Page 1 of Secret Admirer
Chapter 1
Rebecca James sat up straight in her wooden chair and glanced out at the setting sun that made the sky almost orange. She swallowed and turned away. Today she would tell her friends that she wasn’t going to be around so much anymore. She'd made a decision.
From today on, her life would be different.
Rebecca studied the white and cream walls of the familiar restaurant decorated with drawings of life back in Cuba, before the 1960s. Miami, Florida, with its high Cuban population, had an 'art deco meets the Caribbean' vibe, and this place was no exception. She'd sat at this brown square table countless times over the years. Destiny, at her left, scrolled wedding ideas on Pinterest while they waited for Melissa.
She sent her best friend a text.Melissa, I’m going back to college… Delete. No that wouldn’t work. Melissa had actually gone to college and would support that decision, even though they'd graduated from high school seven years ago.
Melissa, I’m leaving Miami… Delete. Rebecca wasn’t sure she was going anywhere, and there was no need to be dramatic. Perhaps she would stay in town.
Financially, this made more sense, and she qualified for in-state tuition. Eighteen-year-olds who never had to pay bills were the kind who went to out of state colleges. Besides, she owned her own home.
Melissa, can you go with me to FIU tomorrow and walk me through how to register for classes?Should she delete this? It might be better to talk it out when her best friend arrived--late, as always.
Rebecca deleted the message and put her phone away with a sigh.
She wasn’t a teenager anymore. Maybe she should have gone right after high school. She felt too old now, even with the cherry red she’d added to her blonde hair. The change hadn’t helped jazz up her days, or nights. Her life was on the fast track to boring.
This couldn’t be solved by simply buying new clothes or changing her dyed red ponytail to a shorter, darker style. The problem went deeper than that.
The concentration it took to tune an engine shouldn’t be the only time her mind was quiet and peaceful.
Rebecca admitted to herself that, yeah, she needed new clothes, as every article in her closet had oil stains. But what was the point, unless she changed her job?
Something needed to happen and happen now, because working at the garage and meeting her friends here on Friday nights just wasn’t fun anymore.
Life had to be more than what she had right now. More was out there. Somewhere, just waiting for her.
Rebecca sipped on her beer. Destiny radiated happiness. Her friend was getting married on the beach, to the man of her dreams. Until she’d seen Destiny this happy, she hadn't believed anyone could truly glow.
Destiny continued to take notes, smiling occasionally as she pinned a few more ideas on her board.
One day Rebecca James wanted to glow.
In her current state, however, that wasn’t going to happen.
The bell at the front door rang and Melissa sauntered in, wearing a new black cocktail dress that probably cost her entire paycheck. Why Melissa dressed up like she was heading to a party every Friday night, when they were just meeting for dinner at this old restaurant, she’d never understand.
Unlike her, Melissa had a job that she seemed to enjoy, especially her status as the youngest head manager in the international conglomerate she worked for.
Melissa's new outfit didn't gain a single glance. The customers, like the three friends, were always the same--they were practically part of the furniture.
Melissa slipped onto the chair next to her. Long brown hair curled over one fashionable shoulder. The waitress immediately came over to take their orders. Destiny chose the "my wedding is coming" chicken salad, Melissa picked sautéed chicken breasts, and Rebecca ordered chicken Milanese--she needed the carbs after ripping apart a carburetor earlier that afternoon.
Unfortunately, her work gloves had ripped halfway through and no amount of scrubbing could get the black engine oil from her nails. Once the waitress left, Rebecca said, “Melissa, looking beautiful as always.”
Melissa smiled at the compliment, thanking the waitress, who dropped off her beer and plantains for them to share. She fixed her napkin over her lap like a lady. “Rebecca, I got your cryptic texts about "change is coming", like your life is a movie teaser. What’s going on?”
It was time to tell her best friends her plans. She thought of them as her sisters, but of the three, her life was missing something big. Destiny had her married life to look forward to, and Melissa her career in retail--she'd probably be sent to the corporate offices to shape the stores up regionally and then something even bigger. Unlike her, Melissa had a laser focus for business opportunities and getting ahead.
Rebecca took a swig of her beer, for courage. It was harder than she thought to tell them, when it shouldn’t be. They’d be happy she was putting herself first, but still, her pulse raced with nerves. “I need your help. I’m thinking about enrolling at FIU for an engineering degree, but I’m lost on how to go about it. I feel like I’m too old now to start back in school.”
“College classes are filled with people in their thirties or even older. Don’t worry about your age. We’re not old,” Melissa said fast.
“I’m so excited for you!” Destiny’s eyes widened. “Your father’s letting you leave the garage?"
Her dad had insisted he teach her a trade to make sure she always had money, or the ability to make a living.
