“Are you serious?”
“I am. This story is beautifully packaged, Rhett. It would be silly not to run with it. Give me a few days and I’ll circle back with you.”
I can’t believe this.
“Sure. No problem. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Chapter 22
Carina
I’m scrolling through my new official website and I can barely contain my excitement. “It looks so slick and professional.” I keep clicking around. “Oh, video footage of the competition.” I ready myself to click on a link when my phone rings. I look down at the screen and snatch the device. “Yeah, Mani?—”
“OhmyGod, I can’t believe you’ll be here in two days.”
I laugh.Someone is excited.“Neither can I.”
“Are you all packed? Do you know what you’ll wear for the photo shoot? Are you going slick New Yorker or country chic?”
I laugh. “When it comes to the wardrobe, I was told a stylist would take care of it?—”
“Ohhhh, girl, you’ve arrived. You have a stylist?”
“The New York Times does,” I say. “Still, I’m pretty excited. I’ve never had one before. For the Food Network show, I had to wear my chef’s coat and my hair was tucked underneath a chef’s toque. A professional makeup artist did my makeup, but I think this experience will be a lot more glamorous.”
“Sounds like it. That means it’s light packing for you.”
“Yes, but it still doesn’t mean I’ll get it done early,” I laugh. “You know me. I’ll be up half the night trying to figure out what I need to stuff into my suitcase… even if I’m traveling to a fashioncapital and I still have tons of clothing stuffed into the closets of my old bedroom.”
“Some things never change.”
“If it ain’t broke— I take that back. Some things have changed. Won’t your man mind you being up all night instead of cuddled into his arms?”
“Hmmm… you’re right. On second thought, I’ll make sure I’m packed before he gets here.”
“Look at you.” The pride in her voice is unmistakable. “You leave New York without a degree and you’re coming back as a competition-winning chef and the girl Rhett Sullivan wasn’t willing to leave behind.”
“My man is pretty dreamy.” I grin wide even though she can’t see.
“You’ve come a long way. What a difference a few years make.”
“Thank you, Cardi Ruffcorn. And thank you, Stefano.”
“It takes two to tango.”
“I should consider sending her flowers while I’m in New York and I should send my ex some expensive cigars. Without them, I wouldn’t have this incredible opportunity.”
“Man, you and your rodeo king are going to New York, all expenses paid because the New York Times wants to do a story on Rhett and a second one on the girl from New York who captured the small-town boy’s attention. Swoon.”
“I’m walking on sunshine,” I say. “Winning the food competition was a high, but being featured in one of the biggest publications in the country is pretty extraordinary.”
“They say revenge is best served cold.” Mani sneers. “Your success will be like an ice bucket to Cardi and your asshole ex.”
“I like the way you think, but those two are so egocentric and wrapped up in their lives, I doubt they’ll be that interested in my life.”
“I disagree. Your success is going to slap them across the face.”
I laugh.
