Page 61 of Plus Size Player

“We can do both,” Taisha responded expressively. “Let’s exchange numbers. I’ll start a group chat.”

“Is anyone available tomorrow?” Matias asked. “We could get together before I catch my flight.”

“I have plans tomorrow,” I replied quickly.

Taisha nodded. “Yeah, so do I.”

“I can only do tomorrow,” Jonah pointed out. “My schedule is kind of tight this week. But I’m free Thursday night.”

“I have a class on Thursday, but it’s over at seven,” Jacqueline mentioned.

“What if we just go somewhere and plan something out tonight?” Taisha proposed. “We’re all here now. We’re all availablenow. It shouldn’t take that long. Let’s finish up here and then meet somewhere to plan this out.”

“We could go to Al’s Diner,” I suggested.

Matias’s eyes lit up. “I love that place!”

“I see you have good taste,” Jonah flirted, not taking his eyes off me.

My lips curled into a smile. “You would be correct.”

“Let’s wrap up here in, say… thirty minutes?” Jacqueline looked at the time on her phone. “And then thirty minutes to get there and get parked—”

“We meet in an hour and fifteen minutes,” Matias interjected. “Some of us may need to make sure our dates get home before arriving at the diner.”

I nodded. “Okay, that’s cool. So we’ll meet at Al’s Diner in an hour and fifteen minutes.” I looked at the beautiful faces that surrounded me and smiled. “Sounds good.”

We said our goodbyes and scattered.

We all needed to use the next thirty minutes wisely before we left, to make sure we talked to everyone who was of importance and networked with the litany of guests whose successes in fashion, television, and/or business got them an invitation.

I made my rounds while also keeping an eye out for Russ. I wondered if his business worked closely with the fashion world or if he was an investor. Either way, I hoped he closed whatever deal he was trying to close.

“… and that’s why it’s important to have representation,” a woman who said she was on the board finished telling me.

I nodded politely. “Representation is important.”

She had made that same point three times.

“I hate to cut this short, but my ride is probably outside waiting for me.” I pointed to the huge clock high on the wall.

When she looked up at it, her eyes widened. “Oh, wow! I’ve let time get away from me. I need to find my husband so we can get home and relieve the sitter.”

We said our goodbyes and I headed to the door. Casting one last look around and not seeing Russ, I pulled out my phone.

Nina: A thing just popped up with the people I was meeting, but I will be at your hotel on time in the morning.

I was just about to walk into Al’s Diner to meet the other models when I received a text back.

Russ: My meeting ran longer than expected. Let me know when you make it home. It doesn’t matter the time. Good luck with your work thing and I’ll see you in the morning.

“You have a beautiful smile,” Jonah commented, startling me.

His unexpected presence forced my eyes up from my phone to meet his.

“Thank you,” I replied, slipping my phone in my bag. “Where did you come from? I didn’t hear you walk up.”

He opened the door to the diner wider. “They gave us that table right there at the window, so I saw you coming.” His lips spread into a slow smile. “And I wasn’t about to let you open the door for yourself. After you.”

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