Page 45 of The New Place

“I am,” Ned says into Abbot’s shoulder.

“It’s alright not to be.”

Ned squeezes his eyes shut. “This isn’t happening.”

“I know.”

Ned tenses. Abbot doesn’t know, because the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Newbury University, established sixteen what-fucking-ever, personally wants him to work there. With Abbot’s sparkling career, an influx of professors on the job hunt won’t change that.

Abbot, who doesn’t have to take the job offered to him. He has tenure, and Callahan isn’t going anywhere. He can stay where he is, in his house and driving his very fun, very sporty car.

Ned lets out a sigh. No, that’s not fair. It’s not Abbot’s fault Ned is right back where he started. It just feels like shit to have to stand here next to him, knowing that the next time Abbot suggests takeout, Ned’s going to have to ask if they can cook instead.

And the amount he owes⁠—

Well. He’ll just be saddled with that a bit longer. A lot longer, maybe. More months and years of sitting on that huge balance, a number so large he tries not to think of its total too often, sure the reality will swamp him.

And it’ll only grow, too, if he’s without a paycheck. How wonderful. Fucking fabulous.

“This sucks,” Ned mumbles.

“It does.”

“I just got that job.”

“You did.”

“And I love it at Adams.”

Abbot hugs him tighter. “Your baseball team.”

Ned lets out a hard laugh. “My baseball team. Dammit.”

“You can start a new one.”

“I just started that one.”

“We’ll figure this out.” Abbot kisses his hair.

Ned squeezes his eyes shut.

Yeah. Great. Abbot will get to witness this latest crash and burn of Ned’s life. Not find him on the tail end of disaster, when he’s ready to start clawing his way toward the upswing.

Ned moves back from him. “We should go in. I don’t want Peggy to worry.”

“You don’t want to talk about this,” Abbot says.

“About losing my job? No, I don’t.” They can add it to the list of everything Abbot never wants to talk about either. His family, Beverly, even that guy in college. Abbot knows the open book of Ned’s life with Jen, and he’s going to get front-row seats to this latest spiraling catastrophe. Can’t Ned have the chance to keep quiet too?

No, apparently, because Abbot doesn’t let him move far, keeping a grip on Ned’s arms, his eyes soft and too gentle.

“Don’t,” Ned says before Abbot can start.

“This isn’t what you planned.”

“No shit.”

“Me neither. I was really hoping Steve’s position would open up.”