“I know! I just don’t know where to turn.”
Ask Nate, my subconscious says, but he can’t even pick out his own clothes in the morning. No way am I asking him for fashion advice.
Kim holds up a finger, takes out her phone and calls a number. “Hello, Josephine? Sorry to bother you on such short notice, but it’s an emergency… I know, I know, but it’s for Nate Sterling… Yeah, Justin’s cutie-pie brother. It’s for that auction today… No, not a tux. It’s not really for him, it’s for his assistant. She needs to be dre—”
She pulls her phone away from her ear. Even I can hear the screech on the other side. Kim looks at me and holds the finger up again.
When the high-pitched screaming subsides, Kim puts the phone back to her ear. “Well, of course. Black AmEx. Unlimited. You can spend to your heart’s content… Hold on, let me ask.” She turns to me. “When was your last facial?”
Last facial? “I’ve, uh… Well, never.”
Kim inhales like she’s bracing herself to face a horde of pissed-off rhinos. “Never,” she says, then immediately holds the phone away from her ear as another long screech comes from it.
When it dies down, she says, “Well, yeah, it is a challenge, but… I know you’re used to dealing with people who… Well, but remember your roots, girl. Evie really needs you. How else is she going to outshine everyone else there?”
I shake my head frantically. I do not want to outshine everyone else. I just want to be presentable enough not to embarrass myself or Nate. The goal is to blend in.
Kim ignores me. “Yeah… Yeah… Okay. Got it. Thank you. Love you too.” She makes a loud kissing noise and hangs up.
“Who and what was that?” I ask, still thinking about the “outshine” thing.
“My friend Josephine Martinez. She’s going to personally dress you for the auction.”
The name is vaguely familiar. “Isn’t she a personal shopper or something?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t afford her!” Especially when she’s going to try to make me stand out!
“Of course you can. You have Nate’s plastic!”
“But he never said I could put Josephine on it too!”
“What do you think matters more to him? You coming to the auction looking great, or you not putting Josephine on the card?”
Well, when you look at it that way… But I still don’t feel comfortable. Josephine has to be hideously expensive. Her help will probably cost more than the dress. “Let me just text him to make sure.” I whip out my phone and quickly type, I really need professional help, and Josephine Martinez is available. Do you mind if I put her service fee on the card?
I hit send and wait. Nothing. Is he still sleeping? Nate never struck me as the late riser, but maybe he sleeps in on weekends. I bite my lower lip. “He’s not saying yes.”
“Did he say no?” Kim asks.
Kim Sanford: never lacked for comebacks will be written on her gravestone. “No.”
“Then it’s a yes. Josephine is mission critical. If you don’t hire her, you’ll never be able to bid on Nate. Evie, trust me. He won’t care. At all.”
She’s probably right. Nate never cares about money. It’s just me—I’m having a serious problem spending it like…like I have a credit card with no limit. Call it my blue-collar Midwest roots. My mother taught me never to take handouts and never take advantage of anything.
“Do I have to put on something different?” I wonder if I’m going to have a Pretty Woman moment with snotty shop clerks. Or maybe Josephine’s going to be too embarrassed.
“You’re fine.”
Within half an hour, Josephine arrives. She’s gorgeous—glossy, dark hair, perfect makeup that looks airbrushed onto her face and a pantsuit and shoes so stylish they strike me speechless. She and Kim hug each other, then she turns a critical gaze in my direction. I can feel myself whither a little.
“This is the client?” she asks.
“Yep. Meet Evie Parker. Evie, Josephine Martinez.”
Right. I’m a client. I shouldn’t be so nervous. Think—what would Nate do? I shake hands with her. Her nails are long and painted bright red and purple.