Page 67 of Castling the Rook (Checkmate 3)

The woman in question smiles and shows off a set of crooked teeth. “I don’t like my smile,” she admits quietly. “My folks were too poor to get braces, and now I’m too old… I think I’d look stupid.”

Mia’s bottom lip pops. “You can get braces any time.”

Long hair sways against her bare shoulder. “I’d feel dumb, so I’m trying to embrace who I am. Your friend is right; I dress up what I like, and minimize what I don’t. Lucky for me, my ass looks great in this skirt.”

I gesture toward the woman standing right beside her. “And do you begrudge your friend her straight teeth?”

“No!” She grips the friend’s hand and twines their fingers. “She has the most beautiful smile in the world.”

I stop on the blonde, who blushes and drops her eyes to the floor.

“And you?”

“I’m so shy, it’s embarrassing. You guys wouldn’t even believe me. I’m… ummm…” She clears her throat.

“She’s a virgin,” the first woman volunteers. “She’s too shy to talk to men. They tell her she has a pretty smile, then she swallows her tongue until they have to Heimlich her to get it out again. Then they run, because they think she tried to kill herself rather than talk to them.” She snickers. “Her shyness actually makes them insecure, which is a strange benefit. She’s scared a bunch of creeps off with her shyness.”

I turn back to Mia. “See? Victoria’s Secret models, both of them, and one of them is a virgin, which makes hersuperspecial in some people’s eyes. They both have insecurities. No one is perfect, and anyone that thinks they are is a narcissistic meat bag with no brains and too much Red Bull in their system.” Standing from my crouch and groaning at my aching legs, I lean back in and take Mia’s hand. “Get up, shake your bullshit off, then join the rest of us in the world of reality. We all pick at our mirrors and wish something was different. That doesn’t mean you get to be a bitch to everyone you see.”

In heels and a short skirt, my boss accepts my hand and flashes all thirty bathroom occupants with floral print undies. “I’m sorry I’m such a bitch to you.” Stumbling forward, she grabs onto my arms and breathes a fresh waft of vomit into my lungs.

I shoot my eyes to the ceiling and blink away the tears caused by rancid stomach acid. “Now you know, so maybe you’ll do better. Tomorrow, when you order coffee, maybe you could tell Leah something nice.” When she smiles, I glare. “And mean it. She has beautiful eyes, and if you took a moment to stop being a jerk, you’d notice how they’re almost lilac colored and have little golden speckles. I bet if you asked her man, he’d admit that he’s in love with those eyes.”

She gives herself a double chin when she grumbles. “I like her eyes.”

“Good! Tell her! Jesus, it shouldn’t be so hard to be kind. She makes cute designs in the coffee froth every damn day, and without asking, gives away free mini cookies. She’s a nice person! So tell her.” My cell burns a hole in my ass. My heart yearns to call Riley back. “I’ve gotta go and make a call. It’s super important I do, so you can hang with the Victorias, and I’ll be back soon.” I turn to the women. “Can Mia hang with you guys? She’ll probably say mean things about you in her head, but we’re working on it. One day at a time.”

“Of course!” They rush forward and take Mia’s arms, but when they get a mouthful of vomit stench, they lead her toward the sink. “Let’s have a quick drink to wash the yuckies out.”

I stop beside them and wash my hands, then like I’m on a mission, I bring my cell up and redial. Moving through the bathroom and into the crowded hall, I push past grabbing hands and leering smiles and practically sprint to the street out front to get a little quiet. The phone rings, and rings, and rings, and the longer it goes on, the more my stomach twists.

Standing in the cool November air and hunching to protect my bare arms, I stare at my shoes and play with the simple pendant hanging around my neck.Please answer, Riley. Just for a second.I feel like a dick for getting mad at him yesterday. I give Mia this grand speech about not using insecurities like a weapon, and yet, that’s exactly what I did to Riley; I caught feelings for him, and instead of owning it, I took my bad mood out on him.

I’m no better than my bitchy boss.

After a long minute, my call rings out and leaves a pit in the bottom of my stomach.

He must be really mad.

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