Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Well, damn. That stings a bit, I must admit. Before I’ve figured out what to say to that, however, the tow truck’s engine roars to life. And then, off it goes, with my car hanging off its back.
As I watch my car being driven away to the tune of three hundred bucks I don’t have, I feel like I’m falling into a deep, dark hole. If it turns out the condo needs more than a fresh coat of paint, I’ll need to go into even more debt on my credit cards. And then what? Will I be able to flip the place for a profit in time to meet that deadline? If not, will I have to go on the run? I can’t imagine doing that, since I can’t go a single day without talking to Tessa. What would be the point of going on the run, if I’m living a miserable life without access to the people I love the most? What if Zach and Claire don’t remember their Auntie Charlotte by the time it’s safe for me to come out of hiding, if ever?
The boy bander slow-claps. “Wow, in addition to artfully faking knee injuries, you’re also brilliant at producing fake tears on command, too. Bravo, Charlotte.”
I wipe my wet cheeks and scowl. “Stop using my name. I didn’t tell it to you; I told it to your smoking-hot father—who, by the way, is a million times hotter than you.” I turn and march down the sidewalk to parts unknown. I know my retort wasn’t a clever one. Also, it wasn’t true. I only asked the silver fox to be my fake boyfriend, rather than his fit, hunky, dreamboat of a son, because I knew an older, rich guy would get under Brody’s skin far more than a young, fit, squeaky-clean, boy-bander type. Brody constantly says, “eat the rich!”, so who better to needle him with than an older dude with a flashy watch and a designer suit? Not to mention, thanks to the exchange of scowls I’d already had with the boy bander, I didn’t think he’d agree to help me, anyway.
“Wow, look at that knee go!” the asshole calls after me. “It’s a miracle, I tell ya. Praise Jesus.”
“Go fuck yourself!” I call back.
He laughs. “Oh, I will. First thing, when I get back home. And when I do it, rest assured, Charlotte, I’ll be thinking about you. Specifically, the look on your face when you saw your car hooked up to the tow truck!”
I don’t have a witty comeback for that one, so I continue marching up the sidewalk without looking back. When I turn a corner and know for certain my sworn enemy can’t see or hear me, however, I let my tears flow.
After a few blocks, I come upon a small neighborhood park, so I flop onto a bench and sob. When I feel able to speak, I pull out my phone and call Tessa.
“How’d it go?” Tessa asks brightly. “Did he hire you on the spot?”
“I blew it, Tessa. I fucked up.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
My chin trembles as I press my phone against my ear. “Will you come get me, T? Please?” I know I sound like a kindergartner with separation anxiety calling her mommy, but I can’t help it. I’m lost, at my lowest, and I need my bestie. The only good thing I’ve got going for me right now is my friendship with this amazing woman and the fact that I’ll never have to see that petty, vindictive, tow-truck-calling boy bander, ever again.
“I’ve got your location,” Tessa says, instantly flipping into fixer mode. “I’m coming now.”
“I fucked up, T,” I murmur, sniffling. “I really, really fucked up.”
“Anything is fixable. It’s gonna be okay.”
“Thank you, Tessa. I’m sorry.”
“I’m coming now. Hang in there, love. I’m coming right now.”
5
AUGGIE
“Yeah, no worries, Mom. I’m sure I’ll find another internship. If not, I’ll get a job as a barista or something this summer. It’ll be fine.” I’m honestly not confident it’ll be fine, but I don’t want my mother worrying about me.
I’m heading down the long hallway toward my unit at the end, and I’m somehow acting much calmer than I actually feel during this phone call. In truth, after losing out on that coveted internship this morning, thanks to the craziness that happened with Charlotte, I don’t have high hopes I’ll find something else. At least, nothing as amazing as the internship that slipped through my fingers morning. Apparently, busy veterinarians interrupting their day for internship interviews aren’t impressed by candidates who arrive twenty minutes late for no good reason and appear frazzled and out of sorts once they finally show up. Go figure.
I decide to change the subject. Mom and her fiancé, Henry, are sitting in an Uber, as we speak, on their way to the airport for a long visit with my brother, Max, and his family in California, so I ask, “Do you need me to pick you up from the airport when you get back in two weeks?”