Page 225 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Gwen
Tito’s was electric as I sat at a table, trying to check texts. I’d had a nice visit with Mia and now she was talking to Dean and some others.
Isabella
You are so a fashion disaster. I can’t believe you wore that to a press conference. Also, you were voted the game’s worst-dressed MASO. Do you need me to send you things? By the way, your hair iswavy.
She added a link to a post, ranking the outfits of the MASOs for the games played tonight. There was a picture of me in my jammie pants, hoodie, hat, and backpack. The caption was “Notsure what player she belongs to, but she looks like she just got out of eight am calculus.”
I rolled my eyes. All the stuff I needed to do my hair was expensive. Mercy and Verity sat down and Verity handed me a beer. I showed her the article.
Verity took a sip of her fruity drink. “That’s funny. Look, they low-ranked every MASO who wore a jersey. Both Atty and I are near the bottom.Don’t know who she belongs to?You’re literally wearing Clark’s number in the photo.”
Whatever, anyone who ranked Verity and Atty near the bottom weren’t to be trusted.
Mercy rolled her eyes. “I’ll fix this.”
She got out her phone and commented,“She just got out of hockey practice. In case you didn’t notice, she changed into a pink mask and a Knights’ jersey later.”
“Thanks,” I laughed. Hopefully, my sister wouldn’t think I looked like a fashion disaster in our mom’s old dress. Kaiko picked it up today, and it was at Mercy’s. The alterations were more than I expected, but from the pictures it looked like she’d done an amazing job, especially with making it strapless.
“Whyisyour sister hating on your clothes? That’s a nice suit. I was sad when it got too short. Verity picked it out,” Mercy added.
“I know. I don’t get it. I love it. Thank you.”
“Isa’s a fashion snob who works for Vecci and thinks being badly dressed is worse than death. But she means well. The suit is nice, but not super couture or whatever her standard is.” Lenny took the stool next to me and handed me a box. “One pastrami sandwich, as promised. With extra pickles.”
“Lenny, what are you doing in New York?” I wasn’t expecting a sandwichtonight.Was the deli even open at this hour? He wore a dark suit, but stood out among all the other guys in suits.
One of these guys is not like the other.
“Authenticating paintings for an auction house.” He turned to Verity and Mercy. He gave Verity an appreciative look. “I’m Lenny.”
“Verity,” Verity replied, looking wary. “This is my sister Mercy. Gwen, your sister works forVecci?”
“Yeah, I think she designed that dress you wore in that last show. I don’t keep in close touch with my family, because they think boundaries are only for countries.” I grabbed a crunchy pickle spear and took a bite. Mmmm.
Verity snorted. “I get that.”
“I was watching the game with some clients in their box when you texted me. I’d been trying to figure out how to get down there and bother you. Is that Mia?” Lenny’s eyes fell on her as she talked to Dean, Gio’s arm around her.
“Yep.” I took a bite of my sandwich, which had the perfect ratio of pastrami to mustard. Lenny knew Mia and Gio from tagging along to stuff at Nonna’s over the years.
“Matty wants you to call him. Like now,” Lenny replied.
“Who are you?” Carlos stood there, frowning. “This is not Popi. Other Popi?”
“Popi’s bestie, so pretty much. Popito?” I laughed. “Most of the Knights think Matty is my dad.”
Carlos snorted. “No.You need to work on your Spanish if you’re going to Mexico City next year.”
I nearly spit out my sandwich, and I took a big gulp of beer to wash it down. “Who says I’m going to Mexico City? I never reached five-foot-ten.”
Not that I was against it. I’d takeanyPHL team. Clark would fully support me. Like I’d support him if he went somewhere else. It was part of the job. Hopefully someone was watching me tonight and liked what they saw.
“Oh, the Tigres are still watching you, Mariquita. And that pink gear? You’reperfect.Besides, my cousin plays for them,”Carlos replied. “He tells me things. See, Lucky agrees. He’s proud of you, too.”
