Ugly(90)

“He wrote a note too, giving me his number and saying I can call him if I need anything.”

“Girl, don’t go jumping into anything.”

Jesus, the last thing I want is a relationship. “I won’t.” I look outside the passenger window. “I have so many things to work through, Shayne. The biggest thing is to figure out who I am.”

When we get home, Shayne hands me the USB drive of her friend’s book, and yells out to Liam to set up the laptop in my room. I’m going to have to buy a computer if I’ll be proofreading. I won’t be able to always use Shayne’s and Liam’s, and proofreading at work is out of the question.

I plug the USB drive in and open the manuscript. The title of the book is Love Is Perfection. I begin to read the prologue and before I know it, the story has sucked me right in.

“Hey, you coming for dinner?” Shayne pops her head into my room and asks.

“Yeah, I’m reading Michaela’s book. I’ll just finish this chapter and come out. Start without me, I’m not sure how long this chapter is.”

“Okay, don’t be too long, or it’ll get cold.” She knits her eyebrows at me, and scrunches her nose up. “Did you hear what I said?”

“I was looking right at you. Of course I heard,” I say jokingly.

“Good. See you in a few.” Shayne closes the door and I go back to the book.

The book is completely intriguing, about a girl who was left by her biological parents at a young age to her aunt. The aunt turned out to be a madam in a high-priced sex club. The girl grew to become a woman who was taught sex is power, and with the power of sex you have a bargaining tool. I just can’t seem to stop reading it, but I know my dinner will be getting cold so I have to stop and go eat.

I quickly get up and go out to the kitchen, but all the lights are turned off and there’s a note on the kitchen counter. It reads, ‘Knew you’d have your nose stuck in the book all night. Your dinner is in the fridge, just pop it in the microwave. Love you. X.’

I smile as I read the note, and go to the fridge to get my dinner. I can’t believe it’s almost eleven at night, and all I want to do is inhale my dinner and go back to the story. But I need to be in at work by no later than eight and there’s no way I can function well on so little sleep.

I quickly eat my dinner, put the bowl in the dishwasher, and go back to read just one more chapter. When I start reading again, I’m sucked back into the world of the characters Michaela’s written. I get to the end of that chapter, and I can’t help but want to read one more. But my eyes are tired, and I’m yawning. Go to sleep.

Finally, at one in the morning, I close the laptop with thirty-five pages left to read, and I slide down into bed. My eyes shut and I dream. I dream of a time when a little blond-haired boy and I play in a field of wildflowers. Our mom and dad sit cuddled together, watching over their most precious creations. Me and my brother.





When the alarm went off this morning, it was the first time I can remember that I didn’t want to get out of bed or go to work. All I wanted to do was stay in my warm bed and read Michaela’s book. But, of course, I got up and got dressed and was ready in time for Shayne and Liam to drop me off. I even had time to activate my new phone.

Both have insisted they take me to and pick me up from work. But I can’t be their responsibility. I need to learn how to drive and buy a car for myself.

At eleven-thirty, Dale comes into the office and stands in front of the desk I’m sharing with Candace. “Lily, can I take you to lunch today?” he asks.

“Thank you, that would be great. I’ll be ready to go in about half an hour. I can come and find you if you like.”

“I’ll be on the floor, so just come downstairs.” He turns and leaves and I wait for the half hour until lunch.

“Oh shit, Lily. What’s that about?” Candace asks as she points toward the door Dale just walked out of.

“Nothing.” I shrug.

“What did you do wrong?”

Suddenly my hands sweat and my heart beats frantically against my chest, what if he’s taking me to lunch to tell me they made a mistake and I’m not really suited to the position? Can they really tell just after one day? Oh my gosh, now I’m so nervous. I’m beginning to feel sick in the tummy, like I’m going to throw up. If they pink slip me, I’ll have nowhere to go and I won’t be able to earn a living.

Crap, crap, crap.

The half-hour flies by, and before I know it Candace tells me it’s time to go find Dale. With a lot of tension coursing through my body, I take my bag, put on my coat and go downstairs to find him.