Diamonds Aren't Always a Girl's Best Friend

1

Sadie:

My head was pounding from the bass spilling out of the speakers, and the room had to have been eighty-five degrees at least. I hated events like this when I was on this side of things. Working for the catering team meant that I couldn't drink and enjoy the party, not that I'd want to party with this crowd of stuck-up rich snobs anyway. Ivan handed me my refreshed tray of hors devours and I plastered on my customer service smile before heading back out. Tonight's festivities were in support of a local non-profit that fought for better environmental conditions for ducks, or some stupid shit like that. I didn't know, and I didn't really care to know. These things were all the same; rich people using any excuse in the book to gather in hoards and flaunt their money. I'd been hit on by more skeevy old dudes tonight than I cared to recall, but I suppose my required skimpy black cocktail dress and matching pumps probably didn't help with that. Steven hated that I had to wear this, I did too, but it was part of the job. And I needed this job. My tuition was covered by scholarships, but living expenses were on me, and the east coast was significantly more expensive than the small midwest town I'd come from. Behind my fake smile and laughter, my mind was counting down the minutes until my duties were finished here tonight. I could survive these last forty minutes. I scooted uncomfortably away from a grabby gentleman and continued to make my rounds through the room.

My head landed against the headrest of my Honda Accord and I instinctively locked the doors; it was dark after all, and I'd just left an event filled with intoxicated rich people that didn't like hearing the word 'no'. Fishing my phone out of my purse, a flash of lightning illuminated my car, and rain started to fall on my car in big heavy drops. Steven had texted me.

Steven: When you're done playing waitress, come over.

Me: I just got into my car. I'm honestly exhausted. Can you come to my place? Samantha is staying at Brad's tonight.

I adjusted the knob to turn up the heat and I felt my phone vibrate.

Steven: If I come all that way you better make it worth my while ;)

Me: So hanging out to me isn't worth your time? Only if I provide sexual favors?

Steven: Fuck Sadie, don't be so sensitive. It's a joke.

Me: Whatever. I'm going home. Come over if you want.

I threw my phone in the passenger seat next to me and shifted my car into drive. He wasn't joking. One of Steven's problems was that he thought that he was owed anything and everything and that he deserved it all just for merely existing. Like he was God's gift to mankind. Most of the time I didn't have a problem putting up with his obnoxious quirks, I'd known him long enough to know that somewhere deep down he was a decent guy. But I was in no mood for it tonight, after I'd spent the greater part of the evening being visually undressed and groped. The rain was pelting my windshield now and my wipers were only doing an okay job of keeping my line of vision clear. I had to slam on my breaks when a guy stepped off the curb in front of a popular nightclub downtown. He stumbled a few steps and his eyes widened when he realized how close he was to being flattened under my balding car tires. His buddies laughed and pulled him back onto the sidewalk and waved in apology to me. My heart thrummed in my chest as the wave of adrenaline washed over me. I wasn't sure if it was from almost running someone over or if it was because that someone was Colt Lawrence, captain of the hockey team and arguably the hottest man alive. My cheeks burned and I prayed that the darkness would conceal my identity. We had Junior Seminar together, though I wasn't sure he knew I existed. And why did I care so much anyway? I was dating Steven. Though if I dug into those feelings too much I may realize I wasn't sure why I was doing that either. I took a deep, albeit shaky breath and kept driving. There was a bottle of Moscato in my fridge at home calling to me.