Page 6 of Ice Wolf
“What? Are you crazy? The best kiss of your life and you have no clue the man looks like?”
“It happened so fast. And it was dark in the bar. All I know is that he was at least six foot five with broad shoulders and he smelled like a dreamboat.” Plus, he could kiss like no other man alive. No, I wasn’t going there. He was the type of guy who believed all women should fall to their knees over him.
“Ugh. Now, how is karma going to find you again?”
“Shut up. I have a boyfriend. Remember?” Albeit the guy I’d been dating for years had been standoffish lately. We’d been arguing. We’d spent less time together. Forget about sex. Sighing, the nagging feeling about Damien was growing stronger every day.
“Damien is a dud. There, I said it.”
“You’d said a lot of not so nice things about him, girlfriend. He’s just a hard worker.”
“He ignores you, bestie. Come on. I think you need to break it off with him.”
“Red or black?” I asked, ignoring her suggestion as I held up both dresses, moving one in front of me then the other. Had I thought about her suggestion more than once? Sadly, yes. Damien was busy all the time. When I called, half the time he didn’t answer. When he came over, he was usually preoccupied with work or some fucking sports game on television.
“You’re such a hardhead. Red, girl. The color of love. The color of hotness. The color of roses. You need to sizzle. See? Maybe you’re lucky you have Damien.” Vicky’s voice boomed through the speaker on my phone.
I laughed hearing the excitement in her voice. I could always count on my bestie to make me feel better.
“One minute you hate him, the next you think I’m lucky.”
“Being alone isn’t all that it’s cracked to be. See? I admitted it. I just think you need to lay down the law with him.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Red it is.” Even though red was also the color of blood, which was almost all I could think about after the shit day I’d had. Being laid off certainly hadn’t been on my bucket list. Who fired a librarian anyway, for God’s sake? Budget cuts? It was ridiculous. I was being paid a pittance anyway. Kids needed libraries. They needed free space to illuminate their imagination. What did they think they were going to do when little Johnny came banging on the locked door on a Saturday morning?
My boss had shown up thirty minutes early wearing all black, had pulled me aside, and said in her curt voice that while I’d done a great job over the last two years, she had to let me go. She’d worn her evil Wicked Witch of the West expression that everyone knew meant trouble. I just hadn’t anticipated after the glowing review I’d gotten three weeks before that I’d be on the receiving end of a red-hot poker.
My mind went to assorted evil places. If only I had a red-hot poker in my hand.
Or if I had sharp canines like the wolf Vicky had mentioned. If only fables could play out in real life.
Maybe I’d chase her through her Pilates class. The vengeful thoughts brought a smile to my face.
What in the world was I supposed to do now? While I’d saved every penny I could, living on ramen noodles and canned tuna for two years, I still didn’t have enough to make a go of finishing my first novel. The dream of being a full-time writer seemed very far away.
Cringing, I resisted tearing up. I certainly didn’t want a puffy face for my date.
I blew hair from my eyes and tossed the black dress, shimmying into the red. I took an exaggerated deep breath as I smoothed down the material, twisting and turning. I looked hot.
Oh, who the hell was I kidding? I’d never worn a red dress in my life. For some reason, I preferred being in the shadows, watching the craziness of others, living my life vicariously through them. Maybe it was time I took some risks in my life. Maybe it was time I stopped taking a backseat to everything and everyone. I took a deep breath, making faces at myself.
“Do you know what the wicked witch had the nerve to tell me after she terminated my position? That I was so sweet and innocent I’d likely find a job. Maybe in hospitality.”
“That bitch. Why don’t we put an evil spell on her?” Vicky suggested.
I didn’t want to tell her I’d already thought about purchasing a voodoo doll. A few pokes here and there would do her plastic body some good. Maybe let the hot air out.
“Do you really think Damien is going to ask me to move in with him?” I asked as I almost tore the red dress when I jerked it over my head.
“Haven’t you guys talked about this a few times?” She was none too happy about the thought. In truth, I wasn’t certain whether I wanted a drastic change in my life. I liked things just the way they were.
“A couple of times, but it’s been a few weeks.” More like a few months.
“Maybe he just wants to take you out to dinner.”
I fought with the black dress as I tugged it on, almost out of breath mostly from nerves. “Are you kidding me? Damien hates to spend hard-earned money on frivolous things. He’s up to something.” I carried the phone with me into the bathroom, glancing at my reflection. Maybe I was searching for a strengthened resolve.
“Well, then it’s definitely about saving money by moving in together. Oh, wait. Maybe he’s going to ask you to marry him,” Vicky cooed. “You’ve always wanted that.”
