Одри Карлан - January (Calendar Girl #1)

“True...” she drew out the word making it a few syllables longer.

“I miss you,” my voice shook, and I wanted to bitch-slap myself for letting the emotion out.

A deep sigh came through the line. “I miss your ugly face too. I get hit on a lot more when you’re around. You know, since I’m the pretty one.” And…we’re back to BFF status again.

“How’s my dad?” I asked, scared to hear her reply.

“Better physically. Still hasn’t woken up. They’ve moved him out of intensive care, so that’s a good sign.”

That was a good sign. It meant he’d live, but he wasn’t out of the woods yet. “Did they say anything about why he hasn’t come out of the coma?”

“They don’t tell me much, Mia. I’m not technically family. You know that.”

Now I sighed. Ginelle was more my family than the extended family I had on both sides. She was the only friend I trusted. “Thanks for keeping an eye on him for me. How about Maddy? I’ve only talked to her once, and that was for a few minutes when she was between classes. Seems like the full class load is kicking her ass.”

“Yeah, it is. She’s stressed about money, too. The bills are piling up. Need me to give her some cash?”

“No, no! I have money. Well I’m going to have a lot of money in a week. Enough to send her some to pay the bills and buy food. Soon though, I’m going to have a lot more! Just need to get on an airplane next week, and that hundred thousand goes into my account. Then I have an opportunity to get paid another twenty thousand, and that would be just mine.”

“How you going to make an extra twenty thou?” I could hear her suck in a drag off her cigarette. Must be finishing up her lunch break with a smoke.

I chewed on my thumbnail and looked down at the ragged edge. “Next client is an artist. I’m going to be his muse or some shit. Wants me to pose nude. If I do it, it’s an extra twenty large.”

You could hear Gin blow out a breath into the phone. “Fuck! I take off my clothes every fucking day and don’t get paid no twenty grand! Get me hooked up with Auntie Millie. I’m due some fat cash!” she harrumphed into the phone, and I laughed. She’d never leave Vegas. God, it’s good to talk to my girl. She reminds me of everything I am, where my roots are laid, and that I’m still me. Even if I’m dressed up like a Barbie doll and playing the part of a trophy date, I’m still Mia Saunders. The girl who raised her sister from age five, took care of herself, and is going to save her dad’s ass…again. Hopefully, for the last time. I could only hope that once he woke up and realized what he’d done, what had happened due to his choices, he might actually learn from it. Get some help with the drink. See a counselor. I’d given him information on tons of free programs along with the flyers and pamphlets for the local AA. Maybe, just maybe, this time he’d see the error in his ways.

“You coming home at all?” Gin asked as I pulled out the dress I was going to wear to this evening’s social event. Wes was taking me to some movie shindig with the new cast. It looked like fun. I’d get to meet some famous people. Ones I hoped to work with someday. That career path was nowhere in sight for the time being. Funny how things had come around full circle. I finally knew someone in the industry, and there was no way I could even commit to anything or go on any auditions. That part of my life was on an indefinite hold until I got my dad out of hock.

“I wish. Heading straight to Seattle three days after I leave Malibu. Auntie has me set up on a horde of beauty appointments between that day and the day I head out. I’ll try next month though,” I offered weakly.

“Hey, I know you want to come home as much as I want to see your fat ass, but it’s okay. Things are going to be fine here while you clean up your dad’s mess. But shit, Mia, he’s gotta learn from this go ’round. You can’t keep upending your life for him.”

“I have no choice,” I whined. “If I don’t, they’ll kill him. And he’s in a coma, Gin. It’s not like he can defend himself.”

This conversation was getting old. I loved Ginelle more than anything, but she spent an ungodly amount of time nailing me over my dad’s bullshit and how I continued to save him. It’s not like I wanted to. But I couldn’t just let him be hurt or killed. Blaine and his goons are serious motherfuckers. Blaine is a coldhearted snake. He wouldn’t think twice about killing Dad. Hell, he’d be more concerned about getting blood on his expensive suit than he would about taking my dad’s life. People are collateral damage to him, and I had been one of his victims. Cheating, lying piece of trash!

Through the phone, I could hear rustling around then the ever present clinking and pinging of the slot machines as she made her way back through the casino. “Just promise me you’ll find a way to have a life?”

“I will, I will. Besides, I’ve been having some fun here in Malibu. Wes taught me how to surf!”

“Okay, that is pretty cool. I’ve never even seen the ocean,” she groaned. “When you become rich from escorting, will you take me to the ocean?”

I laughed. “And see your skanky ass in a bikini?” I pretended to gag and choke.

“You’re messed up. I’m revoking best friend status.”

“You can’t revoke best friend status. It just is. Like the commandments written in stone. It just is,” I said again lamely.

“Did you just compare our friendship to God’s Ten Commandments? For real?”

“Um…yeah?”

“You’re going to hell,” she stated flatly.

“If I do, you’re skanky ass better be there to pick me up!”

She giggled, and I smiled holding the phone tight. “You know I will.”

“I love you, ho.”

“I love you more, slut.”

Chapter 8

Nobu Restaurant in Malibu was swanky. Like entering into your own private posh world. The Honor Code actors, directors, and writers were all in attendance. There wasn’t a huge crowd, maybe forty people. When we arrived, the hostess led us to a private outside area. The patio had a natural knotty wood flooring that spanned a huge veranda with wicker-cushioned furniture and hardwood tables. The entire expanse opened out onto a hundred and eighty degree view of the beach. The sun was just setting, and the colors of the sky bouncing off the water were breathtaking. Wes pulled me into his arms as I grabbed the rail. He hugged me against his front.

“Beautiful,” he said into my ear before trailing his nose down the column of my neck.

“It is pretty,” I agreed.

“Not the view, you.” He bit down on that place where neck meets shoulder sending shivers of burgeoning excitement to swell and ache delightfully within me.

“Smooth talker.” I pinched the side of his thigh where my hand rested.

“Ouch, see if I ever give the lady a compliment again,” he said with mock agitation.

I turned around and clasped my hands around his neck, and kissed him. Nothing indecent, just a coming together of lips. I’d missed him throughout the day while he was at work, and this was the first chance I had to be close to him.

He groaned into my mouth and then pulled back and just stared. After a moment, he shook his head and smiled. I knew there was something he wanted to say to me, but right then, I knew it wasn’t going to be something I could handle.

“Let’s get a drink and a bite?”

His shoulders slumped, the moment broken. “Sure,” he finished, grabbing my hand and leading me over to the bar. We got drinks and then a waiter came by and offered us some Asian style nibbles. While we were talking and snacking, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen made her way through the crowd. She was wearing a deep crimson, strapless cocktail dress that accentuated her large breasts perfectly. The hemline came up just above the knee on her incredibly long legs. She had black, thick hair that looked a lot like mine, but hers was curled in perfect loose spirals that wisped along her pearly skin perfectly. Bright red lips and smoky eye makeup completed her look. The woman was every man’s wet dream and every woman’s nightmare. Except mine. I wanted to be her!