say I’ve ever seen a person this excited over the latest copy of Vogue.”
She laughed, and it sounded like music. “That’s because my denim line is featured in it. Here it is! Ah!” She pointed at a page where some model was wearing Divine jeans.
“That’s your line?” I looked up from the magazine quickly, realizing I couldn’t take my eyes off of her for more than a second. I didn’t want her to leave. I was having eight thousand feelings all at once.
“Yes!” she said with so much excitement, it was contagious.
“That’s amazing.” I stuck out my hand. “I’m Lucian.”
“Interesting name,” she said.
“My mom got it from a romance novel.”
She laughed. “I’m Evey.”
When we shook hands, we shocked each other. We both pulled back. It was a spark.
Keep your heart open, Lucian. “We’re electric together,” I said.
“You’re very confident. Not unlike those typical romance heroes.”
“You’re very perceptive.”
“I’ve been told.”
“So I’m not usually one to brag, but I sort of landed my dream job today, and you… you’re in Vogue magazine. I think a celebration is in order. Want to grab a drink?”
“Yes! A hundred percent,” she said.
She literally jumped into my arms and hugged me, and it didn’t feel weird at all.