“Well, yes, I guess—” he starts, but I’m already gathering my purse and scooting out of the booth before he can say anything more.
The plastic seat once again clings stubbornly to my legs, loudly squelching every time I move. Crimson flames lick at my face as my embarrassment builds.
“Thanks again for your time,” I mutter when I’m finally free. I offer a half-hearted wave, then whirl around and dash out of the restaurant, feeling his gaze follow me the whole way.
Outside, the California sun shines brightly over my head, but my mood is gray and more than a little dour.
Now, I have to face Kali and Sutton and admit that not only did I potentially mess up a great business deal, but that I also made a fool of myself in front of the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen.
CHAPTER THREE
My heart is heavy as I pull my little, yellow hybrid car into the driveway of the beautiful two-story beach front house that I share with my two best friends.
Kali, Sutton, and I moved in here together after graduating from the University of Southern California last year. Thanks to the shocking success of Glossed & Glammed, we’d been able to afford the fabulous home outright. It’s the kind of place I never would’ve imagined living in when I was a kid. My parents and I had a small two-bedroom home growing up, and though it was a little cramped, it was filled with love. It makes me so happy knowing that the spacious home I live in with my besties is filled with that same love, too. I’m an only child, and Kali and Sutton are like sisters to me. I appreciate and adore them more than I can ever say. Hopefully, they feel it when I hug them or design beautiful clothes especially for each of them.
The curtains in the living room are open and I watch as two slender silhouettes dance back and forth across the living room. Between them, Kali’s adorable dog leaps up to join in on the fun. My BFFs have obviously beaten me home, though that’s not too surprising. I’d been dreading coming back from Franco’s with bad news, so I’d wound up stopping by my favorite vegan café for an oat milk latte pick-me-up. While delicious, it hadn’t worked. I grabbed some donuts for Kali and Sutton while I was there to try and soften the blow I’m about to deal them. Those are vegan, too, but I don’t think the girls will mind.
As much as I want to, I know I can’t sit out here in my car and avoid my two besties forever, but the thought of telling them about what happened at Franco’s today makes my heart hurt. I’d really wanted to make them proud. I’ve never gotten a chance to take the reins during a situation like that, and I was hoping I could show Kali and Sutton that I have more in my wheelhouse than stellar camera work and pretty clothes. Then again, maybe I should just stick with what I’m good at.
Letting out yet another sigh, I drive around to the back of the house to the three-car garage.
Dusk is just falling over Southern California, and the sky is streaked with beautiful shades of purple and magenta that you only get this close to the coast. Almost hidden behind the rainbow-hued haze, stars sleepily start to twinkle into sight one by one. Before pulling into the garage, I take a moment to gaze out at the golden sand and endless sea of blue beyond our house, hoping to find some inner peace after a hectic day.
Located outside of LA, the girls and I live far enough away from the busy city to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life. When we’re not devoting ourselves to arduously churning out more G&G content, we’re often lazing around on the beach under gigantic umbrellas. Unfortunately, free time isn’t exactly something we have a lot of. Kali is constantly up to her ears in collab contracts and sponsorship negotiations, while Sutton is the main editor of our pics and vids and the most avid poster of our content. Meanwhile, I’m coordinating our outfits and regularly designing new ones. We each have our strengths, and that’s something we like to promote to our followers, too. Everyone has their own special talents that make them unique and valuable, and while I understand that, I just wish having a normal conversation was something I could at least handle. Kali and Sutton make living in the limelight look so easy. They have no idea how much I envy their effortlessness.
I grab my purse and the box of donuts, cradling the latter in my arm as I trudge toward the connecting door between the house and garage and push it open.
Inside, cheerful pop music is blaring so loudly that my ears start ringing. I wince as I slowly make my way along the short hallway. The tune is fun and rhythmic and would normally make me want to dance, but I’m feeling too bummed to bust a move.
In the kitchen, my two best friends are singing and dancing around the island counter. George, Kali’s black lab mix she rescued earlier in the year, barks excitedly and hops in circles on his hind legs. Coco, Sutton’s prissy kitty who is just as much a fan of attention as her fur mommy, licks her paws and stares judgmentally down at the playful pup from atop the granite.
One quick look around the kitchen and living room tells me that Chanel must be hiding out in my room. My sweet bunny can be a little shy, just like me.
“You’re home!” Sutton calls when she spots me shuffling into the chef’s kitchen.
My slender, dark-haired friend grins and pulls me into a hug even as Kali abruptly reaches over and mutes the blaring playlist.
“Oh, no,” Kali groans.
When Sutton and I both look at her in confusion, she immediately walks over to the big stainless-steel fridge and pulls out a bottle of chilled rosé. “Spill, Liv. You’ve got your I-need-a-glass-of-wine-pronto face on.”
“No, I don’t!” I protest.
Sutton steps back to regard me with a thoughtful expression, dark brows scrunching worriedly. After a moment, she gives a click of her tongue and sets her hands on her hips. “Kali’s right. Are you okay? We’re both really sorry that we couldn’t get to Franco’s on time to help you with that meeting. We know you did great though—”
“I didn’t do great,” I interrupt in a quivering voice hardly above a whisper. I sink helplessly down onto one of the stools nestled against the granite island that separates the kitchen from the spacious living room and drop my face into my hands.
The wine bottle glugs as Kali fills me a glass. A second later, I hear her slide it across the island toward me. They wait quietly for me to continue speaking, but I’m not sure I can muster up the willpower to go over my big failure. They both slide into seats on either side of me and Kali leans against me, so her head is on my shoulder. Having my two girls next to me helps lift my spirits, even though I’m sure I’ve let them down.
Sutton pats my back and then takes my chin in her hand to tilt my head up.
“Tell us what’s going on,” she presses gently.
I might be reticent and overly reserved in public, but when it comes to my two BFFs, I sometimes have trouble holding my tongue. They’re the only ones I can really open up to and I love them for that.
“First of all, it wasn’t even Franco that I ended up meeting with,” I explain hurriedly. I pick up my wine glass and take a greedy sip before setting it back down. “It was his son.”
Kali’s nose crinkles curiously. “Franco has a son?”
