Entwined fire | #Wattys2016

Offer, proposals and mulling it over

"Y- I need the money I can't just drop my job!"

"Get another." Aaron replied.

"Work with us." Zak added.

"What?" Aaron and myself said in unison.

"Yeah, yeah dang why didn't I think of it before! You could totally work for me?!"

"No, okay. No. Because that's a sure way arguing would start." I replied.

"Well then don't argue with me and accept your new job position." Zak smiled.

"As what? No! I like my job at Joey's, okay, I've been there for years and it's only because I was drinking on the job that I got myself into that position. It was my fault." I answered.

"Ria, I'm not joking." Aaron answered pulling on this goatee. "I will drag your ass back to England if you don't quit."

"Then do it." I challenged.

They both dropped their jaws. "You're picking a job over your safety?" Aaron asked in disbelief.

"You're picking a job over me? Us?!" Zak asked with the same amount of disbelief.

"I like my job, no I love my job. Okay I've just had a rein of bad lucky, what with my apartment, the scare and the attack. It happens in threes. I got my three, and to prove passed... I've got you." I explained to Zak.

"I'd rather you weren't working in a bar every night, when are we gonna spend time together?" He asked.

"Da-"

"You work at the antique store." Aaron interrupted me. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"Well let's put it like this.. I give up Joey's and I'll have to move back to England because I won't be able to afford to live here."

"Then move in with me?" Zak suggested causing both me and Aaron to shoot a look of 'Are you crazy?' At him.

"Hell no." Both me and Aaron said together.

"That's weird." Zak answered us and looked at me.

"Why not?"

"Don't you think we are moving a little too fast?"

"No. I know what I want. Do you know what you want?" He asked.

I could feel my palms getting hotter in my hands.

Of course I knew what I wanted... I wanted him.

"Well yeah, bu-"

"Then why are we having his conversation. I own a 5 bedroom house. I use one room.. That's it. You've got 5 to pick from. In with me or the other 4. Maria you need a place to live. I've got the space, Gracie loves you and you're pretty much moved in already. Aaron will know you are safe every night because my house is as secure as a naval base. But work it still an issue... For us both."

"You both met me whilst I was working at Joey's. Now you want to take that away from me? It's like me telling you that you can ghost hunt!"

"I don't hunt them.. I hunt demons. I investigate ghosts." Zak corrected me.

"You know what I mean you ass."

He smirked "Such a loving mouth."

I hit my knee against his and grumbled quietly to myself.

"We've never been sexually attacked." Aaron counted bringing us back to the whole problem of my job.

"Zak got his ass grabbed. Also had a succubus feel him up."

"Those are bad examples." Zak mumbled.

"You're a little freak when something like that happens. So don't make out you didn't enjoy it at the time."

He mumbled something incoherent making me wish I had better hearing. So maybe I could I don't know... Argue back better?

"Well I haven't been." Aaron answered.

"You've been punched in the face by one... Sloss furnace remember?" I reminded him.

"Uh pretty sure you've come home wired after this bad lockdowns. Well it's the same only I have bad nights at work."

"Yeah with people." Zak answered.

"Ghosts are people and for a matter of fact. My job has an advantage of me being able to see trouble coming my way. Unlike the coat rail that almost harpooned you at Pennhurst." I replied.

"I hate how much of a fan you are to be able to recall all of this.." Zak muttered.

"I got a reserve tank baby and I can keep going. You two can't click your fingers and expect me to resign from a job I love."

"No, but I thought you had enough common sense to know when enough was enough." Aaron replied.

"It's the only time I get to let my hair down."

"I'll take you to clubs when we're off lockdowns!" Zak threw in for good measures.

I gave up and leant on my hands looking at the table "You are trying to change me already."

Zak sighed "I'm not, but it's for your own safety. Maria this isn't going to remain a secret forever and when it does women will just aim for any excuse to fight with you... I've seen death threats for my exes before. It's not pretty. The last thing I want is a phone call saying you've been hurt and I'm responsible." Zak replied.

I thought about that and looked at Aaron "And I don't want to make the phone all to your dad telling him his baby has been seriously hurt." Aaron added.

I thought of all the times I've had at Joey's, I had been there for years! The regulars, the people who have come and gone, the parties we've had, the good times and the bad. I was being forced out of a job I love for the man I love.

I love him? I do but I haven't told him.. I don't want him to freak out.

I'd miss the atmosphere, the music, the new faces, the tips, the fancy dress Friday's, the rodeos we threw and hired a bucking broncho.. I always lasted the longest.

My riding skills were top notch. Ask Zak.

I smirked at myself with the inside joke, I'd probably miss the smell of alcohol in the mornings that hung on my skin.

I didn't want to give it up...

Unless I didn't and told them I did.

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A/n: Hey, so I never imagined this story would get such a response from you all. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who is commenting as well as voting.

I'd like to hear your opinions on what Maria should do, the power is in your hands! ( can you feel it?.... Good)

Will she give up Joey's?

Are Maria and Zak moving too fast? Will  it end in tears after all?

Can a leopard change his spots from the hook ups for a plain vanilla life?

Steer me lovelies. How do you want this story to end?!

Xx