Cruel Summer

by Lisa Cardwell

  “Good. I'm taking Trish to lunch so I'll meet you back here later.”

  “A date with Trish?” I asked, acting as innocent as possible, but I’m sure my smile must’ve been a dead giveaway.

  The news thrilled me. Trish was great. And so much better than the last couple of females he’d been linked with, including the one or two I’d had the unfortunate luck of meeting over the years.

  He laughed as he took a sip of his coffee. “It's a business lunch.”

  “Right.”

  “I like being single, Chey.”

  “So do I, Dad.” I smiled at him. Didn't mean I didn't date, though.

  I was still sitting there staring at the baseball tickets when the doorbell rang.

  “I'll get it,” Dad said. “Trish probably forgot her key again.”

  I noticed the smile on his face as he headed inside to get the door.

  I swiveled back in my chair. Okay, so baseball wasn't really my favorite sport ever. I enjoyed hockey a little more, but it so wasn't in season. But as I looked at the tickets again, I couldn't help smiling to myself. He was trying. Probably wanting to make up for that disastrous NYC trip. And besides, after his little late night talk when he told me what was really going on, I couldn't feel angry at him anymore. He should have just come out and told me; I would have understood that he needed to go.

  Maybe we could have found a way for me to tagalong with him, or at least we could have Skyped or something.

  “Hey!”

  I spun around in surprise at Sorche's voice. “Hey...what are you doing here?”

  She smiled as she came over and took a seat at the patio table. “Heard you were dropping the contracts off today. Figured that warranted a visit.”

  “Do you want a coffee, Sorche?” Dad asked as he came back outside.

  “I'd love one, thanks, Mr.—”

  “Just Sean,” he said as he headed back inside, and a moment later, I could hear him digging through the cupboards.

  “Just Sean. Thanks,” she called as she looked over what I was holding. “What are those?”

  “Dad’s taking me to a game this afternoon.”

  “Ooh.” She pulled the tickets from my hand. “Great seats. My dad would be so jealous.”

  Dad laughed as he walked outside, obviously overhearing her comment. He handed her the coffee. “I think you’re right. If you two girls are good, I’m going to go pick up Trish for lunch.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “Business lunch,” he repeated for my benefit.

  I grinned. “We’re fine. I’ll be heading out to Rico’s soon, anyways.”

  He paused in the doorway. “Oh, Milo was supposed to stop by to drop some papers and stuff off, so if you see him, just tell him to leave everything on my desk. I’ll get to it soon as I get back.”

  “Will do. If he’s not here before we leave, I’ll put a note on the hallway table for him.”

  “Thanks, Chey.”

  We watched him head inside, and I pushed my cereal bowl away, glancing at my friend. “Okay, so why are you really here?”

  “I brought you a good luck present.” She smiled. “You aren’t going to drop off your contracts dressed like that, are you?”

  I looked down at my slightly faded pajama bottoms and scruffy T-shirt I’d slept in. “No.”

  I gathered my bowl and my empty juice glass and headed inside, Sorche right behind me.

  “Thank God.” Sorche smiled in relief.

  “I’m not that bad, am I?”

  “No, but those pants…” She cringed, and I laughed.

  “C’mon up, you can help me get ready. I’m not sure what I should wear.”

  “Looks like I had perfect timing.”

  Sor set her bag down on my dresser as we settled in. I dug my favorite pair of jeans out of the closet and tossed them across the top of my empty desk, glad Sorche was there for styling help. I mean, what was I supposed to wear for this? I didn’t want to go over the top, but I didn’t want to look like I’d just rolled out of bed and grabbed whatever was clean, either.

  I didn’t want Rico to take one look at me walking through the doors and decide he’d just changed his mind. “What do you think?”

  She followed me inside my walk-in closet now a lot more crowded than when I’d first arrived. I hadn’t even imagined needing half this space.

  Sorche smiled as she looked around. “Now this is nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  She thumbed through some of the hangers on an upper rack ’til she found something she liked and pulled down a couple T-shirts.

  “You probably couldn’t go wrong wearing one of Rico’s.” She held both the bright red T-shirt and white one out towards me as if testing to see which one looked better. “Maybe go red, it’s bolder. It’ll make a statement.”

  “Yeah?” I looked between the two shirts. Now, I never would have thought of that.

  Statements?

  Bold?

  I just would have gone for whichever one I thought I looked better in that day.

  She nodded, handing me the hanger with the chosen shirt before putting the other back in its spot. “I like your place. It’s cool. Mine’s so perfect sometimes…it’s like I’m afraid to move something out of place.”

  “Really? I like the look of yours.”

  She shrugged. “Mine was a decorator’s concept. You said your dad did this for you. Big difference.”

  “I guess.” I laid the shirt on top of my jeans. “So, you’re serious about going with me to Rico’s?”

  I didn’t want her to think I required an escort or a babysitter or something as equally childish. I’d driven there once before, and I was reasonably sure I wouldn’t get lost on the way.

  After all, the directions were saved in my phone.

  “You’re dropping your contract off today, right? I’m here for moral support.” She pulled her digital camera out of her tote. “And to document the occasion.”

  “Sor, it’s just a couple pieces of paper,” I said, trying to convince myself as I opened up the desk drawer and pulled the file folder out. I did a quick check to make sure I’d signed the papers in all the right places and Dad had, too. Those little neon paper markers came in so handy.

  I flipped the folder closed again and set it beside my clothes.

  “Right.” She nodded solemnly, leaning past me to tap a brightly painted nail against the folder. “Papers that could change your entire life.”

  I stuffed the contract into the manila envelope Trish had given me. “The only thing it changes is it gives me a little more spending cash of my own this summer. That’s it.”

  “You’re so under dramatic.”

  That made me laugh.

  “Yeah, well…” I gave a shrug in response. Dad had the drama genes in the family, apparently. “I’ll get changed, and we can get going. I have no idea what time Dad wants to leave for the game.”

  “You’ve got hours,” she assured me. “It’s a late start.” She glanced around the room. “I’ll be right back; I left something downstairs.”

  She left the room, and I grabbed my clothes and headed into the bathroom to change. By the time I’d returned, finishing the last loop of the elastic on my ponytail, Sor was back and sitting on my bed, a large, sparkly gift bag in front of her.

  “I got you a little something,” she announced before I could say a word, and she pushed the bag towards me.

  “Sor, you didn’t have to do anything.”

  “Oh, please, you have to commemorate.” She smiled. “The ‘Face of Vanetti’ deserves to celebrate.” She held the bag out to me. “Take a look. I hope you like it.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed and took the bag. It was filled tight with tissue paper and heavier than I’d expected. I managed to move some of the tissue aside before putting my hand in, coming into contact with a cool, smooth surface. I shot her a questioning look, but she simply shrugged, camera in hand, waiting for me to pull whatever it was out. “What d
id you get me?”

  “Not saying a word, you’ll just have to see. But be careful. It’s breakable.” She held onto the sides of the bag while I put both hands in and managed to find the edges.

  I pulled out the black and silver make-up mirror with the mini lights around the edges.

  “I have one in blue,” she said as she cleared a spot on my dresser. “I thought what better gift for the new ‘Face of Vanetti’ than a mirror?” She smiled at me. “You like?”

  I followed her over and set the mirror down. It was gorgeous.

  “I do.” I gave her a hug. “I’ve never had a mirror like this before.”

  Honestly, the only mirror I had back home that didn’t fit in my purse was the one attached to my dresser.

  “Good.” She stepped back. “I figured the most important thing for a potential ‘it girl’ is a good mirror.” She turned to look at me. “You really don’t mind me tagging along to Rico’s? I just thought it’d be fun to go with. Moral support and all that.”

  “It’s fine. Besides, I’ll be glad to have the company.” Probably help keep my nerves at bay. I scooped up my keys, ready to head out while she went back to the bed to grab her camera and purse. I noticed her hesitate as she looked out the window.

  A good minute passed while she stood there, practically rooted to the spot.

  “Sor?”

  “Hmm?” She totally seemed not to hear me.

  I moved beside her, peeling back the curtain to peer outside. All I saw was a topless Milo putting a few boxes down on the patio.

  “Seriously? Milo?” I hadn’t heard her mention him since the first time she’d seen him, and figured she was over whatever little instant crush she’d had.

  I caught sight of the time on my alarm clock. “C’mon, we’ve gotta get going. I promised Rico I’d be there before lunchtime. Can you pull yourself away from the eye candy out my window or—

  “I’m coming. Jeez, a girl gets a modeling contract and already, she’s a diva before the first photo gets taken.”

  “Don’t make me open up that balcony door and invite Milo up here…” I teased as I grabbed my keys and the envelope with the contracts and headed downstairs.

  While Sorche went ahead to my car, I circled back toward the kitchen. I found Milo out on the patio. “Hey. Dad said just to put the paperwork on his desk.”

  He nodded as he glanced up at me. “Yeah, sure. Where you going?”

  I lifted the envelope up. “Just have to drop something off at Rico’s.”

  “Right. Mom mentioned something about that, congrats.”

  “Thanks.”

  ***

  “There she is,” Rico greeted as he came out of the conference room at the same moment I walked up to the reception desk.

  “Hey, Rico. I’m just dropping these off.”

  I blinked at the sudden blinding flash from Sorche’s camera as I raised the envelope holding my signed and authorized contracts from Dad in my hand. I waved my hand in front of my eyes, waiting for the little dancing spots to disappear.

  “Sorry, don’t mind me.” Sorche gave a little half-wave and ducked behind a nearby rack of clothes where she quickly disappeared from view.

  I could have sworn I heard an excited squeal from her direction, but Rico quickly motioned for me to come with him back inside the conference room.

  I followed him as he took the envelope.

  “All signed,” I assured him, suddenly realizing this was for real. Sor was right—those papers suddenly held the power to put my life on a whole new course, for this summer, at least.

  “Good. Great. How’s it feel?” he asked with a smile.

  “A little unreal, and it hasn’t even really started yet,” I admitted, tucking my hands in my back pockets awkwardly. I glanced towards the glass windows looking out into the reception area. Still no sign of Sorche. I hoped she wasn’t getting into any trouble out there.

  “Have you celebrated yet?” he asked, taking a seat.

  “Not really. Sorche and I went to dinner last night. Dad’s taking me to a baseball game this afternoon.”

  “Sounds fun.”

  “I hope so.” I managed a weak smile and noticed the designs for the first time spread out across the table. “Oh, wow…” I stepped closer for a better look.

  “You like?”

  “I do,” I answered honestly, looking at the one closest to me. I may not have been a girly girl, always in dresses, but even I would have loved to wear the simple blue halter dress with the diamond pattern sketched out in front of me in varying shades of blue.

  “I’ve been working on these all week.” He glanced back at me. “You’re going to be a hit once you’re unveiled, you know.”

  A nervous laugh escaped before I could stop it. “Unveiled, huh?”

  “Oh, we have big plans for this launch, Chey. Especially now that we found our perfect face.” He looked back out the glass wall where we could see Sorche scanning the racks, taking pieces out to hold up to herself.

  “Take something,” he said, motioning back towards the racks outside.

  I smiled. “You mean like a coffee cup?”

  I hoped he meant like a coffee cup. Or even a mouse pad. I could really use a new one for the wireless mouse on my laptop.

  “If you really want one, sure, but I meant from the racks. You said your dad’s taking you out. Find something to wear if he takes you someplace special. Consider it part welcome gift, part first official assignment.”

  “Rico…”

  “Go before Sorche calls dibs on all the best pieces. Now, don’t argue with your new boss.” He lifted the envelope with the signed papers inside.

  “’K, boss.” I saluted him. “If you say so.”

  Sorche looked up as I came to stand beside her.

  “See anything you like?” I asked.

  “Tons.” She hung a midnight blue sundress back on the rack. “What did Rico say?”

  “Not much. Just he’d probably call later this week to schedule some stuff. Things are going to move quickly, apparently. Guess it’s good my schedule’s pretty wide open.”

  “Cool.” She flipped through the skirts. “I wish his store was open already.”

  She sighed as she studied one skirt thoughtfully.

  “Well…”

  “Well what?”

  “He told me to pick something,” I admitted a little sheepishly.

  She squealed.

  Rico laughed, and we both glanced up, startled to see him leaning on the rack across from us, his arms crossed and resting on top. “Sorche, you’ve got great taste. Want to help me find something special for Chey? I think left to her own devices, she’d say she’d do well with a simple tank top.”

  Sorche grinned.

  “I’d love to.” She glanced at me. “He’s right, you know. You’d say you can wear the tank top and those jeans and be fine practically anywhere.”

  Before I could argue that it was true, he headed to a rack on the far side of the room. “Now these over here are brand-new, just arrived yesterday, so you’re the first ones to see them.”

  Sor oohed and aahed as I trailed behind her.

  Rico looked at me as I finally caught up to them, already flipping through the hangers and studying pieces. “Now, be honest and tell us if you don’t like something we choose.”

  “Okay.”

  I thumbed through the rack in front of me while they pulled bits and pieces out and held them against me as I tried to get over my sudden anxiousness. I vetoed the ankle-length skirt, fearing my ability to walk in my new three-inch sandals I had bought shopping with Sorche, but I loved the jet-black skirt Rico picked, cut on an angle which would fall above my knees in the front and slide past them just a touch in the back. I found a great electric blue shirt to match.

  “Done,” I said happily.

  Rico just smiled as he took the shirt from me.

  “For now.” He glanced at Sor who was staring longingly at the same shirt in a metallic red.
“Take it.”

  “What?” she asked, snapping out of her thoughts, a stunned expression on her face like she didn’t quite believe what she’d just heard.

  “For helping Chey. It’s yours.” He swiped the hanger before she could say anything. “You girls hang out for a few minutes. I’ll get these boxed up for you.”