“Who do you see?”
“London. She’s sitting there with the redhead that caught my attention.” I smirk. London will finally be useful for something.
“Poor London.” I smile at my mother as we eat in silence. I keep watching the redhead to get a glimpse of her face. “The Christmas pageant is coming up soon. Devin have his costume?”
“Not yet. The teacher doesn’t know where she’ll put him since he’s been so disruptive lately.” Devin is autistic so he comes with challenges, and his teachers are amazing but it can be overwhelming for them. “As of right now, he’s a Christmas tree. I found the pattern online so I’m going to start that this weekend.”
“Linda has made all her children’s costumes. I’m sure that she wouldn’t mine helping Devin.”
“Let me try first, and if I fuck it up then I’ll call Linda.” We make small talk about her charity events and the big masquerade ball, but I can’t get that woman out of my mind.
Riley - 3
“I’m so sorry that I’m late, but I had a client who wouldn’t stop talking about how her dog is now liter trained.” London, Brittany, and I laugh about it as she goes into detail about what her client was telling her. London looks up from her menu and waves. “My mom and brother are here. Have you met him yet?”
“He called me this morning with more questions. I tried to reassure him, but I don’t think I succeeded very well.”
“He’s a nervous wreck. This is the first major project since Papa died so he has major shoes to fill.”
“No pressure,” I grumble as I eat my lunch of sweet and sour chicken. “He offered me a huge bonus to finish early. Challenge accepted. What do you need from me?” I say with my mouth full.
I start to put my hair behind my ears but stop myself when I get to my left side and let it cover my scars on my face. My cheek and ear are severely scarred from a fire that I was in when I was a little girl. I was about nine years old when some hay caught fire, and it lit up fast. I was in the Phoenix Burn Unit for months. My parents pulled me from school because the teasing was so bad that I shut myself off from the world. My business allows for me to be hidden away in the back while Brittany handles all of face to face which I’m thankful for.
“I have some pictures that I want to have playing on the walls, plus I’m getting videos from her friends and family to play a little after midnight after singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.”
“The few times that I met your mom, I know she’s going to love this but kill you and Lance for keeping her out of the surprise. I can do it in a couple of hours. Make sure that the videos are in before Christmas so I can make sure to have it done and looking good.” London hands me a shoebox full of pictures. “Any particular order?”
“Nope and here.” London hands me a $5000 check. I try to give it back, but she refuses.
“Lance is paying so it’s not even taking money from me. You can use the money to buy your dress for New Year’s Eve.” London looks to Brittany with a wink. These two women are conspiring against me.
“I wasn’t planning on going. I know Brit is going.”
“You have to come, and I’m not taking no for answer. I already bought your ticket.” London shrieks with excitement.
“I can buy my own ticket, London.”
“See was that so hard?” London’s blue eyes sparkle.
“Oh, my God, you’re worse than Brittany in tricking me into doing things that I don’t want to do.”
I remember London came into the office—which is my farmhouse—frazzled, and ended up building a friendship that I can’t imagine not having. We talk a few more minutes before hugging and saying goodbye. I take a look back to where Brittany says the hot sexy man in the gray suit was sitting but he’s nowhere to be found.
I sigh as we walk out and head back to work. London promises to come out to see me before the busy Christmas party season starts. “That hot guy wouldn’t stop staring at you.” I blush at her remarks but I wonder if he would still stare if he saw my scars.
“Do you want to stop at the store to grab steaks to grill out?”
“I can’t. I have a date.”
“Have you been holding out on me?” I laugh as I weave through traffic at 65 mph in my Dodge Charger. I look at Brittany after I get off the exit where I live, and I see her blushing.
“I’ve been seeing Heath; do you remember him?” Oh, I remember him all right. He was the one in elementary school that started the “Scarface” comments.
“I know.” My tone was flat.
“He’s different, you know.”