I shake my head, annoyed. I clamp my hands over my mouth and take slow deep breaths, willing myself not to throw up. When the wave of nausea subsides, I lay down in bed. I don’t even bother huddling underneath the blankets. I’m way too tired. I close my eyes and pass out.

Chapter Fourteen

I finally start at Malcara Enterprises today. I’m buzzing with excitement. Yesterday I may or may not have gone a little overboard in the shopping department for new work clothes. I’m a girl, what can you expect?

After I style my hair into a side bun, I put on a light shade of shimmery grey eyeshadow to make my violet eyes pop, a little eyeliner and mascara to finish it off. I select a light shade of pink lipstick. Bam, my face and hair are done in a matter of minutes.

I step into my Derek Lam fitted silver dress. It’s chic and business in one, perfect for my first day! I forgo jewelry and slip into my Michael Kors suede booties. Gripping my red Valentino tote bag, I rush to the kitchen to snag a breakfast bar and a water. Stuffing both in my bag, I dash out of my apartment.

My morning is full of playing catch-up. Which is perfect for me. I’m a fantastic multitasker. I’m given no direction, well not if you count “here’s all the papers that need to be dealt with.” My boss did add that I can ask questions if I have any, but me being stubborn, I chose to ignore that last part and figure everything out on my own. I’m almost done with everything when Tinkerbell strolls out of her office towards me. I smile warmly at her.

“Lunch is in about thirty. I have the perfect place for us to go,” she says as she continues on her way.

My mouth drops open in surprise. I thought she was going to ask me to do something for her, not invite me to lunch. Well, demand is more like it. I see her smack her hand over her face before she stops and turns around with a guilty expression on her face. I raise an eyebrow in question.

“I’m so sorry. You probably already have plans . . . I just thought since you’re new and everything.”

I laugh at how quickly she can switch from commanding to uncertain. Tinkerbell to the core, I swear!

“That sounds great. Just come get me when you’re ready to go to lunch, Ms. Harrison.” I use her last name because I don’t want to sound unprofessional.

The look of horror that washes over her face tells me before she says anything that I should have gone with her first name.

“No need for last names with me. Call me Harper. Never Ms. Harrison.”

Harper takes me to a little hole in the wall diner that I would have never known was here without her. Once we open the heavy wood door, I fall in love immediately. There’s a homey vibe to this little Mexican place. We grab the only table available, and both order water, mine with ice, hers without. Our server brings chips and salsa and takes our orders.

After eating a chip Harper asks, “How do you like Malcara so far?”

I tell her all about my first day, and how much I like it. “Ask again at the end of the week, though.”

She laughs at my joke. After the server delivers our meals, I moan when I take the first bite of the burrito. Holy crap! Tinkerbell gives me a knowing look.

“Best Mexican around. Told you.”

We launch into girly topics after a few bites and I learn that she may beat me on the whole over-spending gene by a landslide. She loves clothes more than me and that’s saying something. I love that she doesn’t bring up any family questions so I skip over those, too. However, I do ask where she’s from, I mean the woman does have a southern accent.

Laughing she says, “I’m from Alabama. I’m surprised it took you this long to ask. It’s usually the first thing somebody asks me.”

We argue over the bill, but she’s quicker than I am.

“It’s your first day. Besides, you can get the next one.”

I smile, realizing that I’ve just made my first friend since high school. I think this is bigger news than my job. I can’t wait to tell Liv at therapy today.

After we get back to work, I don’t see Harper until we’re leaving for the day because she’s been stuck in meetings. I finish closing up my computer files, stand up, and collect my things. I say a quick goodbye to my boss, William.

“Have a good night, Adalynn. You did a great job today. Oh and before I forget, whenever you make travel arrangements for me please email a copy to my wife or she’ll kill me.”

“Of course, William, goodnight.”

I close the door, happy that I have an amazing boss that is so devoted to his wife. He is a firm believer on not pulling all-nighters at the office just so he can get back in time for dinner. It’s refreshing to know that actual people work here and not robots.

Harper follows me into the elevator and we make small talk about our plans for the weekend while we ride down to the lobby. Apparently we’re having a girls’ night. I’m excited and a little nervous; the only girls’ night that I know of are what I see in movies. Hopefully it’s not full of drunken one night stands, because that is so not what I’m about.

“We’ll only be drinking. Promise,” she reassures me when she sees my expression.

“In that case, then I can’t wait.”

Liv’s receptionist gives me a quick wave as I enter the waiting area and directs me into the office. Liv is already in her chair, ready to start today’s session. I sit down in a huff, dropping my purse on the floor while I apologize for being late.

“How was work?”

As much as I didn’t want the job before, I’m glad that I felt my brother pushing me in this direction. The only downside of being a career woman is this sensation that I’m missing something, I can’t shake it. I want to tell Liv this, but I hold my tongue. I have a sinking feeling that I know what I really want to do, but I’m not ready to face that obstacle yet. So instead, I tell her the truth about my day but omit what’s on my mind.

“It was fantastic, I was so busy! If I wasn’t doing a million things at my computer, I was running around the office. Plus my boss is really nice. Oh and I made a friend, she reminds me of Tinkerbell.”

“Your co-worker reminds you of a Disney fairy?”

I nod. “With a southern accent too. Her name is Harper. She’s crazy and you would love her.”

We talk about the changes in my life for twenty minutes. I think we’re just gonna keep it light today, but she drops her famous bomb like always, catching me by surprise.

“With all of these changes, new job, new friends, and getting back into old stuff like photography, have you thought about getting in the pool again?”

I twirl my thumbs back and forth. Ironically, it’s a calming gesture I picked up in swimming.

“No,” I say in a way that hopefully stops her from pushing, but I know she will. She always does.

She sets down her notebook on the coffee table in front of her and I know she’s about to get serious.

“Stop me if I’m wrong. You never thought you would be behind the camera again because it would remind you too much of your father. In a negative way, correct?”

I nod, hating where she’s going with this.

“You finally did when Jax pushed you by buying you a new camera. It brought back good memories, the memories that you refused to remember. Now you’re taking pictures, even looking through your old photos and going through your things from before the accident. The same things you kept telling Logan to throw away. He never did and you always kept those objects close to you.”

Avoiding her scrutiny, I direct my attention to the window. She has a point, but I still don’t want to be hearing this.

“Addie, swimming can bring back happy memories, too. Just think about it.”