The Anti-Social Season (First Responders #2)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Eight

“D éjà vu all over again,” Thea muttered to herself a week later as she waited, fidgeting, outside Landseer’s office, her laptop in hand, ready to show him the posts and metrics she’d assembled over the last month. Then the door swung open and he was there, kind eyes twinkling behind wire-rimmed glasses.

Were his eyes too kind? Was he about to let her down gently?

“Come on in and sit down, Thea.”

She did as she was told, sitting at the edge of his guest chair, on edge, nerves zinging.

“Relax,” he said, his voice shaded with laughter.

“How can I relax? Probation is stressful!” she blurted.

Landseer’s expression softened. “I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have been. You’ve been doing an exemplary job. The metrics you sent prove that. This meeting is merely a formality to offer you the role on a permanent basis.”

Incomprehension flowed into elation as Thea absorbed this. “Really?”

Landseer nodded. “Really.” Then he reached a hand across the desk. “The job is yours if you want it. And I couldn’t be happier with this outcome.”

Thea clasped his hand in hers, hardly knowing what to think. “Thank you. That’s...that’s great. I definitely want the job.”

“Excellent. Let’s just get your signature on this paperwork, and congratulations.”

Thea took the pen he extended to her and, exhilaration flooding her veins, she spun it around her thumb. I did it! she exulted internally before signing her name with a flourish.

She’d done it all.

A month ago, she’d faced having no job, an uncertain future and a lot of loneliness. Now she had a new career and a new relationship, all while being able to keep the found family she’d gathered during her firefighting career. When she thought about it, the transition was dizzying. Electrifying.

Perfect.

Thea left the administration building feeling as if she was floating. Simon, waiting outside the front door of the building, stepped in front of her. “Well?” His face held all the confidence she’d learned to expect from him.

“I’m in!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting him lift her up and spin her around. “We’re officially a social media empire, you and me.”

He set her down gently on her feet, pressing his lips to hers. “All hail my social media queen.”

“Do I get a tiara?” she asked, giggling against his mouth.

“Anything you want.”

“Well, I want you.”

“You got me.”

“New year, new social media empire,” she said. “Let’s go celebrate.”