Page 21 of Wrecked
Both Lizzy and Harper did their best to hide their smiles whereas Logan threw his head back and laughed. Eli grunted something as he stood and headed toward Chase.
"You're not so bad, Miss. Mazda," this coming from Logan.
For the first time since I'd arrived in Willow Creek, I felt some of the tension leave my body. "Thanks, I guess?"
Lizzy scooted over and took the empty chair next to me, "So, you were on your way to see a client right?" When I nodded, she continued, "What is it that you do exactly?"
Usually, when people asked Zoe this question, her eyes would dance with happiness while she described the gallery and her love for art. I knew mine wouldn't. "The short answer: when a client needs to change the way the public views them, we step in and find a way to shine a positive light on them."
She seemed thoughtful for a moment. "What you're saying is, if—hypothetically speaking—the president was your client and he'd been caught with his fingers in the secretary's cookie jar, you'd step in and make it go away?"
"Sort of. We don't make it go away. There really is no such thing as bad publicity. We just make sure that the good outweighs the bad. For instance, in this hypothetical case, I'd arrange for the president to help out at soup kitchens or visit the children's ward…you know, things that tug at heartstrings and make him seem like a really great guy who only made one little mistake."
"Wow, that sounds interesting." Lizzy sounded as underwhelmed as I felt. After I'd introduced Brett to my parents for the first time, my dad had made no secret of the fact that he didn't like him. He'd cautioned that a boy like that would only drag me down and probably break my heart in the process. When it'd turned out that Dad was right about the last part, I'd stopped fighting them and figured that they knew what was best for me.
So, I ended up in a job that I didn't love.
Looking back, I didn't even know what came over me when I murmured, "It's not really. Most days I deal with insufferable, self-centered people who only care about themselves."
"Doesn't sound like you enjoy your job?" Harper remarked.
Where is Chase with that damn drink?"I don't."And why am I being this transparent?My skin started to itch as uneasiness pulled my muscles together. Besides Zoe, I'd never admitted to a single soul that I didn't like my job. And if anyone would ask me what my dream job would be, I wouldn't have an answer. The thing was; I hadn't made a decision for myself in years.
"You know," Harper's soft voice broke through the loudness of my thoughts. "You shouldn't be where you're unhappy. It will steal too much from you." There was a myriad of emotion in her voice, and when Logan's fingers brushed over her cheek, I knew there was a story there.
I sensed Brett's presence at the same time as a colorful drink was placed in front of me. Ignoring the strong pull to my left, I looked to my right and asked, "What's this?"
Chase waggled his brows and grinned, "Tequila Sunrise." He turned his attention to Lizzy, "You're in my seat."
She rolled her eyes and made a big show of inspecting the chair. "Funny, I don't see your name on it anywhere."
Laughing to myself, I turned my attention to my drink; the name was fitting. Out of nowhere, my mind drifted to the first time I'd met Brett. I'd been looking at a painting that had similar colors. I chanced a look to my left, and sure enough, those beautiful, intense eyes of his were still focused on me.
I wanted to yell:If you hate me so much, why are you looking at me like I'm something you want?Instead, I wrapped my lips around the straw and sucked down a good amount of my drink. This was dangerous, it tasted fruity and sweet, and I immediately went back for more.
Chatter had started up around the table. Harper and Lizzy were discussing where she could find a wedding dress, as Willow Creek had just about every kind of shop except a bridal boutique. Logan and Chase were in the middle of a heated discussion over which bike engine was the strongest. The bits of their conversation I heard sounded like Greek to me, so I just tuned them out. Brett and Eli didn't talk as much as grunt now and then when they didn't agree with something.
As I looked around the table, I found myself jealous of the connection these people had. Sure, I had Zoe, and I loved her like a sister, but she was all I had. My parents and even Dean didn't know who I really was underneath the business suits and pulled back hair. I couldn't really blame Dean for not knowing though. I'd made absolutely no effort to be anything less than what was expected of me.
"What doyouthink, Kenzie?"
At the sound of my name, I snapped back to reality and Lizzy's expectant gaze on me.
"Sorry, what?" I heard a slight whoosh in my ears, and my cheeks suddenly felt warm. Wanting to ease the dryness in my throat, I pulled my drink closer only to find it was empty.I can't even remember drinking the entire thing.
"I said Harper and I should take a trip down to Texas City, she'll definitely find a dress there."
"Yeah, for sure." I pushed to my feet to go get another drink but sat back down once Lola appeared with an entire tray of them. She aimed a smile at Brett before placing another Tequila Sunrise in front of me.
"Thank you," Eagerly, I pulled the drink closer.
"Enjoy." Her voice had an odd tone to it, but I ignored it just as I overlooked the fact that my drink tasted a bit stronger this time around.
The more alcoholic fruitiness I consumed, the less tense I felt, and that was all I cared about.
Chapter 11
"There was a time when I used to look at Harper like that,and I distinctly remember you giving me shit for it."
