Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I laugh.
“Fall in love? Who said anything about that?”
She looks thoughtful on screen.
“I’m just saying, honey. I care about you, and I know you have a soft heart. Remember that bird you found, and how you wanted to adopt him? You kept him in your apartment for two days before turning him over to the SPCA.”
I nod, looking down.
“I liked Bananapopsicle,” I say in a low voice. “I wanted to heal him.”
“I know,” Lucy says sympathetically. “And it was cute how you named him Bananapopsicle. But that’s the thing, Sarah. You have a soft heart and you’ll give it to the first man who asks, so just brace yourself okay? Put up some walls around your heart.”
I nod.
“Of course. I’ve only seen this client once, so really, it’s nothing.”
But then my pal gets a wicked look in her eye.
“So how was the sex?” she giggles. “Good or bad?”
I giggle a bit myself before going serious.
“Honestly, it was the best sex I’ve ever had,” I say, going into a bit of a trance thinking about Braden. “And he was huge too. I didn’t think I’d be able to handle him at first, but he made it work.”
Lucy giggles.
“You go, girlfriend! Oh my god, why am I so pregnant right now? I have to live vicariously through you.”
I pause, shooting her a curious look.
“Don’t you have pregnant sex though?” I ask. “Brandon loves how you look, so I’m surprised that he’s not … well, you know.”
My friend laughs as her daughter Nora runs on-screen. She scoops up the little girl and nuzzles her curls.
“Oh, Brandon’s definitely into my pregnant shape,” she giggles. “Daddy loves Mommy, and makes sure she knows it every night. But I’m just saying be careful, okay Sarah? Don’t lose your head, no matter what.”
“Of course not,” I reply smartly. “And thank you for making me do this,” I add. “I have five-thousand dollars in the bank because of you, and I’m actually going to call the bank this afternoon to get the foreclosure conversation rolling. Of course, it’s not enough, but it’s a starting point.”
Lucy claps her hands together excitedly. “I knew this would be good for you! Make sure you’re saving some of the money for yourself though, girlfriend. You deserve it.”
I nod.
“I will. It’ll help a lot with bills and tuition because you know I’ve been eating a lot of ramen and canned beans recently.”
Suddenly, there’s a sharp cry behind Lucy and her expression goes exasperated.
“I think Nora needs some attention, so I’ve got to run, but have fun tonight, okay? I want to hear how it goes.”
I nod.
“I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you!”
“Love you more!” she sings.
We hang up and I check myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and I have a big smile on my face. I guess I can thank Braden McLean for that, but then I try to calm myself down. Lucy’s right because he’s just a client, and I can’t let myself get emotionally involved. In fact, I have another date tonight, so I need to clear my mind of Braden and focus on my next client.
Quickly, I step into the shower and lather up. I’m still a bit sore down there, but the ache is bearable and quite nice. But I put that out of my mind again. Although it’s difficult to believe, I’m now “that woman” – the kind that makes love to two different men on consecutive days. It’s crazy, but if my customer tonight is handsome and pleasant, then why not?
Resolved, I step out of the shower and head to the closet. My date tonight asked me to meet him at an upscale restaurant in Midtown called L’Atelier, which name sounds fancy in and of itself. I’ve obviously never been, but I looked up pictures to make sure I knew what I was getting into, and sure enough, it’s an elegant restaurant that appears to serve French food with a modern twist.
Surveying the contents of my closet, I choose a short, black skirt and a silky red blouse. The blouse gives a hint of my décolletage, showcasing the shadow between my breasts. But it’s modest too, with full sleeves and a ruby color that brings out glints of red in my hair. I slip into the same high heels that I had on yesterday and then grab a black leather clutch before fluffing out my curls. Hopefully, tonight’s date is just as successful as the previous one.
Upon reaching the restaurant, my stomach dances with excited butterflies. The maître d’ is very polite and directs me to the bar because my date hasn’t arrived yet. I seat myself on the stool and turn to the bartender before ordering champagne with a smile. Why not? City Girls has turned out far better than I ever expected.
Suddenly, a low growl sounds behind my shoulder.