SABLE
I hummed to myself as I applied my makeup. A little eyeliner here. Concealer there. I started to add a swipe of lipstick across my mouth when my phone rang beside my elbow.
I jumped, leaving a smear of red across my chin.
Fuck.
I grabbed a tissue, wiped it off and looked down at the screen. Smiling to myself, I pressed to accept the call and held the phone up in front of my face.
"Hey, Savannah." Blonde haired and blue eyed, Savannah grinned back at me.
"Sable Kohl, do you have a date?"
"What makes you think that?" I said, swiping at the lipstick still on my chin. Enough was left that I could see it in the bubble in the corner of my screen.
She tilted her head this way or that, as if she could see better through the phone. "You have that look about you."
"I don't have a look," I said. I glanced over at the mirror. Same old me. Pin straight brown hair that was almost black. Blue eyes that needed to shine more often. Petite nose, heart-shaped face, and yes, lipstick still on my chin.
"You definitely have a look," she said.
"Did you want anything?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
"Just seeing how you're doing," she said. "It's been a while."
"I guess it has," I said. "I'm sorry… I should be better at keeping in touch."
"Me too," she said with a laugh. "I've been busy. I should have called last week. I was going to and then… You know how things are."
"Yeah, always busy."Ishould have calledherlast week. She was occupied pursuing a career as a violinist. Me, I was still wallowing in the past. Tonight might change all that. If nothing else, it was a start.
"Who is he?" she asked. "Anyone I know?"
"Would I go out with anyone you know?" I asked, teasing.
"Ouch." She laughed again. "Probably not. You have higher standards than I do." Her jaw dropped open. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean…"
"It's okay," I said quickly. "I do have better standards when I'm allowed to make my own choices. He's just someone I know. From the same circles, you know? Charity things."
"Ah," she said slowly. "Rich people stuff."
"I suppose you could call it that," I said.
Yeah, I had money. Lots of it, but it's true what they say about money not making you happy. Money didn't keep me warm at night. Money didn't make the memories go away. Money bought really good wine that made them go away for a few hours.
In the morning, they were still there. Still raw.
Tomorrow, I'd call the therapist Forrest recommended. He might help the memories go away, or make them more comfortable to live with.
"Do you like him?" Savannah asked.
"I don't know him very well," I said slowly. "But from what I've seen, he seems interesting. He's intelligent."
"Is he hot?" she asked slyly.
"I'd say that," I agreed. "He's a bit older than me, but…"
"Ooh," she said, her eyes widening, along with her smile. "An older man. I bet he knows how to take care of a woman like you."
