Page 9 of Hollywood

“Okay, fine.” She threw her hands in the air in defeat. “No more blind dates for a while. Picky bitch.”

I laughed. “Picky sure, but I think it’s safe to say we have different tastes in men.”

“Maybe.” I shook my head. “The point is that I don’t want any more finance bros or anyone else. Okay?”

Luisa breathed out through her nostrils and then flashed a brilliant smile my way. “I agree to that. For now.”

I knew it was all I’d get from her right now, so I nodded. “Agreed.” I struck out my hand and she gave it a dainty shake as if she was a member of a royal family somewhere in the world.

Once we were stuffed with diner food, we split a giant slice of apple pie cheesecake before we headed out into the Nevada sunshine. We were all smiles as we chatted with full bellies about everything and nothing. “I have to get back to work soon.”

I frowned. “I thought your boss was out of town?” Luisa worked as an executive assistant for one of the biggest online gambling CEOs in the country.

She shrugged. “He is and thanks to the time difference he doesn’t need me until after lunch, but the days are a lot longer.” She rolled her eyes. “The good news is that he might need me to join him in Florida. Miami,” she specified and wiggled her brows.

“Good for you,” I told her with all the enthusiasm I could muster. “Not all that good for me,” I added with an exaggerated pout.

She laughed. “Well when you figure out what you want to be when you grow up, maybe you’ll get to travel for work too.”

She had a good point. “I’ve been trying to find my passion,” I argued. “It’s not easy.”

“Nothing worth it ever is.”

“I know.” I knew that my dad did me a huge favor by allowing me to figure out what I wanted out of life. I’ve taken a few community college and online courses that were supposed to help me decide what I want to do with my life, but so far, they’ve only shown me what I don’t want. “But I feel rootless and without purpose.”

Luisa wrapped both arms around me and grunted as she squeezed. “That’s the beauty of being in our twenties, we get to take our time figuring out what to do with our lives, if we’re lucky.”

My phone rang and I ignored it without looking at the screen. “Then why don’t I feel lucky? Why do I feel like a spoiled brat?”

“Because you, my friend, are too serious for your own good. Winston owes you this time, Winter. He took the years from you where you dreamed of being a firefighter, an ice skater, princess, or astronaut. This is your time to test it out and figure it out.” She smacked a loud, exaggerated kiss to my cheek. “Accept it and don’t dwell on it. Brat.”

I laughed and shook my head before I shoved her away. My phone rang again, and I let it. “You’re not funny. I can’t believe someone pays you for that attitude.”

“I know, right?” She threw her head back and laughed as a car blasting loud music approached us from behind. “Ugh,” she moaned. “Walk faster.”

Luisa took my hand and walked so fast she was practically dragging me behind her. “Hang on,” I complained but she didn’t stop. Instead she sped up.

“Hey baby, how much for a good time?”

“Not for sale!” Luisa tossed a dismissive wave over her shoulder, still pulling me along in determined strides.

Several men laughed at her response. “Don’t be that waychica.I love a sassy woman with curves.”

His words seem playful and flirty enough but something about the whole situation gave me bad vibes. “Let’s get out of here,” I whispered to my best friend.

“Don’t be that way,” one of the guys said, his voice sounded behind us.

“Go,” I shouted and picked up my pace.

“Hey, don’t be that way.” A hand wrapped around my arm and I tried to yank it away, but the man was stronger than me.

Panic set in. “Get your fucking paws off of me!”

He laughed. “She’s feisty, this is gonna be fun.”

“This is anything but fun,” I replied and yanked myself from his grasp successfully.

“I hate an uppity bitch,” the other one snarled and stopped in front of me and Luisa. “You think you’re too good for us?”

---