Page 42 of The Autumn We Fell in Love

Now I’m smiling too. “You always work it hard.”

Laughing, Tonio sets off for the stage wings, getting ready to step into the spotlight. I head to the bathroom, checking to make sure my understated makeup isn’t running.

Grabbing some more paper towels from the dispenser, I blot my shorn-short black hair. Without meaning to, I catch my own eyes in the mirror.

Behind the carefully crafted impassive mask I’ve learned to wear, I see worry — a lot of it.

I’m making good money here.

But I need more. Way more. And fast. Otherwise, my mother stands to go to court.

And with all that’s going on with her health, that’s the very last thing she needs.

I’ll try to pick up as many hours here as I can, just like always. But I need some other opportunity to come my way, and soon.

I just wish I knew what that could be. I’m fresh out of options, and my mother is nearly out of time. Something’s got to give, and it can’t be her health.

And when that somethingdoesgive? I’ll jump at it like lightning, no matter what it is.

Shira

Igaze skeptically around the interior of the exotic dance club my best and most trusted friend, Valentina, has brought me to.

Well, most trusted before she brought me here for a pick-me-up. If she thinks this place is my thing, she doesn’t know me at all.

“Are you sure this is where you want to go tonight?” I say loudly over the thumping music a listening man is dancing to up on the stage. “It’s not really my scene.”

Valentina rounds on me, glossy black hair fanning over her shoulders, one thick eyebrow popped at me. “You are the creator of the best damned hookup and dating app out there.”

“No, not hookup, just dating—“ I try to correct her, but she doesn’t hesitate.

“And this is where the hookups happen.” She fans both hands out to her sides as if she’s presenting me with the family ranch, not a moderately-seedy exotic dance place.

I fold my hands over my chest. “It’s a strip club.”

She cocks her head at me, smirking. “It’s a wine bar. It even says so in the name, Fine As Wine Strip Club and Wine Bar.” Her gaze swivels to the man on stage. “And they got thefinepart right.”

I roll my eyes and tug her toward the bar. “So romantic. You owe me a glass of wine.”

“Done and done.” She waves down the bartender, meticulously manicured crimson nails glistening in the lights flashing from the stage, and orders us two extra-large glasses of pinot noir.

I didn’t know wine came in various sizes.

But then, when I created Blush, I hadn’t figured that my success with investors would come down to my dating life, not my skills.

I wonder if they’d ask the same thing of me if I was a guy.

Looking down at my hands while the bartender gets our extra-large wines, I’m greeted by the familiar sight of rough cuticles and bitten nails. Nothing like Valentina’s. From her red-painted nails to her carefully applied eyeliner to the way she rocks the hell out of the tight black dress and chic blazer showing off her curvaceous figure, she’s perfection.

My friend always looks so together. Hell, with her sweeping the floor in the realty business, sheisso together.

I’m anything but. I’m scatterbrained, my brown hair is always frizzy instead of curly, and my go-to outfit is ankle boots, black leggings, and a simple tunic, even when going out on the town.

Valentina’s always on my side, building me up, telling me how awesome I am. She says I just haven’t found my confidence yet. But honestly, I don’t know how she puts up with me. I guess opposites really do attract.

And if it was Valentina in this situation with the investors instead of me, I bet she’d have their request handled before it was even out of the lead investor’s mouth.

That’s why we’re here.

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