Page 38 of Hate You Later
Emily picks through the handouts on the counter, stopping when she gets to the masquerade planning committee flyer.
“Actually, you know what? Maybe I can help with this! I’d love to join the planning committee. I’ll talk to Jackson too. He might want to do an episode about romantic comedies involving pets. And just thinking out loud here … but is anyone livestreaming the event for you guys?”
My jaw drops. “You would do all that for me? For us? Why though? You just met me. You hardly know me.”
She pauses and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Okay, I realize this is not entirely professional, but I’m relatively new in town, and I don’t know, you seem cool. I’d like us to be friends. It’s not like you’re asking for a kidney. This seems like it’ll be fun.”
Emily folds the flyer in her magical bag.
I look into her earnest face, searching for signs of subterfuge. Then I recall my conversation with Oliver and his advice that I accept help from friends and family. Why is that so difficult? Why must I always be looking for ulterior motives and reasons not to accept any offers of help?
I believe that Emily really means it, she actuallywantsto help. Suddenly, I’m seeing things in a different light. My natural inclination to shrug off and reject her offer isn’t only stupid, it’s rude.
I wonder if that’s how I appear to people? Proud to the point of being rude? It may be a lost cause, but I’m not going to turn her away.
“Okay.” I exhale. “Thank you. Thanks so much. I guess I’ll see you at the meeting on Friday, then.”
“It’s a date!” Emily says, turning to leave.
“Hey! Don’t forget your goodie bag!” I hold out the sample bag.
Emily pauses by the door.
“I’m so impressed. Even more so now that I’ve seen this place. You’re a real force, Georgia. A font of creativity and a beacon of light. I hope you know that.”
Her praise seems so sincere. So why do I still feel like such a fraud?
hudson
“Stay, Oliver, staaaayy.”
On Thursday morning, I get out the bag of clothes from Celestial Pets. I can’t procrastinate any longer. I’ve got to get Oliver’s costumed photos done so I can check that prompt off the list.
The session is not going great. I just want to finish up so I can text with Cookie for a bit. I’m surprised I haven’t already heard from her. But she did say that something important was happening today.
What constitutes a big day for her, exactly? What sort of occasion calls for a dog in a Boss Bitch tee?
I have fifteen minutes to wrap this up before my next Zoom meeting.
“That’s it. Good kitty. Don’t move a muscle …”
I look sternly at the cat and back away slowly. Who am I kidding? He doesn’t give a shit. He’s going to stay if he wants to stay and go if he doesn’t. I have no control here. I should have attempted this last night when Lilly was here. An extra pair of hands would have been a good thing.
Being a pet influencer is hard work. Actual work. There’s the planning and scheduling of themed content, shopping for props, shooting and editing the shots, posting them at the right time, engaging with other accounts, and tracking your growth. You have to stay ahead of constantly changing trends. And you have to do all of this—build this brand—beforeyou’re even getting paid to do it.
People really have the wrong impression about this petfluencer thing. There’s so much more to being a pet influencer than snapping a few cute photos of your hedgehog.
Presently, Oliver is sitting like a statue, on top of the fridge. He is wearing a British robe, and it fits his personality perfectly. The robe drapes nicely, and the tightly curled matching wig … well, the wig is just hilarious. It makes the costume. I shoot in burst mode, hoping at least a couple of the shots will work out.
“May I approach the bench, Your Honor?” I ask. He’s flicking his tail agitatedly.
Oliver looks pretty pissed off under the wig, but he has a resting asshole face. He always looks pissed off. The fact that it’s still on his head tells me it can’t be all that uncomfortable for him.
I place one of the salmon treats on top of the fridge for him and consider trying another one of the other costumes. I’m just not feeling it though. I can’t come up with a scenario for the other costumes I’ve purchased. I wonder if I should just return them, which would mean seeing Georgia again, or just let Lilly have them for her dog, as I had originally intended. There’s no way I need this many costumes, especially since Oliver won’t even be here anymore after next month.
While the prospect of seeing Georgia thrills me, I quickly dismiss it. The shop probably needs the funds. I can always donate the costumes if they don’t fit Lilly’s dog.
I also shouldn’t be looking for excuses to go back to that shop. It can’t end well.
