Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
I spent the day working up several new ads for a health food company who wanted the whole package. From billboards to Google ads and social media placements. I’m not going to lie; I think they’re going to love them all. Their branding and messaging is solid. Still, it’s always a good idea to sleep on it, and look at it with fresh eyes the next day. It’s already six anyway; I can email the files for approval tomorrow.
When I stand up I have to crack my neck and back I’m so sore. And then I try to down the rest of my coffee but I find it empty. Oh how I wish Tracey were here now with a hot cup to keep me from falling over. I probably need some water to balance out the crapload of caffeine I put in my body today.
I head to the small kitchen to the right of the elevators, where they keep a filtered water cooler and stumble on Diane, who’s talking with Elaine and Karan, two coworkers from a couple of floors up.
“Oh! Hey,” I say, tossing my coffee cup in the trash can next to them. “I didn’t realize anybody was still here.”
“I saw you at your desk, but you had your headphones on,” says Karan, a pretty girl of Middle Eastern descent. She has a bit of British in her accent, though it’s slowly fading. “I thought it would be better not to disturb you.”
“Yeah,” I admit sheepishly. “Thank you; I appreciate it. I banged out three packages today and I’m wiped.
“Elaine was just telling us about getting hit on at the bar,” Diane says. “Right, Elaine?”
Elaine is the new girl at our company. She has dark hair and porcelain skin, which turns bright red at Diane’s statement.
“Well, I wouldn’t say hit on,” she stammers. “I was just saying, a guy I’ve liked for a while talked to me for a long time last night.”
“Oooh,” I let the word drag on, moving past them and grabbing a paper cup, “That sounds like a win of a night. How did it end? You get his number?”
Before Elaine can do anything other than shake her head, Diane teases, “I hear that our Grace got asked out by that hot bartender Charlie.”
I freeze with the empty cup in my hand. Everyone who knows Diane at all has been introduced to Mac's, and by association, Charlie. I shoot Diane a look as I fill the glass with water, but she ignores it. I like to keep some things private, but nothing is private with Diane.
“He asked you out?” Elaine says. “You have to tell us all about it!” She’s far too excited, but it only makes me giddy. He did kiss me on the cheek. I nearly blurt it out, but feel a blush rise instead and take a drink of the cold water rather than speak.
“Yeah, 'cause Charlie is dreamy,” Karan says, practically drooling.
I laugh trying to shake it off, “It’s not that big of a deal.” It really isn’t. “I’m just doing him a favor really.”
“Spill!” Diane says. “We all want to know how you managed to snare him.”
My gaze narrows at the manner in which Diane just made that statement. How could a girl like me snare a man like him? Insecurity steeps through every inch of me slowly. I didn’t. I couldn’t. That’ s how. I’ll be damned if that doesn’t hurt to admit. I won’t; I take another sip instead, pretending that the truth doesn’t feel like stepping into a cold ice bath.
“Don’t say it like that,” Karan says to Diane before turning back to face me. “Jeez. She didn’t mean it like that, Grace.”
“Right,” I chuckle and sip my water again, it’s nearly gone already. With a careless shrug from Diane and a, “I’m just curious,” response from her, the hurt turns to anger. I’m pissed at Diane, but there’s no reason to start a fight over something so small. Jealous much? My inner voice snarks. I let the tension out of my shoulders as I grip the cup with both hands and lean against the counter.
“I’d still like to hear,” Elaine says, blushing. “I mean, Charlie is grade A hot.”
“So tell us,” Diane commands.
“He invited me to his sister’s wedding,” I say. “It’s not really a date—”
The girls howl appreciatively, which makes me smile. That bit of happiness coming back.
“He invited you to a wedding because he’s trying to tell you how he feels!” Elaine says, excited. Elaine’s blush is contagious, finding its way to my face. She’s so sweet and is constantly reading those romance novels with hot men on the covers during her lunch break. She’s a romantic at heart, but I like the way she thinks.
“No, he invited her because he knows that weddings are an amorous atmosphere, and he wants to get in her pants.” Karan corrects with a growing smile.