seemed almost pointless now. I could be on that list. And if I didn’t have a job, the column was the least of my worries.
They wouldn’t cut Reg because he was the most seasoned reporter on the job. And Sean was in so tight with the cops they’d never replace him. Me? I was a column and in-depth features. Isn’t that the first crap to go when a newspaper starts its death march?
Cat smirked. “I’d say nice knowin’ ya, Espinoza, but um, yeah. Not true.”
I flipped her off. “Ditto.”
***
By lunchtime, I couldn’t handle it. Cat had made several more jokes about my appearance, and my study in the bathroom mirror under fluorescent lighting had not reassured me. I had a giant cowlick that reminded me frighteningly of my sixth-grade school picture. I’d missed a spot when shaving, and I’d grabbed a shirt that was too tight and the pull every time I moved my arms was driving me nuts.
I grabbed my keys and snuck home to freshen up. I had an interview for a news story I’d let Tanya guilt me into doing. I didn’t want to worry about my hair or my clothes instead of nailing down the right questions.
After a record-setting speedy shower, I yanked my pants back on and tossed my shirt in the trash. Good riddance .
I dried my hair and put in just enough hair product to look natural but styled. Cleaned up the rough patch on my cheek, and slapped on a little aftershave. Leaning in close, I smiled. That was more like it.
“You’re a good looking guy, Nick Espinoza,” I told my reflection.
“I bet you say that to all the boys.”
I turned slowly, embarrassment burning up my neck. I had no idea how to save my self-respect, and Edie saved me the effort of trying.
Her eyes locked onto my bare chest. “Can’t you ever wear a shirt?”
She turned on her heel in a huff and stomped into the master bedroom.
I followed her. All my shirts were in the closet of that room, so I didn’t have a choice. She heard me behind her, and spun around.
“What is your prob—”
Her words cut off as she bumped into me.
I stepped back, and she blushed bright red, all the way to the roots of her hair.
“What the hell, Nick? Can’t you just get dressed and leave me alone?”
Okay, now I was pissed off.
“Quit looking at me if I’m so damn offensive to your virgin eyes,” I snapped. “And move, so I can get into the closet. If you want me dressed, I have to get a shirt.”
She lost the flush of color in her face and jumped out of the way.
“Oh.”
I crawled across the bed and jerked open the closet. I didn’t take much time picking out a shirt — again — but I made sure it fit better. Yanking it off the hanger, I put it on in record time.
“You know, I wouldn’t even be here right now if you hadn’t kicked me out of my own damn bathroom this morning before I was finished getting ready,” I said tightly as I buttoned my shirt.
“Oh.”
I spun around, my throat tight. Don’t ask me why, but Edie Mason’s snarky words had gotten under my skin.
“I get it. You think I’m totally vain and superficial.” I rolled my eyes. “I probably am. Whatever. But damn, I spent all day putting up with wisecracks about how I must have done the walk of shame this morning.”
She winced. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re not all naturally attractive and— Wait. What did you say?”
Did she just apologize? Did a girl say she was sorry? I thought that was against all laws of nature.
“I was rude ... and stupid. Of course, you need to come in here to get your clothes. And, I had a little fun at your expense this morning, and I’d have been super pissed if you did that to me. So, I’m sorry.”
All the aggression drained out of me. “Wow, that’s a good apology.”
She smiled. “I have lots of practice.”
“Dare I ask?”
She shook her head no, so I let it drop. I had to get back to work, so I grabbed my keys from the dresser and hesitated in the doorway.
“I’ll see you after work?”
She
They wouldn’t cut Reg because he was the most seasoned reporter on the job. And Sean was in so tight with the cops they’d never replace him. Me? I was a column and in-depth features. Isn’t that the first crap to go when a newspaper starts its death march?
Cat smirked. “I’d say nice knowin’ ya, Espinoza, but um, yeah. Not true.”
I flipped her off. “Ditto.”
***
By lunchtime, I couldn’t handle it. Cat had made several more jokes about my appearance, and my study in the bathroom mirror under fluorescent lighting had not reassured me. I had a giant cowlick that reminded me frighteningly of my sixth-grade school picture. I’d missed a spot when shaving, and I’d grabbed a shirt that was too tight and the pull every time I moved my arms was driving me nuts.
I grabbed my keys and snuck home to freshen up. I had an interview for a news story I’d let Tanya guilt me into doing. I didn’t want to worry about my hair or my clothes instead of nailing down the right questions.
After a record-setting speedy shower, I yanked my pants back on and tossed my shirt in the trash. Good riddance .
I dried my hair and put in just enough hair product to look natural but styled. Cleaned up the rough patch on my cheek, and slapped on a little aftershave. Leaning in close, I smiled. That was more like it.
“You’re a good looking guy, Nick Espinoza,” I told my reflection.
“I bet you say that to all the boys.”
I turned slowly, embarrassment burning up my neck. I had no idea how to save my self-respect, and Edie saved me the effort of trying.
Her eyes locked onto my bare chest. “Can’t you ever wear a shirt?”
She turned on her heel in a huff and stomped into the master bedroom.
I followed her. All my shirts were in the closet of that room, so I didn’t have a choice. She heard me behind her, and spun around.
“What is your prob—”
Her words cut off as she bumped into me.
I stepped back, and she blushed bright red, all the way to the roots of her hair.
“What the hell, Nick? Can’t you just get dressed and leave me alone?”
Okay, now I was pissed off.
“Quit looking at me if I’m so damn offensive to your virgin eyes,” I snapped. “And move, so I can get into the closet. If you want me dressed, I have to get a shirt.”
She lost the flush of color in her face and jumped out of the way.
“Oh.”
I crawled across the bed and jerked open the closet. I didn’t take much time picking out a shirt — again — but I made sure it fit better. Yanking it off the hanger, I put it on in record time.
“You know, I wouldn’t even be here right now if you hadn’t kicked me out of my own damn bathroom this morning before I was finished getting ready,” I said tightly as I buttoned my shirt.
“Oh.”
I spun around, my throat tight. Don’t ask me why, but Edie Mason’s snarky words had gotten under my skin.
“I get it. You think I’m totally vain and superficial.” I rolled my eyes. “I probably am. Whatever. But damn, I spent all day putting up with wisecracks about how I must have done the walk of shame this morning.”
She winced. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re not all naturally attractive and— Wait. What did you say?”
Did she just apologize? Did a girl say she was sorry? I thought that was against all laws of nature.
“I was rude ... and stupid. Of course, you need to come in here to get your clothes. And, I had a little fun at your expense this morning, and I’d have been super pissed if you did that to me. So, I’m sorry.”
All the aggression drained out of me. “Wow, that’s a good apology.”
She smiled. “I have lots of practice.”
“Dare I ask?”
She shook her head no, so I let it drop. I had to get back to work, so I grabbed my keys from the dresser and hesitated in the doorway.
“I’ll see you after work?”
She
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