Page 59 of Fake it For Good
“I went back to the boutique and got another dress,” she said. “It’s black.”
“I like you in black.”
“You said you like me in red,” she countered.
“I do, but I think my exact words were I like you naked.”
“You’re in a mood today,” she said with a laugh.
“Because I’ve been thinking about you,” I said. “I can’t walk into my kitchen without thinking about you naked.”
“That must make for an interesting cup of coffee.”
“You have no idea,” I groaned. “Anyway, I was thinking I could pick you up for tonight. I’m done with work and can head over now.”
“You want to pick me up?” she repeated.
“Is that a problem?”
“No.” She hesitated, making me think it was a problem.
“Noelle?”
“It’s fine. I’ll text you my address. I’m going to do my hair. I’ll be ready in about half an hour.”
“I’ll be there in forty minutes or so,” I said.
After hanging up with her, I grabbed the suit I had brought with me. I knew I wasn’t going to have time to go home and change. I put on the black suit with a fresh white shirt. Tonight’s dinner was a bunch of industry guys getting together to brag. It was friendly competition. It was the event before the Macy’s Day thing. Tonight would be the first time Noelle was officiallyon. I wasn’t worried. We were pretty comfortable with each other. I was confident no one would suspect it was a ruse. We acted like a couple.
I left the office and followed the GPS instructions to her apartment. The place looked rough. I wasn’t sure I should leave the Porsche on the street. I didn’t really have an option. I set the alarm, knowing it wouldn’t stop anyone from taking it if they wanted it. There wasn’t an elevator in the building, which meant I had to climb the four flights of stairs to her floor.
I knocked on the door with “4D” painted in black on it. I heard muffled shouts a few doors down. I didn’t know how she did it. I was a pretty strong man, but I didn’t think I was brave enough to live in a place like this.
“Hi,” she said. “Come in. I want to fix my eyeliner.”
I wasn’t looking at her eyeliner. “I like it,” I said. “Really like it.”
“The dress?”
“Yes. Why? Is there something under the dress I will like more?”
She laughed and waggled her finger at me. I stepped into the living room and realized it was the bedroom, kitchen, and dining room as well. She disappeared into a narrow door, which I realized was the bathroom. Her apartment was tiny. I started to understand just why she was working for the agency. She needed the money.
I looked around the space while she fixed her makeup. There was a picture collage of her and some kids. I was assuming they were the kids she volunteered to help. In every picture, she was smiling like she’d just won the lottery. Seeing how happy she was with so very little was a reality check. I did sometimes forget just how little some people had.
“Are any of these yours?” I asked.
“What?” She popped her head out of the bathroom. I pointed to the collage of kids, to which she rolled her eyes. “I would be so lucky to claim any of them.”
“Orphanage?”
“Yes,” she said.
She stepped out of the bathroom and raised her arms. “Good?”
“Beautiful,” I said. “I would kiss you, but I can see you just put on lipstick.”
“Good man,” she said, laughing. “So, I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”
