Hot Mess (LBSC #1) | Completed

Chapter 26

With no seemingly no one in my corner except for Malcolm, I'd been more than happy to stay holed up in my room all weekend. My phone remained off and hidden away in the drawer of my nightstand. I still wasn't ready to deal with what had happened between Quinn and I or Javi's incessant messages. I was ready to buy a one-way ticket to a deserted island. But I couldn't buy that ticket just yet--I had my very first day of work at my Big Girl Job.

I got up at six, threw on my yoga gear, and headed out of the apartment. There was no point in checking in on Zoey; she'd been MIA all weekend after our fight. For sure we'd had our blowouts in the past, but this was one time when I really needed her. It didn't matter, New Reese could handle her own problems.

At yoga, I tried to clear my mind and let go of all the problems plaguing me, but every time I'd successfully chased one out of my mind another took its place. The only thing I was sure of at the moment was that I most certainly was not going to that stupid reunion. Maybe Malcolm was convinced that my life was steadily improving, but I felt just as turned around as before. Maybe even more so because I'd had a man and lost him.

"Uh, Reese?" Daisy's singsong voice broke through my internal musings. "Class ended five minutes ago."

I opened one eye and scanned the studio. I was the only on there; even the yoga mommies had disappeared.

"Crap!" I exclaimed, leaping from the mat. "I've got to get home and shower before work."

Daisy looked pleased. "You got the job?"

"I did, actually," I said. I rolled up the mat and stood up before continuing. "I feel like I should bring you a bottle of wine or a rotisserie chicken or something. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gotten the job without your help."

A grin spread across Daisy's elfin features. "That won't be necessary; I didn't do anything. You had all you needed within you the whole time."

She clasped her hands together in the middle of her sternum before bowing her head. "I wish you love and light."

I mirrored her movements. "Back atcha, Daisy."

Normally if I wanted to make sure my day got off to a great start I would hit up Cuppa for an eclair and latte, but since I was still avoiding anything to do with Javi I headed straight home after yoga. I showered, shimmied into a pair of red skinny jeans that I teamed with a black-and-white-striped long-sleeved shirt, and jammed my feet into a cute pair of cheetah-print kitten heels. Unable to stall any longer for risk of being late, I gave myself one last glance in my full-length mirror before grabbing my purse and heading to the leasing office.

If I'd thought the butterflies in my stomach would disappear when I got to the office, I was completely off-base. If anything, they multiplied. I didn't know why I was so nervous—I already had the job. With so much going wrong at the moment I just really needed one thing in my life to go right.

With a deep breath, I walked into the leasing office, my head held high.

"Hi, Reese," Liz, my new co-worker and personal Pop-tart Rescuer, greeted me. "No Pop-tarts this morning?" She leaned against the empty reception desk with a steaming mug in one hand.

Warmth flared in my cheeks as I studied her. She wore a pair of skinny, ankle-length khakis, a nondescript forest green sweater over a white button-down, and a pair of black ballet flats. Inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief; at least I'd gotten the dress code right.

I tried to laugh the comment off to show I was a good sport. "Not today. I made sure I grabbed some fruit after my yoga class."

Liz raised an eyebrow. "Yoga, huh? That's cool. I do Pilates. I've been telling Jeanette we should have some kind of office exercise class on Fridays like they do at start-ups. C'mon, I'll show you your workspace."