Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Then, I texted Clint.
Fifteen minutes later, Clint and I were sitting on my couch, watching ESPN, with several containers of Chinese takeout on the coffee table.
“Not that I’m not happy to get out of the house,” Clint said. “Especially since the wife and kids are gone for the long weekend, but what’s the trouble?”
I shook my head. “Nothing,” I lied.
Clint raised an eyebrow. “Well, whatever, man,” he said. “I guess I should really be thanking you. Every time I’m home alone now, I turn into a total pig.”
I snorted. “Yeah, because sitting around with this shit is so healthy,” I said as I gestured to the pile of junk food.
Clint shrugged. “What’s new with you, anyway?”
I filled him in about HAUTESCENE and the spread they were doing on me.
“That doesn’t really sound like you,” Clint said.
I frowned. I didn’t want him to know that the only reason I was doing something so self-indulgent was because of a possible chance to reconnect with Harper, but I didn’t want him to think I was a pussy, either.
“I ... I dunno, I thought it would be a good break from work,” I lied.
Clint nodded. If he could tell that I was lying, he didn’t show it.
“The people from the magazine are coming over tomorrow,” I said. I took a long pull of my beer and shook my head. “A fucking fashion shoot, like I’m some girl. Can you believe that?”
“Your dad would have a shit fit,” Clint said.
I snickered, thinking about how my parents would call me weak and spineless for doing something like that. Not that I wanted to spite them, but it was kind of a funny thought.
Then, I thought about Harper, and the fact that she’d be inside my apartment in less than twenty-four hours.
“Come on,” I said as I got to my feet.
“What?” Clint groaned.
“You’re gonna help me go through my closet,” I said, finishing the last of my beer. “I have to look sharp tomorrow.”
Clint laughed. “Man, my wife is going to have a fit when I tell her about this,” he said, still laughing.
I laughed, too. It was ridiculous, the lengths I was going to trying to get close to Harper again.
But if it worked, then it would be more than worth it.
10
Harper – Saturday
As soon as I opened the front door of my apartment, Ada rushed between my legs and immediately began clinging to my dad.
“Hey, sprout,” my father said to Ada as he scooped her up with one arm and held her on his hip. Ada giggled and blew raspberries and Dad leaned forward to hug me with his free arm.
“Hey,” I said. “Thanks for coming. I’m really sorry about this – I can’t promise that it’s going to be the last time, either.”
My dad chuckled. He came into my apartment and still holding Ada, kicked off his shoes by the front door.
“I don’t mind,” he said as he tousled Ada’s hair before gently setting her down on the couch. “Gives me some time with my favorite granddaughter.”
“Pop-pop, I’m your only granddaughter,” Ada whined, and both my father and I laughed.
“Wait a few years,” Dad teased. “Uncle Toph might finally be settling down.”
I blinked. It was hard for me to remember that my brother was thirty – no longer a kid, but a real man.
“Stop,” I said in a mock-serious voice. “You’re making me feel so old!”
“You are old, Mommy,” Ada said. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes and I groaned, pretended to clutch my chest, then fell back on the couch. Being with my father and daughter was so relaxing that I never wanted to leave the apartment, even though I had to head into the HAUTESCENE offices for my first photoshoot with Nico.
It wasn’t fair, I didn’t even understand why I had to be there. I wasn’t a photographer or a writer, and I’d already done my part, which was to write up the interview answers in a cute little column that would be published online along with the photos.
But it wasn’t like I could say no. I felt like Nell was breathing down my neck, just waiting for me to make a mistake. As much as I liked and respected my boss, I was starting to wish that I’d found a job in a different industry than fashion. Nell may have been no-bullshit, but she could be kind of a tiger at times.
Either way, I’d grit my teeth and do whatever it was that I had to do in order to succeed.
“When do you think you’ll be back?” Dad asked.
I looked down at my watch and shrugged. “To be honest, I have no idea – I’ve never been on set for anything like this.”
Dad nodded. He settled down on the other end of the couch and Ada flung herself onto his lap and perched on his knee.