Chapter 5
Casual?As she looked at herself in the mirror, she wondered if she and Roger had the same opinion on what casual meant. If she was meeting up with Vickie, she’d have gone out in her T-shirt and shorts. But that wasn’t appropriate for a date.
Was this a date? Roger’s invites weren’t really clear. This was a project he was supposedly paying her for. Somehow in her excitement of having something to do, they’d never discussed payment. It was possible each outing was exactly that: a thank you for a job well done.
Although she was enjoying them, they weren’t going to pay her rent. Roger and Lena seemed sure she was getting the job, but she never counted on anything until she saw it in writing. And maybe the pay wouldn’t be enough to cover her living expenses. She had learned to live without a lot, but rent, food, and utilities weren’t luxuries.
Gia looked in the mirror one last time. He said he liked red, so her red tank top and white jeans were perfect. Casual, yet not a lay-around-the-house look. She took time to straighten her wild mass of curls but pulled it back into a ponytail because her blonde roots were beginning to show. Good thing I promised Vickie I’d go back to being blonde.
Although she really didn’t have time to run down to Maplesville, she didn’t want to meet with Brittney with a blonde streak down the middle of her head. Looks like I will need to call in another favor. Thankfully Vickie was between things and missed girl time as much as she did.
Gia grabbed her cell phone.
“Hi, Gia. Did you get the job?”
“Vickie, things like that take time. But . . . that’s what I’m calling about.”
“You know I’m horrible when it comes to mock interview questions,” Vickie said.
“That’s because favorite food or color is never one of them. And I don’t need help with that.”
“Fine. Do it your way. It’s no fun.”
“I’m thinking about doing it my way as a blonde again. Are you doing anything tomorrow?” Gia crossed her fingers.
“Would there be pizza and beer?” Vickie asked.
Gia laughed. “Afterward, yes. Because I don’t want you distracted with all those chemicals on my head.”
“Have I ever let you down? I mean doing your hair.”
“Not once. So do you want me to come to Maplesville?”
“Normally I’d say yes. But since you promise pizza and beer, I’m coming to you.”
“Why?” Gia asked.
“Because I know all the guys around here.”
“So it’s not really pizza you find better in Boston,” Gia teased.
Vickie giggled. “I need to expand my horizons. And it seems to be working for you. By the way, have you heard from Mr. Handsome?”
“Mr. Who?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know who I’m talking about. But don’t tell me now. Save the juicy details for tomorrow. I’ll be there bright and early.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Gia grumbled. She knew when Vickie said bright and early she meant noon. Vickie never was a morning person, and Gia wasn’t one to stay up late. How they stayed friends so long was beyond her. Maybe their differences made them fit so well.
Roger doesn’t seem anything like me either, but I’m kind of enjoying his company too.
She had no idea when he popped back in her mind, but she didn’t want Vickie picking up on it. If she did, Gia would never get her off the phone. The antique mantel clock chimed five times as she heard a knock on the door. The one time she wouldn’t mind him being late, he wasn’t.
“I’ve got to go; my—”
“Date is there?”
“You are ruthless, do you know that?” Gia asked.