“It’s on the house.”
“Again? No, you guys can’t keep letting me have free drinks. I can’t remember the last time I paid in here, and I’m starting to feel bad.”
“Of course, we can, and don't feel bad,” Cee Cee, my favorite barista in here, chimes in as she walks over to the expresso machine. “Where are you going? You look so cute.”
“She always looks cute,” Rob mumbles, and when I look over at him, I notice his cheeks blush. I smile at both of them before telling them I have a photo shoot.
“What brand is it for today?”
I slide over to the pickup side as someone comes to order. “This first one is just something small and later today is with Cartier.”
“Cartier?!” Cee Cee glances over her shoulder at me. “Bring me back a pair of earrings.”
I let out a laugh because she says this every time I tell her which brand I’m shooting with. Jewelry line, clothing line, shoes. It’s always the same joke with her, but it never gets old.
She finishes my drink and has me try it right then and there to see my reaction.
“Hmm.” I take another sip and look back down at my cup. “What is this?”
She tells me something that isn’t even on the menu. “Should we add it?”
“Definitely!” I glance at my watch when it dings, and it’s Helena. “Okay, I need to go.” I quickly add a hundred-dollar bill to the tip jar. They both send me a pointed look, and I send them both a quick air kiss. “Love ya.”
I don’t miss the way Rob's cheeks heat as I turn, and I give him a small smile. He’s so cute but also so young.
As I walk out, I notice Helena leaning against her car. My eyes catch someone behind her, and as if he can sense me watching him, he glances up, and a smile touches my lips.
I watch as Liam's eyes roam along my frame, and when his eyes meet mine, my smile widens as I wave at him. He nods my way but barely even looks at me as he turns around.
“Do you know him?” Helena takes her drink, and I keep my eyes on Liam’s back. I haven’t seen him since last week when we… anyway, I’ve never seen him around here, so I’m a bit thrown off, but it bugs me more that he just acted like that. We only texted maybe once or twice in the last few days, but a part of me is shocked he totally acted like he didn't know me just now. When he said he wanted me to help him get me out of his head, I didn't think he meant literally…
“I guess not.” I debate, walking over, but Helena climbs into the car, reminding me we are in a rush, so I follow suit.
The entire ride, the car fills with our excited voices about our upcoming show with Vincent Moore. Being that it's only a week away, we're all losing our minds from the excitement but also the amount of energy it's taking. Big shows like this always take so much preparation, but considering it's Mr. Moore himself, no one has voiced a single complaint.
We made it to the studio with time to spare since, as I said, there was no traffic. As soon as we walk through the door, we are ambushed by excited staff and swept along with directions and instructions.
Since Helena and I are signed with Magic Model, most of our photo shoots are set up through them. I get other brand deals, of course, but the company sets up maybe half of them.
“Okay!” The woman who introduced herself asThe Bossstarts yelling out orders. “Our girls are here. We need hair and makeup for Ms. Rogers.” She leads us to the back, and we take our seatsin front of two vanities. It is a whirlwind as hair, makeup, and clothing designers work to get us ready for the first look.
“OhGod, did you see Mel’s post?”
I turn to Helena just as she looks up from her phone. She passes it to me, and I smile at the post Mel made. She models with us and was one of Quinn's baby models in the contest. Helena doesn’t like her, but I can’t remember why.
“She looks so pretty! Blonde suits her so well.”
Helena lets out a scoff and turns the phone back to herself.
“What?”
“She totally went blonde because I’m blonde.” She rolls her eyes, and I feel my brows furrow.
“You’re naturally blonde, Lena.” I look at her, confused. “It’s not like you just changed your hair and she–”
“Yeah, well, the other day we were at the studio, and someone complimented my hair, and she interrupted and immediatelystarted going off about how she was dying her hair blonde.”
I still don’t see what this has to do with her…
