Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Still, I changed into a suit, braved the rapidly decreasing fall temperatures with my winter coat even though Court made fun of me for it, and headed to the mayor’s campaign office.
With the temperature change, the traffic was brutal. I was used to it coming from LA, but it was still a pain in the ass. Especially as my nerves hit me fresh. I usually varied heavily between extreme self-doubt and unwavering confidence. As long as the confidence hit when I needed it to, I could fool anyone into believing the self-doubt never existed.
The cab finally pulled up in front of the mayor’s campaign office, and I headed inside about twenty minutes early. Thank fuck I’d left well in advance.
I pulled off my jacket as soon as I stepped inside, slung it over my arm, and went in search of Lark. Her assistant was seated at her desk and smiled brightly at me.
“Hey, English,” she said cheerfully.
“Hey, is Lark in?”
“Sure thing. Go ahead.”
“Thanks, Aspen.”
I passed her assistant and strode into the room to find Lark piled under mounds of paperwork up to her ears. With empty coffee cups littering every free surface.
“Is Lark under there somewhere?” I asked with a laugh.
Lark popped her head up. “English, hey! I didn’t know you were coming by.” She checked the time. “Did we have plans? I swear I didn’t forget. It’s just been crazy, and you know… it’s less than two weeks until the election.”
I held up my hand. “We didn’t have plans. Breathe.”
“Thank god,” she said with a sigh.
“I have a meeting with Leslie.”
“What about?”
I bit my lip. “Probably because I quit Poise.”
Lark’s eyes bulged. “You did what?”
I explained to her what had gone down between Josh and Margery and how I’d left Poise behind for good.
“What are you going to do?” she gasped frantically.
“Uncertain. Court kind of suggested I should start my own company.”
“Wait, we’re giving Court credit? I said that months ago!”
I laughed. “You did. I give you credit.”
“Are you going to do it?”
“I’m looking into it at least. I have to talk to Leslie first. My contract for Court was through Poise. So, technically… we don’t work together anymore.”
Lark clapped her hands together in excitement. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
I shook my head and then nodded and then shrugged. “I don’t know what you think it means.”
“That you and Court are an item.”
“Well… he said we were together. But I didn’t say anything back. I don’t know exactly.”
“Oh my god,” Lark gasped and jumped up. She dragged me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you. I know, after Josh, things were so bad, but Court seems to make you happy.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I whispered my fear out loud.
“Does it feel too soon?”
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “It’s only been three months, and Josh and I were together for five years. But… I like being with him.”
“Then, I don’t think it’s too soon. Someone else might say that because they don’t know you. But I know that you wouldn’t rush into anything unless it felt right. I’m surprised it’s Court,” she said with another laugh, “but also glad it is. He’s changed because of you. And you seem so much happier.”
I flushed at the words. I’d always thought I was happy with Josh, that things were perfect. But maybe I’d just had such fucked up expectations that I’d dismissed his behavior too easily. I’d thought he was perfect when really he just wasn’t quite as douchey as the guys I was used to. Until he was.
“It’s kind of a relief to say it out loud. And to not have to hide it anymore. I didn’t like lying.”
“I know what you mean,” Lark said seriously. “It only gets easier from here.”
I held up my hand. “Fingers crossed.”
“Let’s get dinner after your meeting. Or coffee!”
“Do you need more coffee?” I asked, gesturing to her desk.
“What kind of question is that? Everyone needs more coffee.”
I shook my head. “All right. Coffee Grounds after!”
I smiled at my friend and then headed back into the main office space. Leslie’s office was at the very end of the hall. I’d met her there when I came out to interview for the position. We’d mostly communicated through email about Court’s progress since then. For some reason, it felt even more daunting, walking toward her office now than it had before.
I knocked twice and heard someone inside say, “Come in.”
I turned the knob and entered. Leslie was seated at a large desk. It was immaculate in comparison to Lark’s mayhem. This was her second office, but I knew her main office at City Hall was equally perfect.
“Ah, Anna. Good. Right on time,” Leslie said. “Shut the door and take a seat.”
I shut the door behind me, closing me in with Court’s mother. I hadn’t felt this anxious about a meeting in a long time. But this wasn’t a normal meet-the-parents endeavor. And I didn’t know how it was going to go.