Hiding in a corner on the great lawn, my body crumpled. I curled up, tucking my knees under my chin. That was twice I had faltered, twice I’d almost showed how weak I was—how broken. I couldn’t allow that to happen again. I needed to try harder. Shut off certain parts of my brain while still allowing the other parts to function.
Visions of those blue eyes flashed before me, but I pushed them aside. I didn’t know why he was invading my thoughts the way he was. Or why I even cared at all. But the look on his face as he tried to get to me, desperate and determined. He looked so genuine. So good. So . . . not for someone like me.
I laughed inwardly for being stupid enough to even think about that guy. I was losing it. Shaking my head, I pushed to my feet and rushed off to my class so I could put this first day—the day that was supposed to be the best day, behind me.
Forty-five minutes after arriving at the salon, Jessie and me were donning pretty, pink, semi-sticky fingers and toes. I felt totally refreshed and wore a contented smile. I didn’t get those often and had to remember to thank Jessie for that one day.
Clasping my hand in both of hers, she tugged and did a backward walk. “Come on, we’re meeting Sandra and Jace at the pizzeria.” She smiled her famous Jessie smile.
I didn’t argue. I was a sucker for New York pizza. The smell of cheese, basil, and garlic wafting through the air grabbed me from blocks away.
Sandra and Jace saw me and huge grins split their faces. “You came!” Sandra hooked an arm around my neck and squeezed.
“Of course, I came. I heard you guys would be here, and I couldn’t resist.”
We decided to split a Margherita pie and chose a table outside before the chill inevitably kicked in. There were probably only a couple weeks of warmth left, but for now it was still summer, and we were holding onto it for dear life.
I tipped my nose up to the dry, crisp air. The sun was just beginning to set, creating an orange hue so bright it was almost hard to look at. White, wispy clouds lined a clear sky. A refreshing breeze slid under my hair and softly blew it to the side as I sat in one of the metal chairs lining the sidewalk.
Jessie and Sandra took seats across from each other, and Jace sat across from me. He swung his legs onto my lap and leaned back, stretching his arms above his dark brown head, streaked with swipes of blonde.
“What a long day.” He inhaled, and then huffed out a large breath of air. “Ugh, and it’s only day one. I’m gonna need me a sugar daddy to help pass the time if I’m getting through this.” He turned his hand over and examined his nails, accentuating boredom.
We all laughed.
“What? I’m serious. And don’t you bitches be getting in my way either. They don’t call me the corrupter for nothing.”
“You’re terrible!” Sandra chortled, slapping his arm.
“Oh no, honey. I’m so, so good. Trust.” He raised one wicked eyebrow at her before coolly slipping a pair of sunglasses over his honey colored eyes, and scoping out his surroundings with a puckered lip, reminding me why I loved him. “What was I thinking, agreeing to this?” And here came his bitching.
“That you love me of course.” I batted my eyelashes at him.
“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes, dramatic as usual.
“Hey, Eva, those guys are staring over here.” Jessie’s gaze was focused on the table in the corner, and she wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “Hubba hubba.”
“Hubba hubba? What are you, five?” I laughed, then egged her on. “Go say hi. Your curls are extra bouncy today.”
Her delicate nose scrunched up. For once, not the smile. “Um, I don’t think they’d have much interest in me. They’re foaming at the mouth, staring at you.”
I chanced a sideways glance, pretending to care. “That one with the sandy hair and bulging biceps is kind of hot.”
That was all she needed to get her going. “Go! Go!” She shoved my arm.
“I can’t go.” I chuckled, shooing her hand away. “I have a boyfriend, remember?” Just as I finished the sentence, Mr. Bulging Biceps made his way over. He looked like he was walking the runway as he weaved in and out of tables. I glanced over at Jace, who was already eyeing me, and then back to the runway model.
Here I go. I was well trained in this dance.
Runway model stopped directly in front of me and scanned every inch of me in under three-seconds.
My subconscious rolled her eyes.
“Hey.” He ran a hand through his sandy blond hair, giving me a coy little smile and exuding confidence.
“Hi.” I smiled politely.
“I’m Drew.”
“Hi, Drew. I’m Evangelina.” I kept him at arm’s length. If you got my full name, you were getting brushed off.
“Nice to meet you, Evangelina. Is this your boyfriend?” He nodded his head at Jace but kept his focus on me.
Jace lowered his sunglasses to the tip of his nose. “Seriously, hot stuff? That’s your segue? I know you can’t be that na?ve. Get on with it.” He flicked his wrist twice in our direction.