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“Spit it out. I’m a very busy woman and haven’t got all day.” Instead of looking at her, I went to the mirrors and fixed my dark lipstick, swiping a bit that escaped the liner. Once done, and she had yet to start talking again, I threw another layer of mascara on.
That was the extent of my makeup routine today.
Aria stood in front of me, a bright white crop top under a pale green lace up cardigan that swept to her knees, and jeans. Basic, but somehow, she pulled it off and looked sort of cute.
Whereas I came to school in my favorite baggy black cargo pants and a dark plum tight t-shirt, with an old pair of Vans I found at the thrift store a year ago.
The difference between us was obvious to everyone, yet here we stood.
“Tick. Tock.”
“I have a contract,” she blurted out, her hands wringing at her waist. She gazed at the ground, her hair falling over her shoulder, one side pulled back with her signature seashell clip.
My brows flew up my forehead. “You what?”
A sheepish look overtook her face as she bit on her bottom lip and looked up at me. She was tiny, barely over five feet. “I have a contract? I mean, that’s what you do, right?”
I smirked, narrowing my eyes and nodding. “Oh, my dear, it is what I do. It’s what I love. It’s what I live for. Now, what can I do for you today? Remember the terms—once the contract is final, that’s it. Word for word.”
She took a deep breath in and fumbled around her back pocket. “I think this one is good.”
I reached a hand out, palm up, and curled my fingers. She handed it over, her own hand trembling slightly.
Leaning against the sinks and crossing my feet in front of me, I scanned the paper three times before even attempting to make a face. Aria probably thought I was a slow reader, but I wasn’t. I was actually at least two grade levels above average all my life.
It was all part of my act. I made them think I had trouble reading their contracts. Or that I took a considerably long time to go over it, as if it would be difficult.
Nothing was difficult. I could work my way through anything with the right amount of wit or cash. Nothing was off limits.
The thing with this particular contact, though…
“Love? Seriously? Why bring this to me?” I asked a minute later.
According to the paper, Aria wanted help getting a date with someone. To be set up. It wasn’t what I normally did, but for the right price, I would do almost anything.
Aria’s cheeks flushed a bright red. She looked up at me and shrugged. “Because, um, well, because it’s—”
“I swear, if you don’t spit it out, I’m ripping this up.”
“Because it’s Ali!” she rushed.
My foot jerked at the surprise, almost sending me crashing to the ground. “I’m sorry, I thought you saidAli. As in mybest friend,Ali.”
Her wide doe eyes blinked a few times as she nodded.
“Absolutely not. Not a chance.” I found my footing again and started toward the door. There was no way I would subjectmybest friend to the eventual heartbreak that dating caused. I had seen too many people crash and burn after a relationship, my father included. Every time, it ended badly, with someone in pain, sobbing into their pillow for a week straight.
Love wasn’t worth it. Period. And if I could save my best friend from feeling that way, I would.
Aria grabbed my hand, making me pull it back as if she had burned me. I hissed, but stood her ground.
“Please. Look, I know we never really got along. We’re such opposites. But that’s okay. I still always respected you for who you are. And even though we’re not technically family anymore, I just thought… well, I made a contract and…”
I had to do it now. She pulled the family cardandthe business card. If I turned her down and she went off to her little friends saying I refused a deal, it could cost me money down the road.
“Payment upfront,” I declared, pausing, but not looking at her. “Cash only.”
A delicate hand with a tiny gold charm bracelet appeared, a wad of bills held between her perfectly manicured fingers.
