Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Cue internal screaming.
The only thing keeping me from melting into a puddle on the floor is my determination to be early to our hike, so I don’t keep him waiting.
When’s your birthday?
He texted me earlier.
You said it’s coming up.
Valentine’s day.
I want to ask why he wants to know, but before I work up the nerve to be flirty, he texts back.
I’ll have to get you a good present.
Squee!!!
I can’t believe this is happening. A date with Dr. Hunk? What even is my life? At this rate, I’ll be done with my New Year’s list by my birthday. All my baby steps are adding up to big changes.
Even my old familiar bedroom is transformed. No more dusty participation trophies or boy band posters on the walls. I cleaned out my closet and donated all my clothes from my high school years. Goodbye baggy t-shirts and uncomfortable jeans. Now everything I reach for flatters my wide hips and big, gorgeous butt. Thanks to Lana Langmeyer and her GoddessWear, I’m learning to embrace my style.
And my room no longer feels like a child’s. It doesn’t remind me of the person I used to be.
Now I just need to upgrade my makeup look. Missy was supposed to come over and help, but her mom needed her in Sante Fe for a family event, so she’s talking me through it over the phone. My favorite unicorn stuffie, Mr. Sparkles, holds my phone. Because I’m a grown-ass woman, but I’ll treasure my stuffies forever.
My goal is to figure out how to apply eyeliner without stabbing myself in the cornea.
“I’m just saying you would love it,” Missy says. I have her on speakerphone. She was telling me how to do a cat-eye, but got side-tracked talking about her new life in L.A. She moved out there last year to make a go at her acting career, but she ran out of money and is home living with her parents in Santa Fe while she regroups. “Hollywood is so amazing.”
“I know you love it, but I don’t think it’s for me. You’re there to break into acting. What would I even do?”
“You work at a coffee shop. You can get a job anywhere.”
Ouch.
I frown. “I’m a manager at Daisy Day. I set my own hours. I have a lot of creative control.” I don’t just make lattes. I do the books and plan the marketing campaigns. Daisy is busy with being mayor and all her side projects. The cafe’s success is something I’m proud of, something I intend to build off.
A big move to the West Coast would be fun. But I’ve already made big changes–they might seem small to the outside world, but they were big for me. My self-esteem has grown by leaps and bounds.
I’ve been wearing crop tops more often, too, and I look cute!
I have big, big plans, but they’re still in the incubator. I haven’t shared them with anyone. So all I say is, “I love Bad Bear. I don’t want to leave.”
“I know you love Bad Bear, but do you ever want something more?”
I do, actually. I want to expand the cafe–that’s why I’m taking small business classes to study the best way to do it. I’m tempted to tell this to Missy, but I imagine her wrinkling her nose in disbelief and asking why I would even attempt something like this. All she sees is me pulling espresso shots. That’s all anyone sees. And I’m fine with it.
“In Hollywood, we could live together. It’d be so much fun.”
Hmm, up until now I’ve been flattered that she’s inviting me to go with her, but maybe she just needs someone to help her pay rent.
“I’m sure you can find an awesome roommate,” I say gently. “Maybe someone who’s trying to be an actress too.”
“I’m not trying to be an actress,” Missy snips. “I am one. I’ve been in three commercials.”
For her dad’s Santa Fe dealership. When she was sixteen. I know her dreams are bigger, but it seems she hasn’t had much success in Hollywood. She hasn’t shared this with me, but I can tell. Her usually bubbly enthusiasm is fraying at the seams. She doesn’t want her peak to be winning Miss New Mexico Teen at age fourteen.
She sighs. “Sorry I snapped at you. It’s just…everyone there is so cutthroat. If I roomed with another aspiring actress, I’d be afraid she’d shave off my hair in my sleep. Something to sabotage me.”
I wince. “That’s awful.”
“I’m all alone out there. You’re my best friend; you’ve always been there for me.”
“That’s what friends do. But I have my own life.” I put down the eyeliner. I’ll save the make-up lesson for another time.
“I’m sorry,” she says again. “I’m supposed to be helping you get ready for your date.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’ll make it up to you. But honestly, Maisy, you don’t really need my help,” she says. “You’re beautiful without any makeup, you always have been. Your skin is perfect.” She sounds wistful, almost envious, but that’s ridiculous. Missy is a literal beauty queen. Why would she be jealous of me?