one
Tessa
You are beautiful.
You are smart.
You are loved.
You are going to do amazing things.
Doesn’t matter that you’re a little weird sometimes. And maybe you could use a haircut, but that’s okay.
Also, you have this thing you do when you’re upset—your eye kind of tics, and you should probably see a doctor, but again, totally fine.
Dating might be a good idea too. It’s been like two years since you’ve been on one and really, it’s time.
I lean toward the mirror.
“Are those wrinkles on your forehead?” I ask myself as I stare at my reflection. I sigh. “I really suck at this whole morning affirmations thing.”
My roommate Brianna chuckles as she leans against the doorjamb, eating a yogurt. “What nonsense did you tell yourself this time?”
I turn, resting against the sink. “I start off well and always go off the rails. I need a haircut, by the way.”
Brianna is an up-and-coming stylist who just got her first gig working for a huge brand during fashion week. She’s going to do amazing things, which means at some point, I’ll never get her to fix my hair.
She comes up close, lifting the brown strands and letting them fall. “Yeah, we’ll do that tomorrow. Can you come into the salon after work?”
I nod quickly. “Yes, put me on the calendar!”
If she doesn’t, she’ll take a client and I’ll never get in.
“Fine. Tomorrow at seven.”
I nod once. “Thank-you.”
“As always, you are most welcome.”
Brianna dips her spoon into her yogurt. As I open my mouth to ask her a question, I hear a deep groan coming from the room next to me.
Great. She brought another guy home.
She always gets some and I keep getting none.
“Where did we meet this man in your bed?” I ask.
She grins. “He’s a model. We were doing some test work…”
“Bri, it’s not a good idea to sleep with the modelsbeforethe event,” I say, immediately slipping into publicist mode. “After, fine, but not before or during. You have to be professional.”
Brianna gives zero fucks and rolls her eyes. “He’s from another company. Relax, Mom.”
I guess that’s a little different. “I’m just looking out for you. You worked so damn hard for this job.”
“And I promise, I won’t do anything stupid. I’ll be the good little angel like you are.”
I’m not an angel. I mean, I can break rules. Maybe. I haven’t really yet, but Icould. “I could be reckless and put myself out there,” I tell her.
