Page 133 of Wingwoman
Brent:
I might have an apartment lead for you. Whenever you’re ready to come back to NY.
The truth was, lately I had been thinking less and less about New York and more and more about staying here in Texas.
I’d be lying, though, if I said my change in heart had nothing to do with Josh. And as I’d learned the hard way in the past, turning my life upside down for a man is never smart.
I needed to keep my options open. Picking up my phone, I fired off a quick text back to Brent.
Hope:
Send me the apartment listing and I’ll take a look.
It couldn’t hurt to look, right? Keep my options open.
Raeanne cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to the table. “So?” she asked. “What do you say? I can start developing your online persona now, free of charge.”
“She’s really good at it,” Viv added. “I mean, I know I’m her mama and have to say that, but it’s also true.”
“Start now?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
Raeanne held out her hand. “Give me your phone, I’ll show you.”
I was skeptical, but she did make some compelling arguments. Reluctantly, I unlocked my screen, then dropped my phone into her hands.
With her head down, she tapped away at my screen. Then after a few beats, she looked up at us like she had forgotten we were all there.
“Go on about your business! Don’t mind me! Everyone hold up your mimosas and cheers to Mama’s soon-to-be nuptials!”
We all did as she said, even though I was the only one confused by it. Even still, it was hard not to smile when Vivian, Julianne, Maggie, and Maryanne were all smiles and giggles as they clinked their glasses to the center. Gently, I added mine to the mix, grinning as we toasted to a long, happy marriage for Viv.
The sound of my phone capturing a photo made my head whip back to Raeanne.
“What was that?” I asked.
She handed my phone back to me, beaming. “That was the sound of your first post.”
I looked down at the image on social media. I was beaming, the center of focus while the rest of us were clinking glasses together and my smile seemed relaxed and genuine.
My skin also looked smoother, hair shinier, and… was I mistaken… or were my lips fuller? “Did you retouch this photo of me?” I asked squinting as I examined it closer.
“Of course,” Raeanne said. “I added the photo retoucher app to your homescreen too.”
“Um… thanks?”
“No problem. It makes you look like you’ve had botox.”
I didn’t need botox. I was only in my twenties, I wanted to tell her, but kept the thought to myself.
“Feel free to run any post ideas by me!” Raeanne said. “And I’ll even put together a little calendar of things you should post regularly. But basically, you want the posts to be vague and give them just enough to stop snooping around for info. So tonight? Post a cute photo of you and Josh snuggling. They’ll lose their effing minds.”
“All right, girls,” Vivian said, standing up. “I have to hit the restroom and then I need to get back to work.”
“Go ahead, Mama,” Raeanne said. “We’ll wait here for you.”
Vivian left the table, crossing the restaurant, leaving me with the Annes.
“Well… thanks,” I said again. “If you ever need anything from me, matchmaking services or whatever—”
