Page 63 of The Hang Up
“Yeah,” he said as the guilt needled him in the gut. “Easier said than done.”
“Have you gotten to know them? The workers whose jobs are on the line, not the douche-bag executives.”
“A little,” he said. “Not as much as I wish I had.”
“Maybe that would help. Seeing what their world is like, and putting faces to the names of the people they’re threatening to lay off.” She shrugged. “If nothing else, it would give you a better understanding of how the company runs.”
“Huh.” He had to admit, she had a great a point. “I guess I’ve been a little preoccupied hobnobbing with the executive team. I figured I was better off working the problem from the top down.”
“A good strategy when removing underwear.” Miriam grinned. “Less effective when saving jobs.”
“Maybe you’re right.” He squeezed her hand, feeling a flutter of hope behind his breastbone. “Maybe the solution isn’t in the boardroom. Maybe there’s another way to do it.”
“Absolutely. There’s no shame in teabagging after a whipper. And sometimes a fist-jam is more effective than dry-tooling.” She smiled up at him. “For the record, I think climbing has the filthiest jargon of all.”
He laughed and looped an arm around her shoulders, then pulled her closer so he could plant a kiss on her forehead. “Thanks. I appreciate your perspective. Even if your grasp of climbing terminology could use a little work.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Seriously, I don’t know what I would have done without you helping me through all this corporate bullshit these last few weeks.”
“My pleasure. You’ve been a helluva lot more interesting than any of the other Urban Trax stiffs we worked with before you came along.”
“Thanks. That actually means a lot.”
He let go of her shoulders and grabbed her hand again. Her fingers felt good laced through his, and it occurred to him this was one of the nicest hikes he’d ever experienced.
“So what comes next?” she asked.
“How do you mean?”
She shrugged, and he felt her shoulders move under his arm. “Well, it sounds like you’re sticking around for the job. That you might actually like it,” she added. “And it sounds like Henry might be on the road to recovery. Things are going well for you.”
“You’re right,” he said, happy to realize it was true. Even happier to realize she was a part of that.
“I’m just curious what’s next on the horizon. I know your sister is eager not to be so reliant on you, and I’m sure that’s bound to change things for all three of you.”
Jason raised an eyebrow as he ducked under a branch. “Sounds like Ellie might have given you an earful last night.”
“We talked,” she admitted. “I know she feels guilty about how much you’ve done to support her and Henry, and she’s hoping to repay you by becoming a little more independent again.”
“She doesn’t have to repay me anything,” he said, wondering why his sister kept bringing this up. He wanted to help, dammit. “They’re my family. It’s important to me to take care of them.”
“I know,” she said softly as she gave his hand another squeeze. “But sometimes it’s more important to people to know they can take care of themselves.”
He let her words hang there between them a moment, considering them. Did Miriam have a point? Did he need to let go a little, maybe give Ellie and Henry a bit more space? If he did, what would that mean for him?
A chance at your own life. Maybe a wife, a family, all thethings you’ve been denying yourself.
He looked at Miriam. She smiled up at him, her face cheerful and open and flushed with fresh air and exertion. She tugged a strap on her day pack and kept walking, surging ahead just a little while her fingers stayed laced with his.
“What?” she asked, and Jason realized he was staring. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She grinned. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
“And last night was fun.”
“Amazing,” she agreed, her grin turning more salacious. “Gotta love your sense of adventure.”
