“This is seriously so freaking good!” I gush to the bartender, while I juggle the glass and my phone to pay for my drink. The resulting genuine smile warms my insides.That’s three.
After that, I’m only standing awkwardly on my own, trying to stay out of the way of the crowd (harder to do than you’d think with all the bustling aisles in this little area).
I take the chance to check my emails, scanning a few before once catches my eye. It’s from my dad’s right-hand woman of the last probably seven years. She’s a cute, fiery little thing from some town near where Blake Shelton is from out in Oklahoma, and she’s sweet as can be until you cross her. I wouldn’t ever wanna be on this woman’s bad side. I tap on the email to open it.
From: Shelby Carter
To: Human Resources
CC: Thomas Mitchell, Eleanor “Ellie” Mitchell, Asher Carter, see more…
Subject: New Apprentice Starting Monday
Howdy HR & Team,
This is your reminder that we have a new apprentice, Asher Carter, joining the team as of this Monday morning. I know this is a first for Mitchell Media, and on a personal note, I want to thank Thomas again for so generously allowing my son to intern within the companies.
I think you’ll be quick to notice it’s not just a mother’s bias when I say that he’s a very talented graphic designer and we will be lucky to have his help within our ranks for the next few months.
I know there’s a lot he hopes to get from working with so many talented marketing professionals as well, and I feel certain he’ll be a real breath of fresh air.
Attached is the proposed schedule/itinerary that HR came up with for his time with us, please review it at your convenience and do inform us of any suggestions you may have to make this a more workable situation. Who knows, we may just convince him to stay with our wonderful team long-term if the next few months goes well!
Enjoy your weekend,
Shelby Carter
Executive Administrator
Mitchell Media
My attention is pulled awaywhen I hear a squeal of delight and lock gazes with my favorite human being on this planet. I guess that should be David, but I said what I said.
“I can’t believe my eyes. Are you actually in sweats right now?” She says loudly from across the room, making her way to me, her arms held above her head in excitement.
I roll my eyes playfully, grinning back at her. “I warned you, Chrissy. I’m just glad you believed me and decided to match. It would’ve beensoembarrassing to be the only one in this bougie ass place who looks normal.”
“You didn’t even leave me enough time to get ready if I wanted to try to keep up with you, I was always coming in like a hot mess, but I’m happy you almost match me for once,” she jokes.
Her dark brown hair has this deep red tint to it that goes perfectly with that gorgeous skin tone she gets from her Hispanic heritage, even when pulled back into a messy bun, like it is now. Even though she’s dressed down like me, in leggings, a stretchy tee and her ever-present platform flip-flops, she looks cute as all hell.
Her face is so unique—she has the biggest, roundest cheeks I’ve ever seen in my life, but paired with the most beautiful, delicate jawline ending in a soft point at her chin; it gives her such an elegant yet youthful look, people can’t help but stare at her when they see her. When she’s done up in all her full-glam-makeup glory that only comes with the skill of being a professional makeup artist? No one else stands a chance around her.
We hug and squeal, and I try not to spill my mimosa on her as we greet each other for the first time in what feels like ages, but it’s probably only been a month or so. We’ve been trying to get more time together in the last year since she shifted some things in her life, but it’s not always easy to get our schedules to align. I’m thankful we get the occasional brunch in, at least.
She’s tiny, compared to anyone really, but especially compared to me. I’m several inches taller, and at my smallest and her largest, we were still several sizes apart. I feel too large for most spaces I’m in, never this dainty, delicate cute little thing like so many of the girls I’ve always wished I look like. More like Shrek. Overly large, awkward, liable to break cute little furniture with my weight, or burst delicate lingerie by forcing it to try to hold my boobs in and up. I have to work hard to be feminine, to make up for my large frame and size, but Chrissy, she’s just adorable, always. It’d be easy to be jealous of her if she hadn’t been by my side since I was in middle school.
“What are you drinking?!” she asks excitedly, grabbing my hand to steady the glass and taking a sip from my straw without asking, as I would expect after more than twenty years of friendship.
“The usual,” I reply.
Her eyes widen at that first taste. “Damn, that’s good! Could use some booze, though. So by the usual, you mean something new?" she teases me.
“Basically.”
We stroll back over to the mimosa bar, where she snaps her fingers at the lone bartender and points at the drink in my hand. “Another one of those, good sir. Please! That is the best shit I’ve tasted all week! But more alcohol in mine, please. Like, a lot more.” Her obvious respect for his creation and her appreciation for his skill set turn what might be considered an aggressive action into one that’s playful, uplifting, instead of demeaning. The guy can’t stop the blush that creeps up his features under her intense attention as he ducks his head and begins making a second one.
That’s the thing about me and my bestie. We both give people our all, and there’sa lotof us to take. Neither of us have small personalities. Luckily, we both have the goal of making people’s days better everywhere we go, and when the two of us are together, we tend to leave a wake of joy behind us.
