“Sure. We’ll leave you there to party with them,” Jason says, grabbing the cake box from Alden.
“Come on, Trev,” Dave calls.
“Bye, sass.” Kiss. “I promise not to check out any hot chicks at the party.” Kiss.
“Oh my, god. Get out of here, you goof.”
As they all meander to the engine, Alden stares wordlessly at me. “So?”
“So, what?” I grin as I pick up my piping bag and continue to place a decorative buttercream border along the bottom edge of the cake.
“Is this the real thing?”
“It’s so new I don’t want to get my hopes up. I think Trevor was hurt pretty badly, so he keeps his guard up. But I’m so happy, Alden.”
“I see that. Did you tell him you’ll be out of town this weekend for a modeling gig?”
“No. He has friends from Virginia coming this weekend. He’ll be so busy he won’t even know I’m gone.”
Chapter21
Addy
“Ugh, I really can’t wait to be done with this gig,” I say to no one in particular. Multiple girls are here under this tent, giggling and waiting for their turn to flirt and take pictures with the race car fans. Most are younger than I am, many with artificial breasts and hair, all trying to use their physical appearance to get ahead. This isn’t for me anymore. It wasn’t bad in the beginning. An easy way to make ends meet. But now, it just feels degrading.
I don’t judge anyone who wants to make a career in modeling. It isn’t easy. Most of the girls I know have ‘aged out’ by twenty-four. I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity for this long. But I want more. I want to own a business I can be proud of instead of earning a living selling a piece of myself, so some other entrepreneur can benefit.
Clutching my bottled water, I look down at my outfit. Ugh. Wearing the tiniest shorts and tightest T-shirt on the planet, I don’t know if I’m modeling or filling in for someone at the local Hooters restaurant. I’d booked this promotional modeling job for the Richmond International Raceway Nascar season before acquiring the job with the fashion house in Paris. Boy, I’m going from one extreme to another. But they both bring in more money than I can make at Honey Bunz in a month.
Looking about the area, I spot some career models I’ve known from prior gigs. The Richmond and Washington D.C. markets are small. Those of us who’ve been around this business a while tend to know each other. But my relationship with Mildred’s chicken, Purdy, is less superficial. I’ve yet to meet another girl who wouldn’t stab me in the back to secure a modeling job she wanted.
“Addison? Is that you?”
Looking up, surprised to hear my name, I lock eyes with the most superficial of all the girls here. “Hi, Ashley. You working today?” I notice she’s wearing an equally skimpy outfit, but hers appears to be by choice.
“No. Marty managed to get comp tickets to the race because he was willing to sign some autographs for all of thirty minutes.” She giggles, trailing her manicured hand along the linebacker’s chest. I’d heard tales of Martin North. A friend from high school was a Washington football cheerleader and had stories galore of his indiscretions. All with a family at home.Yuck. No, thank you.As if he’s heard my inner monologue, he stares at me as if his mere presence would entice me to fall at his feet as Ashley has.
“Oh, great,” someone says behind us. “Hi. I’m Jonathan. I’m taking some publicity photos for the Times-Dispatch. Could I get a shot of you together?”
I start to make my exit, certain that Ashley and Martin are enough celebrities for this photo op, when I’m instantly crushed against a wall of muscle. Hot, sweaty muscle. And not the good kind I had the other night.
“Oh, that’s perfect. On the count of three. One, two-” The camera shutter snaps, and I immediately pull away from Martin before he gets any crazy ideas.
“Nice to see you, Ashley. I’m going to hit the ladies’ room,” I say as I look for any excuse to exit. Wiping my hands on what little material was used to make these shorts, I shudder.Guess he’s as slimy on the outside as he is on the inside.I abhor cheaters. They’re the last two people I’d want to spend time with here. I wish I’d bailed on this gig and stayed with Trevor and his friends.
Chapter22
Trevor
“Ava, I have to say, everything Mick said about you was spot on. You’re as sweet as you are smart and beautiful.” I’d only seen Ava from a distance when living in Hanover. But her gentle disposition only further magnifies her beauty. Slapping him on the shoulder, I add, “You lucked out, man.”
“Oh, Mick. You never told me Trevor was so adorable. I think I know just the girl-”
“Don’t even bother, Ava. This guy has completely rejected the idea of a relationship. I don’t think he’s quite at Zach’s level. But unless you have a hot friend looking for a quickie…”
“Who said it had to be quick?” I interject. “Besides. As much as I tried to fight it, I think I fell for someone here.” I can’t control my grin as Ava claps and Michael’s mouth springs open in shock.
“Yeah, yeah.” I acknowledge his stunned expression.
