The miraculous phone call from Debbie, Mr. McCain's secretary telling me that I got the job comes three days after my interview. I was almost on the verge of losing hope, exasperated by account balance. The phonecall from Rubical is my saving grace.
"Congratulations." Rachel screams through the screen.
"Thank you."
"This calls for a celebration. I hate that I am out of town this week. We'll catch up when I return back."
"Take your time."
"You should celebrate though."
"I hope your brother isn't too diplomatic to keep a bottle or two."
"No. You should check the downer cabinet in the kitchen."
"Thanks."
"I gotta go. Take care of yourself Nels."
"You too."
I waste no time rushing to the kitchen and helping myself to Devan's wine cabinet. I look through the bottles carefully. I am no wine expert but a part of me can already tell the bottles are expensive.
"Are you okay there?"
I jump immediately at the voice startled. Devan stands casually at the door, hands in his pockets as he stares down at me. For a large man, he surely doesn't make so much noise.
"Did I scare you?"
"A bit."
"What are you looking for?" Devan asks. I can think of so many answers at the moment but I just can't come up with the proper one.
"Wine."
I could slap myself for my answer.
"Did you find any that you like?" he cocks a brow.
"I couldn't make a choice." I shrug
Devans walks further into the room joining me in front of the opened cabinet.
"What's the occasion?" he stares.
"I got the job." I murmur shyly.
"Is it the one you had the interview for the other day?"
"Yes. I received a call from the secretary a few hours back."
"That's amazing. That indeed calls for a celebration. You should take this." Devan pulls out a bottle from the cabinet and hands it to me.
"Would you like to join me? You don't really have to agree. It's just polite for me to ask." I bubble. There is a small smirk on his face as he watches me scramble for the right words.
"I would love to join you." he says. Then he does the last thing I expect. He takes two glasses from the cabinets and motions for me to give him the bottle. After he unscrews it, he pours it in the glasses.
For the first time this evening, I gawk openly at his face. How focused he is at pouring the wine in the glasses. I admire the straight jaw of his face that is clean shaven. How his hands flex under his white crisp shirt. How the Rolex watch seats perfectly on his wrist. I watch his Adam's apple bob up and down and I swallow myself.
Hot!
I shouldn't be able to describe a simple act of pouring wine into glasses as hot but Devan can make anything as simple as that hot. I clear my throat when he almost catches me staring.
"Thanks." I take my glass.
"Aren't you going to propose a toast?" Devan interrupts when I attempt to drink.
"Right." I pretend to think under the scrutiny of the piercing gaze.
"I propose a toast to new jobs."
"New jobs." he toasts.
We stare at each other over the glasses. I send him a shy smile.
"Are you hungry?" I ask to dissipate some of the tension in my body.
"I'll order a pizza." he offers.
"I love pizza." I chime.
"I know." he replies after drowning the rest of his wine in his throat. I quickly send him a look.
"It's all the pizza boxes in the trash, isn't it?" I smile sheepishly. Devan smiles. I have to avert my eyes to the window so as not to get lost in his smile.
"Pepperoni?"
"Sounds great."
Devan is in the living room when I return from picking up the pizza from the delivery guy. He's changed from his suit to some sweats and a black shirt. The way the shirt clings to his arms and shoulders should be sinful. His hair that is usually kempt is damp and tousled almost like it is intentional. I block out the thought of how my hands would love to take a feel of his hair.
"Pizza." I announce.
"About time."
"Do you want to watch anything on the TV?"
"I'll watch whatever you want."
I don't know how to feel about his answer. What if he doesn't like what I like? I settle down with my own plate and a glass of wine as I put on some reality show. I glance at Devan from time to time to make sure that he is enjoying just as I am. If he is not, he doesn't show. He looks hell bent on watching the show more than me. All I think is maybe he likes it.
"I realise I didn't even ask you about your day." I break the silence.
"It only fair that I ask you since you agreed to celebrate with me."
"My day was fine. Nothing unusual happened."
"I am surprised you came back early today."
"I finished early."
A few minutes pass before I open my mouth again.
"By the way, I was meaning to ask about the whole payment thing." I utter awkwardly. Devans stares.
"I need to know the percentage I'll be covering for the utilities, rent and grocery or any other payment I need to know of."
I might as well be speaking Greek because Devan looks absolutely lost.
"Everything is paid for."
"What I mean is the portion I need to contribute while I stay in your house."
"You don't need to pay anything Nellie."
It's my turn to look absolutely lost. The plan was that I would contribute something while I stay. When did things change?
"Devan..."
"You staying here is a favor to my sister. I can't have you paying for anything."
"But that's unfair."
"It is fair if you ask me. You're staying here till you get your footing. You just got a job Nellie."
"Did Rachel out you up to this?" I narrow my eyes.
"This has nothing to do with Rachel. The decision is totally mine."
"Then I can't continue living here if I am not paying anything. It's unfair Devan."
The only reason I agreed to stay with him in the first place is because I could contribute something as compensation for my stay. I don't want to take advantage of his money or his kindness. That's not fair to him.
"I think you're overthinking it."
"I think you're under thinking it." I retort. He sighs defeated.
"If this is about contributing to something, I can think of something you can contribute to."
"Grocery."
"That sounds fair."
There is a silent mutual agreement between us as we return back to enjoying our pizza.