Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,13
place I’d want to work and feel proud about.
“You can’t be serious. It’s the far end of the earth.” Claire is not letting this go. “Like add eight hours to everything you want to do. Go to Europe. Visit your parents. Come see us. Canada has the worst flights I’ve ever seen.”
“I know.” I lower my gaze. “But Josh has an apartment in Van, so I could stay there in the beginning until I find my own place. Being jobless and three months away from homelessness is not how I saw twenty-eight going for me.”
“Okay, but would you honestly break up with a billionaire to take a job in Vancouver?” Claire’s face is flooded with confusion.
“I don’t care about the billionaire part—”
“Lies. Every girl cares about that much money. That’s never working for the rest of your life and buying houses for fun. Stop with your ‘I don’t care that he’s richer than anyone else we know.’” She rolls her eyes.
“You know I wouldn’t be with him for money. And I want to work.” I laugh at her “buying houses for fun” comment because Sami and Nat do that. “I like him. But we just started seeing each other. I can’t make a decision based on a guy I hardly know.” I lift my eyebrows. “If money was off the table and he was a poor—florist, would your advice be the same?”
“No, of course not. I’d say take the job.” She shrugs. “And I’d miss you every single day.” She pauses. “Why a florist?”
I nod at the window, toward the florist shop across the street.
“Right.” She takes a sip of her tea and taps her finger against the tiny mug. “You’re taking the job, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know.” It’s the truth but I think deep down we both know I will.
Her eyes narrow. “We’ll see. But changing the subject, can we talk about how big your boobs are in that shirt? What’s happening here?”
“It’s the bra. It’s one of those push-up ones you wear when you’re a teenager. I haven’t done laundry since the move so I’m down to the bottom of the drawer. It’s killing me. I haven’t worn it in ages, and I’m for sure up ten pounds since I stopped playing so much hockey.”
“You’re the only girl I know who gains ten pounds of tits and ass. So not fair. I gain ten pounds and it’s all chin.”
We laugh.
“Actually, my thighs have taken the brunt of it. But I appreciate you lying to spare my feelings.” My phone vibrates and Lori’s face flashes on the screen. I almost consider not answering but dodging him because I’m too chicken to tell him about the job is unacceptable. It’s time to face the music. “Do you mind?” I ask.
“No, my God.” She laughs. “Get you some sexy billionaire ass.” She winks.
“Hey,” I answer and roll my eyes at her.
“Hi, are you busy?” He sounds like he just woke up, though it’s lunchtime.
“No,” I lie.
“I was thinking about coming out to see the new digs, since I haven’t been to Woodlawn before. I don’t know where Woodlawn is, to be honest.” He chuckles.
“Oh God, why?” I cringe at Claire. “Don’t travel all the way out to Woodlawn to see me. I’ll come to you.”
Claire makes a face in agreement.
“I want to. I have something important to ask you. I’m getting in the car now.”
“Okay wait.” I close my eyes, confessing, “I’m at sushi with my friend Claire in the South. You’ll beat me to my place by at least half an hour if we both leave now. How about I meet you somewhere?”
“No, send me the address and I’ll pick you up.”
“O-okay. See you in a bit.” I end the call and hesitantly share my location with him. As much as I want to see him, I don’t want him to see my apartment or hear my news.
“He wants to see your place?” She wrinkles her nose.
“Yeah.” I sigh heavily, aware that his apartment and mine couldn’t possibly be more different. Mine’s a postwar brick building with original woodwork, pink countertops, and narrow doorways and hallways.
“He’s coming from his penthouse at the Plaza in some fancy-ass car and driving you to Woodlawn Heights?” Her tone is how I feel.
“Yup.” I swallow hard.
“Can you film his response when he sees those pink countertops and send it to me?”
“Shut up!” I swat her and laugh but the idea of him there makes my insides clench as we stand and put money in