Skinny • Book 1 In The Reality Series

Katy

I'm not going to lie, my expectations for the West Crest apartments were low, like really low. I'm talking sirens in the distance, blood stains on the sidewalk, gunshots around the corner low, however I was pleasantly surprised.

The building was tall and circular in shape. It seemed to be made almost entirely of glass which was almost as clean as the expensive cars parked beside Ashton's truck in the several story tall parking structure where we sat trying to build up enough courage to exit the vehicle.

"I feel underdressed." I said, looking down at my sweatshirt and jeans.

Nodding in agreement, Ashton swallowed and ran his fingertips through his hair nervously.

"Are you okay?" I questioned.

Forcing a smile he nodded dismissively.

"You look like you're going to hurl." I informed him.

Sighing, he ran his hands down his face.

"What's wrong?" I pressed, "Talk to me."

Chewing on his lower lip he hesitated a moment before speaking, "I'm terrified."

"Of what?" I laughed, then quickly cleared my throat as his face fell, "You have nothing to be afraid of, this is Dorothy we're talking about."

"And her billionaire boyfriend!"

"He's not a billionaire."

"Katy are you seeing this place? These people pay more for their cars then I'll make in my lifetime!"

Glancing out at the Porsche parked next to us I sighed, "Well we have to do something, we can't just sit in the parking lot all day."

"Let's leave and comeback another day."

"Ashton, are you listening to yourself? We need to get this over with. The sooner we talk to Dorothy, the sooner we get Sam back."

"That's if she says yes!"

"She will."

"How do you know?"

"I'm her sister."

"You're lying to yourself." He muttered, "I did it for a while too, but the truth is you don't know her and neither do I, none of us do and I don't think we ever did because never, did it ever cross my mind that she would leave. She's a familiar stranger and that's all."

Frowning, I shook my head, "She's going to say yes."

"I hope so." Ashton replied weekly, "But I'm also not going to get my hopes up."

"Well then I guess you'll be pleasantly surprised." I snapped before unbuckling my seat belt and hastily climbing out of the truck.

Taking a deep breath I started towards the parking garage elevator, only realizing that Ashton had followed me when he entered the elevator behind me.

There was one other woman traveling down besides us, but after receiving a blatant look of disgust from both her and the perfectly put together toddler in her arms, I tried to avoid eye contact.

We received identical looks from people as we crossed the street, from the doorman, from the buff dude at the security desk and from the man stood in an expensive suit who walked up to us as if we were punks he'd just busted stealing candy from a convenience store.

"Can I help you?"

Is what he said, though by his tone I could infer the meaning more than likely went something more along the lines of, "Why are you wasting my time and wasting space in my lobby?"