a's

my gaze from the blurry road to the scre

ht skirts you wore to work. It's a pity you got fired. I'm going to make you an offe

D

.

ds touching me or those dry lips. I'd rather w

ll, you

and quickly

d days since the wo

t I'd kept texting Sean. He never answered even after viewing th

o off twice on the

cago with exactly one agenda. One simple, non-negotiable agenda. G

re you boarded the plane." My dad's v

I'm

fly on an empty stomach. Remember th

esides I'm off the plan

d incredibly annoying as always. "I hope you packed good underw

ool glass of the taxi window and st

talking about Mom," I said

es with the l

om

never know who'll want

e had read my mind at the moment. "Baby, you're sure you

tighten

ways making comments and urging me to go for him. What a quick cha

autograph." I pointed out, hea

n." I heard her scof

dropped. "You call us as so

y." I said

sigh, then turned

tically in her hairline, lips pressed together, chin slightly tilted.

d, shooting he

She replied, pouting he

ere ab

ing my arm. "Flora she said, 'get down.' Your fifty-something year old mother told y

the only thing that can save me fro

ds up. "I mean. Look outside." She pointed at the window with full dramatic

ne hundred miles from home."

amusement. "The finest collection of large, athletic, specifically-built-to-ruin-your-life men in the entire c

mm

at this point is we dress you up, we go out, some six-foot-something guy with a pretty face looks at

he continued, already reaching into her small carry-on bag

crawl up my face fade immediately. "

and held it up like an ex

m wearing that, Lu

it at me. "Loosen up. We are about t

why people talked about it with gleaming eyes. It was very tall an

ted my head back,

ressed to her chest, staring up at the building like i

e go i

a mome

before she could com

rough the entrance when Lucille

wed her

ith their practice gear, moving like artworks that were meant

said finally, her lips stretc

rt our accommo

ready moving. "Go sort the

lobby, leaving me standing alone with both

the seating area near th

in my lap, and stared at the front de

side door after what seemed like ten minutes, with a f

" She asked, her gaz

oked

on who was supposed to as

y hand. "T

e said and I grabbed my ba

k, then past the corridor tha

ay before we got to a bright, mirror-lined room where t

doorway. "I think

f them gestured to the ch

st here f

l be

transform my face into a better ve

akeup just to collect a room key, I thoug

appeared, looked me over, gave a small nod, and

through

e still confused about what was happening, th

office, with someone standing

g low on his waist, with a short towe

t the light as he turned slightly. My gaze f

around, and m

eaking

ountless times-on billboards, o

air. The De

ternet had collective

fell over his forehea

He

o

sn't t

s and swiped past without a seco

s had fla

r for a moment, neithe

but his eyes were just hovering over me l

ked up the bottle of whiskey and poured hi

ed. "Ex

me even further. "You look di

pretty, at least.

reeling in confusion. "Wh

e desk, settled into the chair behind it, and put his feet up

slightly. "I don't-I'm sorry, I don

as though I hadn't spoken. "Sit in the stands dur

own for the season, they're arranging a fiancee, I ne

understand what's h

dollars, per month

e to get my

er per week, you'

t under

media presence, nothing exce

TO

out louder tha

e, his eyes widening in a way that suggested t

y fingers to my temple, "a

he hadn't heard a word I'd said. "

ed my

or fle

ed to her chest, her eyes widening in surprise. She looke

wrong Flora