The Odds of Happily Ever After (The Reyes Siblings #2)

Chapter 8

chapter eight

luna

Kriz

Sooo rem Shawn from the party?

Luna

Of course! Are you dating him?

Kriz

Uh NO. He asked for your num!!

Luna

You know I’m not interested in dating right now . . .

Kriz

But I totally ship you 2 together!

Also, I might have alrdy given him your num

Stifling what felt like my hundredth yawn in the last hour, I stood and rounded the cashier counter to wake myself up. With finals week in full swing, I was running on an average of three hours of sleep a day and twice that many cups of coffee—which meant I alternated between hyperactive and almost zombielike.

I wished I could indulge in a midday nap, but since I was on shift and had to save my remaining caffeine allocation for tonight’s study session, I did the next best thing and tried to keep myself busy.

Going through the rack of university-branded clothes, I sorted them by style and noted the sizes I needed to restock. My hand paused on a beige oversized shirt with Sterling University spelled out in a cool retro font. We’d released the design only last week and already, we were running low on inventory for this specific color. That wasn’t surprising, because we rarely had merch in colors other than maroon, black, or white.

Again, I asked myself if I should just go ahead and buy it. But the voice of reason in my head reminded me I’d spent way too much on Christmas gifts and international shipping, and I needed to save for important things. You know, like food, water, and electricity.

Adulting sucked big time.

“You’d rock that shirt.”

I shoved said shirt back onto the rack and faced the guy who had spoken. He was a couple of inches taller than me, with an athletic build and short, curly dark hair that was tapered on the sides. Dressed in a graphic tee and distressed jeans, he gave off a laidback vibe.

“Thanks.” I smiled at him. “Can I help you with anything?”

His brows swung up. “You work here?”

“Yup, you just caught me fixing the merch.” Wincing, I added, “Okay, I was kind of admiring this shirt too.”

He grinned, revealing dimples on both cheeks. “Hey, I don’t blame you. It’s a nice shirt. Like I said, it would look great on you.” A second later, he grimaced. “Shit, did that sound like a come-on?”

“Honestly, I’ve never been good at identifying those things, so let’s just say no.”

His eyes crinkled at the edges. “I knew we’d get along. I’m Kai.” He stretched out his hand toward me.

I shook it. “Hi, Kai. I’m Luna.”

“Luna. Great to meet you.”

“Likewise. Are you looking for something in particular?” I gestured around the store. “We have merch, school supplies, textbooks, and electronics you can purchase with a student discount.”

He hesitated, then shoved his hands in his pockets. “Actually, I was wondering if you’re hiring. I transferred here at the start of the semester, and I know the timing’s off since it’s almost Christmas, but I sure could use a part-time job.”

“Oh! Well, no.” His face fell, and I hurried to explain. “I mean, we don’t have any openings that I know of, but I can check with my boss. Do you want to leave your number so she can get back to you?”

“Yeah, for sure.”

Heading behind the counter, I grabbed a notepad and pen and handed them to him. “Here you go.”

He leaned over and scribbled his number. “How long have you been working here?”

“Just since September, so not long at all. I was lucky they had an opening right when the semester started.”

He passed the paper to me. “I hope I luck out too. I’d love to work with you.”

I paused, wondering if he was flirting with me, but I dismissed the idea right away. He might just be an extra friendly guy by nature. Whatever the case, I didn’t want to read too much into his words. “I’ll make sure to pass the message to Marge. Fingers crossed.” I held up my fingers in the air.

“Thanks, Luna. Really appreciate it. I’ll, ah, catch you around?” he asked, taking a step back.

“Definitely. Good luck with the job hunt, Kai, and I hope you like it here in Sterling.”

His dimples showed up again. “I already do.” He waved at me, then walked out of the store, giving me a second glance from the doorway.

Kai Walker he’d written in neat, all-caps print. He seemed like a nice, easygoing guy. I wondered what his story was, where he’d come from, and why he decided to move here. If we’d met in a different setting, I would have found a way to ask, but it didn’t feel right to chat him up about his personal life while I was supposed to be working.

Next time, maybe. For now, I had to get through the last hour of my shift without falling asleep on potential customers. Then I’d go back to cramming for my accounting exam, something I definitely had to load up on coffee for. Why I had to choose a course that went heavy on the numbers and math, I had no idea.

Numbers had never come easily for me, but between business management and nursing—the only two courses my dad had okayed—the former seemed more manageable. Also, I could apply what I learned there to a career in the fashion industry.

At least, that was what I hoped because spending my future buried in spreadsheets and obsessing about the bottom line did not excite me one bit.

For a second, I let myself imagine what finals week might have been like if I had pursued the fashion degree I’d wanted. I probably would’ve still pulled all-nighters, but they wouldn’t have been as tiresome because I would have actually enjoyed what I was studying.

I sighed and straightened my shoulders. There was no point moping when I was more than lucky just to be here. To experience the independence I’d longed for and add new firsts to my list.

Including my first time celebrating Christmas on my own.

My stomach dropped at the thought of it. I tried to focus on the thought of catching up on sleep instead of dwelling on how I would be away from my family during the biggest occasion of the year.

I reminded myself that Christmas was just a day, and I could spend it however I wanted to. I could create a new tradition—one that I got to choose for a change.

Now that was an exciting prospect.

But first I had to get through stupid accounting and the rest of my finals.

gabe

Nora

Can I see you in my office after your class?

Gabe

Of course.

“Thanks for coming in to see me, Gabriel. How are your classes so far?” Nora studied me from across her desk.

I wished we could dispense with the niceties and go straight to the purpose of this meeting, which I suspected had less to do with her being the college dean than her being my PhD advisor. “As expected. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Always so formal. We’ve known each other for . . . how long is it, six years now?”

Six years. Hearing that served as a wake-up call. “Give or take.”

She propped an elbow on the desk and perched her chin on her knuckles. “Have you decided when you’ll continue your doctorate?”

Not if—when. Her certainty should have flattered me. Instead, my chest felt tight. “No. Not yet,” I amended.

“Let me remind you that we only allow a maximum of two years leave of absence. Do you know why that is?”

“The longer the leave, the harder it is to return.”

She nodded. “Bingo. You have a stellar record and impressive industry experience. I’d like to move you to the tenure track soon. Assign you to more classes. But for that to happen, you need that degree.”

It should have been a simple decision. I had already invested years into this goal—time I would never get back. Yet I found myself saying, “I’ll give you an update before the winter break.”

“The sooner, the better, Gabriel.”

As I drove home that evening, I contemplated my next steps. Logic dictated I see my dissertation through as quickly as possible. However, the thought of returning to the monotony of research and writing left me cold after the rush of growing my consultancy. I’d tripled my clientele in the span of my break, and returning to my doctorate would destroy my momentum.

I could maximize my hiatus and work on hiring partners to assist my clients when I did go back to my research. But that meant giving up a portion of my profit and worse, potentially risking my contracts if they weren’t managed to my standard.

Times like this, it helped to have someone to talk to.

Glancing at the clock, I calculated that it was almost six thirty in the morning in Manila. If Tala followed her old schedule, she should be awake by now. I took a gamble and called her.

“Do you know what time it is?” Tala answered after two rings, her tone light despite her words.

I smiled. “It’s not my fault you moved to the opposite side of the world.”

“I knew you’d miss me.”

“You broke my routine. I haven’t had a sanity check in nearly three months.”

She gasped. “That’s right! I’m sorry, I got so caught up with the move and getting work figured out?—”

“Tala. I was just joking,” I said. “Am I that bad at it?”

“It’s harder to read you without seeing your face.” She still sounded apologetic, but also amused. “Why don’t we do sanity calls instead? But not this early please.”

“I’m okay, Tala. Don’t worry about me.”

“Who says they’re just for you?” She chuckled. “Though it would also be good for you to make new friends there. Maybe someone from the faculty?”

My lip curled at the thought of it. “Too much trouble.”

“I guess I can relate. I would ask how you are, but I know you hate small talk.”

Thus, why making new friends wasn’t an option.

“So why’d you call, Gabe?”

“I met with Nora.”

“For your PhD? Or are you finally resigning?”

I frowned. “Why would I resign?”

“Because you have a business you actually enjoy? Not to mention, it makes you a lot more money.”

Valid points, but my consultancy might not always do well. What if the market crashed and I lost my clients? I’d have to scramble to regain my footing instead of leaning on a strong contingency plan. “I’m not resigning. She asked when I would rejoin the program.”

“Ahh.” Tala drew the word out into multiple syllables. “What did you tell her?”

“That I’d get back to her before the semester ends. I need to weigh the pros and cons of going back at this time.” I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel.

“And you’re sure you are going back?”

“That was always the plan.”

“You know that plans can change, right?”

“Not if I can help it.”

She chuckled softly. “That is such a you thing to say.”

“What’s the use of planning if we don’t follow through? We’d go nowhere.” My parents had planned for a life together, only to falter and change their minds when things got hard. If they’d stayed the course, I’d still have an actual family.

“Or you’ll find something better than what you had in mind,” Tala said. “Do you think I planned to end the year in Manila?”

Maybe she hadn’t, but she’d always dreamed of it and the universe pulled through for her. It must have been meant to be. “Are you happier there?”

“I mean, I miss you and Luna,” she murmured. “I even miss Sterling. But, yes—I am happy. For now, I’m sure this is where I should be.”

“You didn’t mention Jason.”

“That’s a given. He actually wanted to visit for Christmas, but they have a game.”

“He didn’t consider skipping it?” The man almost passed on the NBA opening night and ring ceremony to see Tala. A normal game shouldn’t have been an issue for him.

“Oh, he did. I made him promise not to.”

I wondered how she convinced him to agree to that and quickly decided I didn’t need to know.

“By the way.” Tala hesitated, and I winced, guessing what she was arriving at. “Have you seen Luna around?”

That answered any question I had about Luna keeping her word. My fingers tightened on the steering wheel as I turned into my street. “I have.”

“Is she alright? She says she is, but I can’t tell if she’s only saying that so I won’t worry.”

“She seems fine. Healthy.” As though that was something I could determine from a passing encounter.

“Okay . . . I’m just concerned that with Christmas coming up, she might get homesick like I was. She’s never spent the holiday alone.”

“She has her friends.”

“They’re leaving to be with their families.”

Of course they were. That was what most people did during the holidays.

“Gabe . . .”

Damn it. I recognized that tone. I opened my mouth to end the call before she said anything more, but my conscience interfered. “What?”

“Can you do me a favor?”