Page 52 of Mistlefoe
Maybe she’s warming up to me just a bit. Maybe there’s hope.
Something catches my attention from above her head. Slowly, my lips stretch into a smile. “Look.” I point behind her.
Sierra turns to face out of the barn door and as her eyesadjust to the dark outside, she gasps. “Oh, wow. You were right.”
“What did I tell you? My nose doesn’t lie.”
I follow after her and we stand at the threshold, watching the delicate flurries of the first snow making their winding descent to the ground. The light from inside the barn makes them glint in an almost magical way.
Sierra’s dark eyes are wide with wonder as she takes in the sight. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Yes.” I’m staring at her instead, mesmerized. “Yes, it is.”
I don’t know if wishing on the first snow is a thing or not, but I send a wish up to the heavens that I get the chance to experience this with her again. And again.
CHAPTER 18
SIERRA
“Cheers to your new job!”
We clink our glasses, braving the sloshing champagne that now trickles down my hand and down Rachel’s arm. Giggling, she grabs a napkin from the table and gives it to me, even though she has the bigger mess now soiling her blouse. And I know her, if I don’t grab it, she’ll just hold it up for me until I do, further delaying her own cleanup process.
I grab it and shake my head. That’s Rachel in a nutshell, the most giving person I’ve encountered in my life. A lump rises in my throat and something presses behind my ears. I don’t know if the previous champagne flute is to blame but I suddenly want to burst into ugly tears, that’s how much love I’m bubbling with for her.
“I’m so, so freaking happy for you.” I sniffle into the napkin. “You deserve this and the whole rest of the world. And the universe too.”
“Oh, geez. It’s just a job offer, Sierra. Don’t make my floodgates open now.” That’s when she finally plucks a napkin for herself and yep, she blots her blouse first before taking care of the trickle of tears down her face.
I reach over for a clean napkin and not so gently dab at her face. “Look at us, we’re mess. We’re supposed to be happy and celebrating, so what the hell is this?”
“You have no right to ask when you’re the one who started it.” At least a laugh comes out as she says this.
“I’m sorry, I just love you so much, pendeja.”
“You have weird ways of showing your feelings, Sierra.”
Grinning, I lean back against my chair. We came to this fancy downtown bar straight from work, ditching our responsibilities the second we read the email from HR offering Rachel the position of Publicity Talent Manager. Starting January, she’ll transition to taking care of publicity accounts for theSPORTYbrand, which in simpler terms means she’ll manage campaigns with celebrities hired to promote our brand and products. How freaking cool is that?
If anyone deserves it, it’s Rachel. She’s worked twice as hard to get here as the rest of us, all while raising a son as a single mother. All she’s missing is a cape.
“And here you were, freaking out that you wouldn’t get it.”
She shrugs. “You just never know with these things. They said they had several candidates in mind, including external. And you know how they can lowball externals a lot easier because they don’t know better.”
“But you got it.” I smile. “And I told you so. Now, pay up.”
Rachel snorts at my extended hand, but still makes a big show of fishing for her wallet to take out a five dollar bill. That’s what she gets for betting against herself, the fool.
“Excellent.” I snatch the crisp bill. “Next round’s on me.”
“Hah, that won’t even cover half of it.”
“Whatever. Just stop betting or you’ll lose money for the Operation: New House.”
“You’re right.” She rubs her hands. “I’m so excited for that, but even more that moving to the next school district means Adrian will enroll in a much better sports program.”
“Yep, I can feel my tears coming back up.” I pat my eyes dry, not even kidding because I’m genuinely feeling so emotional right now. I guess it’s the season of miracles, after all.
