AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Emmy
“Well, it’s about time!” I exclaim into my phone.
“I know, I know. It’s been far too long,” Larisa confesses over FaceTime. “But now that filming is wrapped, I’m bringing Gianluca back to Boston next week. I can’t wait to see you girls.”
“And we can’t wait to see you!” Jo’s warm smile on the screen reassures Larisa that everything will be as it used to. Our bond is unbreakable despite the distance and time apart.
“And you have to tell us all about the movie!” I add enthusiastically. “And about Los Angeles!”
Larisa chuckles, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, it was such an incredible experience. Working with talented actors, exploring beautiful locations… I can’t wait for you all to see it.”
I feel a surge of pride for my friend, knowing how hard she’s worked to make her dreams as a cinematographer come true.
“Well, hurry home! We’ve got a wedding to plan!” Jo adds.
“Ugh. I just wish I didn’t have to work next week…” Or ever. I sigh.
“How about Jo and I stop by while you’re working? You can help me pick out some makeup for the wedding, then we can go to dinner when you get off?”
“That sounds perfect! I would love that.” I smile. “Alright ladies, I gotta run. My lunch break is about over, and you know how Mr. Doyle gets if I’m late…”
We say our goodbyes and end the call, but as I hang up the phone, the weight of loneliness settles deeper into my chest. My girlfriends are living their best lives. Jo is married to a billionaire and has settled into her role as a wife and mother to his child. She also just published her first novel, which made the New York Times Bestseller List. While Larisa’s engaged to Gianluca—a literal Italian celebrity—and her career as a cinematographer is taking off.
And then there’s me, stuck in a dead-end job with no love life to speak of.
But I can’t dwell on that now—I have customers to attend to.
“Excuse me, do you have this lipstick in black?”
“That is black.” I smile.
“No, a different shade of black,” the customer says to me as if I can’t understand the obvious.
“I’m so sorry. We only have one shade of black.”
The June afternoon sun is shining through the beauty store window, causing me to squint as I wait for her response.
“Well, I need something different than … this!” she snaps.
“Why don’t you tell me exactly what it is that you’re looking for, ma’am, and I’ll get it for you,” I say, in my most polite “dealing with difficult customers” voice.
“I’m looking for black lipstick!”
“That is black. But perhaps I can show you some other colors that might interest you more…”
She looks at me like a cat looks at a steering wheel. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Because that’s not your job, you know! It’s not your job to be funny! Your job is to get me my lipstick!” she says as she raises her voice.
“The lipstick that’s … already in your hand?” I ask her calmly, but I can see that the veins in her forehead are starting to swell.
“That’s it! I want to speak with your manager!” she snaps.
“I am the manager,” I lie, though I immediately regret my words.
