A grown-ass adult.
When I swing open the door, I spot her sleek hair, snakeskin purse, and intense focus as she tap, tap, taps away on her phone. I head right over to Alexandra, sit down, and say hello.
“Good afternoon, Sawyer,” she says, and I can’t get a read on her.
But it doesn’t matter. I need to handle this meeting better than I handled myself yesterday at the pool.
“Before we begin, I just wanted to say I’m very sorry for yesterday. I handled it badly. The event was a fiasco. It didn’t go the way you wanted, and that’s on me, but if you’ll give me another chance?—”
She waves a hand, dismissing me like she has no time for this. “The event was fine. Better than fine, actually.”
Wait. What? “It was?”
“Jubilee’sBall Is Lifevideo went viral. She’s been asked to endorse a line ofHappily Maybe Aftertennis balls, and we’ll probablyincorporate a tennis storyline into the show,” she says, then taps her nails on the table as she lowers her voice. “But what I really wanted to discuss isthis.”
This is the moment. I straighten my spine. “I’m ready.”
“Dog weddings. Like that guy mentioned.”
“That guy?” I ask, even though I know who she means. I just didn’t think she’d paid him any attention.
“Yes,” she says waving her hand, as if to swat something away. “You know him. That spray-tan guy who spoke to me.”
“Sure,” I answer, a little surprised she likes the idea. It seems so unnecessary. The height of anthropomorphizing.
“It has me thinking. In a one-thing-leads-to-another way. What if we did…dog fashion shows? With Jubilee as the star.”
That’s not a bad idea at all. It’s the good kind of anthropomorphizing. “I like it.”
“Would you like to manage dog fashion shows?”
And I didn’t see that coming. I went from expecting to lose a contract to being offered another one. It hardly seems fair, but it’ll be good for Dog Tails. For the team. “Dog Tails would love to help,” I say, but something nags at me. “Why’d you ask for his card though?”
“So I wouldn’t forget his name. Since I never want to work with him. Dogs don’t like him.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“But they like you. And they like Chloe. Can you and Chloe put it together?”
My heart sinks, but I also know I should say yes. Even if ithurts to work so closely with the woman I can’t stop thinking about.
Maybe this is how I make amends to her.
For being…a dick.
Well, the horse said it best this morning when he whinniedyou dick.
37
FACTS, FEELINGS, AND TOUGH LOVE
CHLOE
Lavender is supposed to be calming. Ergo, I drive to Ripley’s farm when I finish working for the day.
I’ve already alerted her that I’m coming. I gave her and Bridget the preview, too, via text.
Along the way, my car cruises beautifully—no chugging and gasping for breath—and I’m both thrilled, sad, and mad about that. The second I arrive, I cut the engine and open the driver’s door.
