Page 88 of Spark
Me: This would be absolutely perfect, thank you so much for sending it to me.
James: I’m heading into town for a meeting in an hour or so if you want a ride down to the office?
Me: If you don’t mind, that would be amazing.
James: I don’t mind at all, see you in an hour.
Jumping out of bed, I race into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Ripping Warrick’s shirt over my head, I dump it onto the floor, then rush to get clean. Once I’m wrapped in a towel,I open the closet door and stare at all the new things Warrick bought me the other day. Most of it is casual, but this isn’t an interview, so I don’t want to dress like I think it is.
Pulling the wide-leg pants I wore to dinner the other night from the rail, I pair them with a simple white T-shirt and heeled sandals. I don’t have much makeup, so I slick on some lip gloss and a little mascara, then concentrate on my hair.
Dragging a brush through it, I try to decide what to do with it. It’s so long that blow-drying it takes forever, so instead I scroll through Pinterest until I find an easy, but stylish updo that I think I can make happen. Using the dryer that Warrick ordered for me, I blast-dry my hair until it’s dry enough that I can brush it into a high ponytail. Then I follow the step-by-step tutorial on how to twist it into a deliberately messy bun that surprisingly looks awesome.
By the time I stand in front of the mirror to assess my appearance, I’m shocked to find I look good. I forgot how it felt to stare at my reflection and not be ashamed by it. When I was working at BJ’s, I was disgusted by the way I looked, dressed up like an adult child to indulge the sick fantasies of the men who paid to watch me.
When I was taking showers in campground communal bathrooms, I hated watching the weight melt off me, constantly aware that I couldn’t find a job, didn’t have enough food, and was barely surviving.
Now as I look at my reflection, I can see some of the curves coming back to my figure. The black circles beneath my eyes from barely sleeping have faded, and the constant fear that had me jumping at the smallest sounds has abated.
I look happy, and I don’t remember ever looking like this before.
Not wanting to jinx things, I don’t tell Warrick about the job. Instead I grab my purse, lock the front door, then head over to James and Buck’s house a few doors down.
I knock on the door then wait.
“Come in,” James calls from inside.
Turning the handle, I tentatively push it open and find James on the couch, trying to slide her feet into heeled pumps.
“Do you need help?” I ask, rushing forward as she continues to struggle.
“Please,” she moans. “I love being pregnant, but my belly has gotten so big, I’m finding it hard to cope with any shoes that are more complicated to put on than slides.”
Taking her shoe from her, I help her slide her foot into one, then the other.
“Thank you,” she says, smiling widely as she hoists herself off the couch and to her feet.
“You look amazing,” I compliment her.
“Thanks, I have a reputation to protect, and I refuse to stop dressing the way I like to just because I’m having a baby.”
“A reputation?” I question.
“Yep. All the men I work with are terrified of me. They call me a hard-ass.” She laughs, her Barbie-blonde hair bouncing with the movement.
“Well, you look incredible.” And she does. She’s wearing a form-fitting dress that clings to her baby bump but still looks smart and sexy paired with a perfectly tailored suit jacket and sky-high pumps that make my feet hurt just looking at them.
“Thanks,” she says, easily taking the compliment as she grabs her purse and heads for the front door.
We chat easily on the ride down the mountain, and when she parks outside a fancy-looking restaurant, I’m glad that I’m familiar with the street and know where I am.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off at the ranger’s office?” she asks.
“No, I can walk from here, it’s only a couple of blocks.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to be a few hours, but I’m working from home this afternoon, so if you’re okay with hanging around till I’m done, I can give you a ride home later.”
“I don’t mind at all. I can grab a coffee or something.”
