Library

4. Blair

"Look who finally surfaces!"Sarina wraps me in a hug. A cool breeze is blowing in off the sound. It's a warm, July day, but comfortable with the wind.

"Excuse me if I've been in court all week." I drop my bag onto the bench beside me.

"How's the case?" She hands me a brown bag, and I take the empty seat on the bench next to her.

"Should be wrapped up by the end of next week." I open the bag, inhaling the sweet scent of pho. "This smells amazing."

"You look starved."

"I am. God, I hate being in court and eating PBJ."

"I figured. Good thing I had to be down here to file some paperwork."

"How is your big case going?" I blow on the broth before shoveling another bite in my mouth.

"If I leave the office before ten, it's a good day."

One of the reasons I left the private firm I was working at during my last year in law school—there was no way I could work there and take care of Avi.

"At least you look good while doing it."

I've known Sarina since law school. She's one of the only people I can see on a regular basis because she butts her way in. In the most loving of ways, of course.

No matter how busy she is with work, she always looks dressed to the nines. Designer suits and shoes. Name-brand handbags.

One of the perks of that private firm.

Meanwhile, my public office paycheck gets me a secondhand suit and sensible pumps. Everything else I have goes toward Avi's school.

"Maybe I should send you home with some of my suits. Then she won't be breaking the dress code."

"Oh God," I groan, pushing my sunglasses higher up on my nose. The sun feels good after being stuck in my office all day. "I'm sure they'd find something wrong with them."

"Why do you send her to that horrible school?"

"Because it's the best of the best."

"Where she'll become a little snotty zombie who only wears power suits."

"As long as she graduates."

Sarina waves me off. "She'll graduate and then head to law school just like you."

"God, I hope not."

"You don't want her following in your footsteps?" Sarina crosses a leg, leaning back on the bench. Pink colors her cheeks from the sun.

"Not if I can help it. Maybe art school."

"About as far from law as you can get."

"Absolutely."

We catch up over our bowls of noodles. The noises of Seattle rage behind us. Ferry boats are coming and going.

It's one of the many reasons I chose to stay in Seattle after school. I love the energy here. Even though I don't get to enjoy it, I love the pulse of the city. There's never a dull moment.

My email pings in my coat pocket. I groan, not wanting to cut lunch short. But the email that pops up is one I never thought I would see.

"Holy shit."

"What?" Sarina peeks over my bowl, looking at my phone. "What is it?"

"Do you remember that Elite Connections agency you hooked me up with?"

"Was that them?"

"Yup." I pop the p, eyes straining to focus on the email.

"I didn't think you'd heard from them."

"Not since you convinced me to apply."

It was an impulse one drunken night. Sarina knew about this place from a friend of a friend. They look for people with certain skills that can easily blend into events where those skills are needed. The paycheck that came with attending these events was something that also drew me in.

I don't know how I was ever vetted, but I'm guessing it has to do with my law degree.

"What do they want?"

"They need me for a few weeks to be someone's girlfriend."

My eyes flit over the screen trying to lock on to important details. But the only thing they can focus on is the payment fee.

"Am I looking at all those zeros right?" I shove my sunglasses onto the top of my head to make sure I'm looking at it right. I show the screen to Sarina. "There's no way I'm looking at that number correctly."

"Holy shit." She grabs my phone, counting the numbers. "Do you know how much money that is?"

"Give me my phone back."

I steal it from the clutches of her grip.

"That much money…"

"Could pay for Avi's school, college, and pay off all your student loans?"

I swallow around the lump in my throat.

"Well, mostly. Law school wasn't cheap."

"But still. Isn't your biggest worry Avi's school?"

"She wouldn't have to worry about school at all."

"Then why are you even thinking about this? You have to do it."

"Says who?" I put my phone down, trying to erase those zeros from my mind.

"Me." Sarina grabs my bowl and puts the lid on it, setting it to the side. "You are the most even-keeled person I've ever met. Nothing gets to you. Taking in your sister? You didn't think twice. Changing jobs? No big deal to you. So why are you hesitating on this?"

"I can't just leave Avi for a few weeks to go to…" I grab my phone, looking at the detailed itinerary. "Oh my God."

"Where?" Sarina's eyes lock on mine.

"Italy. Milan."

"Are you serious?"

I nod, trying not to let myself get excited about this.

"A few weeks in Milan? It's the one place you've always wanted to go."

God, it really is. I had grand plans of traveling all across Europe after I graduated law school. Instead, I ended up with Avi on my doorstep and started working for the King County Prosecutor.

"What about Avi? I can't just leave her."

"Easy. She can stay with me."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. Blair. For once in your life, don't weigh the pros and cons. You'll talk yourself out of this. You need this. Something just for you. And that paycheck. It'd let you have some breathing room for once."

My brain is spinning. Every single dollar that comes in is accounted for each month. There's no wiggle room. Flat tire? I'd have to take the bus to work in order to save to fix it.

That much money could make things easier for me. For both of us.

Could I really do this? Every single thing I've done since Avi ended up with me has been for her. I've had only a handful of days where I did something just for me.

"Well…"

A smile paints Sarina's face. "That sounds like a positive well…"

"If you can watch Avi, and I can get the time off work. Then…I guess I'm going to Italy."

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.