Page 7 of When Glitter Meets Gold

Amber looks at me shaking her head and whispers, “I’m not fucking going.”

Sneering laughter comes from beside me. “You’re not going anywhere in those, Kirby.” Walter points at my feet. “Break your neck in those things.” Then, he points to Drew’s feet. “Now those are more like it. Running shoes. Practical, robust. Ready for adventure.”

Drew smiles. “We were just talking about that.” Damn it, damn it, damn it. I cannot get into a conversation aboutadventurein front of everyone. “Right Sara? We’re getting this girl back into running.” Drew points at me with his thumb.

“Back?” Kandi sneers. “Sara doesn’t run. You don’t run, right?” She eyes me.

“She doesn’t run.” Francis confirms, pouting as he dabs on lip balm. “You told me that when I asked you to help metrain for that half marathon last year. You said, ‘Over my dead body am I engaging in that bullshit.’Remember?”

I clear my throat, gritting my teeth. “Yes Francis, I do remember, but that was only because I was taking a break and had simply lost my passion.” I glare at him. I don’t even have to think anymore, the lies just keep coming out. “And now, I’mback.” I look from him to Kandi.

“Exactly,” Amber says beaming, flicking her ponytail so high it smacks Kandi in the face.

“Pfft.” Walter makes the sound while shaking his head. “Come on Kirby, running toward a Macy’s sale doesn’t count.” He laughs as the elevator doors open and we all get out. Drew frowns, moving to a space in the lobby to perform a few stretches.

“Oh totally.” Kandi agrees, fake laughing. “Sara, if you had to run for the last subway on earth, you’d probably die on the platform. You hate anything that could mess up your hair.”

Her and Walter explode into fits of laughter. Raj and Francis shrug, grinning too because apparently the idea that I could put any effort into anything apart from giving myself the perfect blow-out, is hilarious.

“Sorry Kirby, I don’t mean to laugh.” Walter scratches his fifty something salt and pepper hair. He steps toward me, blocking everyone else out. “While I’ve got you alone...” I frown because everyone is still very much within earshot. “I heard through the grapevine you’re interested in the Marketing Director’s position.” My entire body freezes as I glare over at Kandi as she laughs with Drew. Of course she told Walter. “Listen, I’d hold off applying for a role like that for now. It’s a tough job, not to mention it requires a degree of traveling. I need someone adventurous.”That word again.

My eyes drift back to Kandi who appears to be joining in with Drew’s warm up stretches.

“Adventurous. Okay,” I say attempting to hide the way my body feels like a deflated beachball that’s washed up beneath the pier.

Kandi turns her back on Drew, dramatically extending both arms above her head before folding forward in some kind of weird yoga position. Her hands reach in front of her while her butt is in the air. My eyes bulge out of my skull as I watch for Drew’s reaction.

Don’t look at her ass, don’t look at her ass.

“That’s right. I need someone with courage, determination,” Walter says. I look between him and Drew.Don’t look at her ass.“You’re great at your job, but I don’t know, there’s something missing. You’ll get your promotion when that missing piece appears, okay?”

Drew looks at Kandi’s ass.

“For the love of God, come on!” I shriek, startling everyone around me.

Walter looks at me. “Kirby?”

I breathe out weak laughter, attempting to cushion my outburst. I’ve never felt this vulnerable or exposed at work. I always thought my job was the one thing I had control over, no matter how terrible things were in my personal life. I need to fix this, I need to apply all reason and logic to regain control over the situation.

“What I meant to say was, come on, I can’t believe you don’t know about…my trip. Myadventuroustrip.” Reason and logic withers and dies as the pinnacle of all lies spills out of me. Everyone shuffles around me, forming a circle that feels more like a cage. I have no choice but to keep going. “A trip that I’ve been training for.”

The circle falls silent. Amber looks more confused than I’ve ever seen her.

Kandi crosses her arms and juts out her hip. “Well, what is it?”

Everyone looks at me with expectant wide eyes.

An audible gulp escapes from my trembling throat.

“I’m training for something…that requires a lot of training.”

Kandi rolls her eyes.

“That’s awesome,” Drew says. His puppy dog eyes glow from genuine excitement.

His enthusiasm is the only thing carrying me through this, giving me the strength to finally exclaim, “I’m training to go on a hike.”

“A hike? Where?” Walter asks a little suspiciously, but at least he isn’t laughing which means I might just have his attention long enough to make this sound believable.

---