“For now,” he said, and scratched at his ponytail. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but whatever it was, she really didn’t want to hear it. She smiled and said, “I better go or I’ll be late.”
“Yep.” He stepped out of the way. He watched as she and Baxter walked to her car, rubbing his nape like he didn’t quite know what to do with this plot twist.
He was still standing there when Carly pulled out of the gate.
She dialed her dad as soon as she was out of the neighborhood. “Good morning, Peach!”
“Hi—”
“No, sweetie, not there. The other cabinet.”
Carly winced at the thought of her father starting his day with Hannah. She pictured the long legs, the skimpy T-shirt.
“Sorry,” her dad said. “So good to hear from you, Peach! I thought maybe I upset you. But you know, Carly, I’m still very much a man with needs, and I—”
“Dad!” she said before he could explain his needs. “You didn’t upset me. I was surprised, that’s all.”
“Well, I can understand that. I guess between my relationship and your mother’s ridiculous idea to fly off to Vegas—”
“How do you know that?” she asked, then shook her head. “Never mind. I’m kind of in a rush, and, Dad, I need to ask you something.”
“Sure! What do you need?”
“A loan,” she said. “My business, my life, such that it is, is not going well, and I could lose my house.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry to hear that. But what about that kid you’re working for?”
“That kid by himself is not enough to pay the new rent that starts next month. And Gordon Romero and I parted company.”
“Who?”
“The guy with the circles.”
“Oh. Right. Well, how much are we talking?”
Carly had always made her own way. She had never had to borrow a dime, and to have to start now made her feel ill. “I’m thinking . . . five?”
There was silence on the other end for a moment. “Five hundred?”
“Five thousand,” she said softly. “I know it’s a lot, but until I get another client, I need some help. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can. With interest.”
“Oh. Well,” he said. “I don’t know about that, Peach. I put a lot of money into the time-shares. And Hannah wants to go to the beach for Thanksgiving.”
Carly held the phone away from her ear. “Shit,” she said. She put the phone back to her ear. Her dad was still talking. “Maybe a thousand? I could spare that. And, you know, you could make some calls for me.”
“Calls?”
“To friends and family. Maybe a few cold calls, but let’s exhaust who we know first. You were always very persuasive. I think you’d do a great job selling time-shares. And for every time-share you sell, you’re paid a percentage.”
Carly was so dumbstruck that she had to swerve to miss the bumper of the car that stopped suddenly in front of her. “Dad, please don’t take this the wrong way. But I am not going to sell time-shares. I’m in public relations. Not sales.”
He chuckled. “You’re the one calling and asking for money, Carly. I’m just trying to help out.”
“I appreciate it. But . . .” But what? Was she going to just give up and die and sell time-shares? “But I’ll figure something out.”
“Have you asked your mother? She got quite a lot of money in the divorce, and if she hasn’t flitted it all away, there might be something left. Better get it before she gives it to this new guy. Who knows with her? She was never very thrifty, but somehow, her spending habits are my fault because I didn’t make enough—”
“Can I call you later?” Carly asked.
“Sure, Carly. And, listen, for every valley, there is a peak.”
“Right. Thanks.” She hung up and swallowed back the heartburn that had climbed into the back of her eyes.
She tried to figure out another way to get by as she drove to Victor’s studio. Sell her car? She could Uber around town. But with the rush hour traffic around here, the surge pricing would eat through what she thought she could save in gas and insurance in no time. There were the ubiquitous electric scooters on every corner for rent. But really? When temperatures in the summer sat at the century mark?
She could put some of her handbags on a consignment site to sell. But she had no idea how long that would take. Would she