world news, music and books and shit like that . ”
She swallows her bite and looks at him. “ That sounds pretty good, actually. Do I get benefits ? ”
“ Sure . ”
“ How much would I make ? ”
“ I do n’ t kno w… CeCe deals with that stuff. But off the top of my head, I would promise no less than 40 . ”
Her jaw drops, quivering slightly, her eyes widen. “ A year ? ”
“ Yeah, is that too little? I’ m sure we could get you more. And I’ ll make sure you have a good car. I t’ d be leased, but i t’ d be yours . ”
“ Okay, really? Are you being for reals ? ”
“ Yes! I mean it! Do you want to do it ? ”
“ When would I start ? ”
“ Tomorrow?
“ Tomorrow? No way, I can't! I have to give my two weeks at Healthy . ”
He chuckles and then sees her deeply concerned expression. “ Seriously ? ”
“ Yes, seriously! What if this does n’ t work out? I have a career there. I do n’ t want to burn any bridges . ”
“ Yeah, okay, no, that makes sense. Bu t… if it did n’ t work, for whatever reason, I would make sure you were set up somewhere else . ”
“ Yeah, you say that now but you do n’ t know me all that well . ”
He chews thoughtfully. “ I feel like I know you pretty well after today . ”
She laughs, her sharp, seal laugh, catching him off guard. “ No, you do n’ t. And I have n’ t seen hardly any bit of the real you yet . ”
“ What do you mean ? ”
“ You barely just took off that stupid hat! I have no idea who you are ! ”
“ Yeah, you do, come on . ”
“ N o… what if yo u’ re a total jerk ? ”
“I’ m not ! ” he laughs.
“ What if, okay, what if, say, you worked out for like, ten hours, and you come in exhausted and starving and all stinkpot, and I’ m sitting in front of your giant TV, watching reality cook off shows and eating a gigantic, monster plate of waffles, covered in syrup ? ”
“I’ d probably go ballistic, pin you down and suffocate you with my stink and steal your waffles . ”
“ See, there, tha t’ s what I’ m talking about! Tha t’ s exactly the crisis situation I’ m afraid of! I know, for a fact, that fit fanatics are insane!! I deal with them on a daily basis. All that wheatgrass and spirulinamakes you bat shit neurotic ! ”
He chews his sandwich, grinning at her and she at him.
“ How can anyone resist? I guess i t’ s a risk I’ ll just have to take . ”
3.
“ Green Super Fit ? ” Trina calls, completely exasperated from her smoothie duty. “ Green Super Fit? Did anyone order a Green Super Fit ? ”
“ Me! Trina, i t’ s mine ! ”
Trin a’ s miserable scowl softens and becomes a radiant smile under her baseball cap as Alice races up to the counter, pushing through a sea of yoga pants and muscle shirts.
“ Alice! They did n’ t tell me it was for you! I would n’ t have spit in it ! ” she smiles.
“ Aw, and risk missing a daily dose of vitamin T? No way ! ” Alice beams, hugging her friend over the counter. “ Wha t’ s up, lady? How you livi n’? ”
“ Living the dream , ” she sighs, ignoring the looks of reproach from the neglected customers. “ Ever since you left, i t’ s been a total cluster fuck here. They still have n’ t replaced you . ”
“ And they never will. I’ m irreplaceable. Nobody juices wheatgrass like me, girl, I thought you knew ! ” Alice laughs.
“ Oh, I know. Speaking of which, do n’ t you usually make your ma n’ s shakes? Why you here ? ”
“I’ m running late. I was up all night working on that painting for Anthon y’ s sister. Her bab y’ s birthday is Saturday . ”
“ Oh yeah! So yo u’ re going ? ”
“ Yeah, you ? ”
“ Anthon y’
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