Just One Kiss Read Online Free

conclusion
that I’m eighteen now and I need a job to pay for my own things. I don’t want
to rely on my parents for everything; it makes me feel dependent and immature.
That’s why today I’m going to talk to Ro about seeing if there are any job
openings at Starbucks. I get to school just in time to talk to her before my
first class.
    “Hey, doll, you’re looking gorgeous as usual,” she says,
knowing I hate it when she tells me that. If she wasn’t so amazing, I’d despise
her. But instead of getting irritated, I just laugh it off.
    “Yes, I know. Hey, I have a question.” I figure I better cut
to the chase.
    “Hey, I might have an answer.” She grins.
    “Are there any job openings at Starbucks?”
    As soon as the words leave my mouth, she bursts out
laughing.
    “Hey, it’s not that funny! I would be a good worker!” I
exclaim, almost wounded by her laughter.
    “No,” she gasps, “it’s not that.”
    When she finally calms down, she regales me with how, the
night before, one of the baristas threw hot coffee in the face of an
ex-boyfriend and was fired. They’re trying to fill her place as soon as
possible.
    “Dude, talk about fate,” I smile, feeling hopeful.
    “Totally. Just follow me to work today and you can talk to
my boss,” she says as we head off toward our class.
    Luckily for me, Ro and I both decided to get some of our
basics out of the way at community college before heading off to university for
our real degrees. And since we’re both just studying the basics, we can take a
lot of the same classes.
    ***
    I really hope it’s this easy to find a job in the future.
Although, I seriously doubt it will be. I talked to the manager, Jon, and he
basically hired me on the spot. I’m taking home some forms to fill out for
legal purposes, but I start on Friday. I don’t really know how my parents are
going to handle me having a job. But I’ve been eighteen since September 3, two
whole months, and it’s my decision.
    I pull into the driveway and sit there for a minute,
suddenly more nervous than I have been in a while. Dad’s car is filling the
garage space mine occupied this morning, so I have to leave my car in the cold.
Inside, I can already smell Dad’s spaghetti. I go into the kitchen and find him
dancing and singing along to some old ’80s music, wearing a chef’s hat and an
apron. I can’t help but laugh a little when I see him. He quickly spins,
grinning bashfully.
    “Everybody else is out, so I figured you were too,” he says.
    It’s kind of hard to explain; Dad is not so great with
strangers and talking to people, but he is not really shy about doing some wild
dancing in the kitchen.
    I smile softly. “I just got home. I, uh, actually want to
talk to you about something,” I begin, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
    “Okay, shoot,” he tells me, turning back to his pasta.
    I take a deep breath and bite my lip.
    “I got a job today,” I say slowly.
    He peeks at me over his shoulder. “A job?”
    “Yeah.” I nod, nervous about what he will say next.
    “Where?” He sounds curious.
    “Starbucks. Ro helped. She talked to her boss and he hired
me on the spot. I start Friday.”
    Instead of getting upset like I expected, he smiles.
    “Good for you, kiddo. It’ll be nice to see you spending time
in the real world.”
    I scoff and give him a dirty look. “I spend plenty of time
out there!” I claim.
    Dad holds in his laugh and turns to face me completely. “I
know you do. I’m just saying that I think you’ll enjoy having a job. I think
it’ll be good for you.”
    “Well . . . I’m glad.” I’m a little
confused. He seems happy for me.
    Neither of us really say anything else important. I usually
just end up rambling around Dad. It’s not that I don’t want to talk about the
meaningful stuff, it’s just that my mom is the one I go to for advice. Dad is
the person I talk to just to talk. He’s a good sport; he always nods along and
smiles at the right