Page 72 of Sincerely, Butterfly
She gets to her feet and takes a few steps over to me, letting me see that she’s wearing a blood red crop top and baggy jeans.
She holds out her hand. “I’m Callie.”
I stare at it for a moment like an idiot. Can you blame me? The only time I’ve shaken hands was as a kid when the men from the parties I went to with my dad would introduce themselves while they told my father how I was going to grow up to be this stunning woman.
I understand that murderous look in my dad’s eyes now. He would have actually killed them if they even so much as looked at me the wrong way.
Deciding why the hell not, I take her hand and give it a quick shake. “Nola.”
Her eyes light up as if she recognizes the name.Fuck. Maybe we have met before?
“Nice to meet you, Nola.”
“Are you new here?”
She nods. “Yup. I’m actually from here, but I mostly grew up in London, and went to an all-girls school for the past eight years. You have no idea how excited I am to be away from all of that. I never knew how vapid and self-centered girls could be. Well, at least those girls.” She waves her hand.
I snort out a laugh. “Trust me, I can relate.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Did you go to Crest Wood Academy?”
“Unfortunately.”
She laughs again, and I’m oddly pleased with how soft and musical it is. “Guess I didn’t miss out on much, did I?”
“Unless you enjoy not only self-centered girls, but raging asshole men, then nope.”
She lets out a sigh. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” She looks around. “If it wasn’t for my brother, I’d be going to a regular old college with normal people.”
“What’s your definition of normal?” I raise a brow.
“Someone who is genuinely a good person doesn’t judge someone based on looks or what's in their bank account, and doesn’t use them to get ahead in life.”
My lips curve into a soft smile.Okay, yeah, I like this Callie girl.
Guess this is looking to be the best first day ever.
But first, I want to know what she’s here for. That's going to tell me a lot about her. “What career are you working towards?”
“A zoo veterinarian. I love animals. Mostly the more exotic ones.” A shy look settles over her face. “Growing up, I loved going to the zoo. It was my happy place, and the only place where I have any good memories, really,” she admits a little sadly, and my heart aches for her. “My brother and his friends would take me all the time. We’d spend the whole day there, any chance they could?”
“Sounds like your brother and his friends are good guys.”
She snorts out a laugh. “To me, yes. To others… that's debatable.”
Huh. Not sure if I like what she means by that. But it’s none of my business.
Her answer, however, I approve of. Anyone who loves animals gets points in my book.
“What's yours?” she asks, shoving her hands in her pockets.
Guess this will determine if she thinks I’m a freak like everyone else. “Forensic science,” I tell her. “I’m working towards becoming a forensic pathologist. My dad owns pretty much all the morgues in New Orleans. I’m gonna join the family business.”
“That sounds exciting!” she squeals, sounding so genuine, not like she's just trying to be polite.
“Really?” I raise a brow. “When people find that out, they get creeped out or look at me like I’ve lost a few brain cells,” I snort.
She shrugs. “Fuck what other people say. It’s your life, not theirs. Do what makes you happy. And if that's what you want to do, then go for it. It’s not an easy job.”
