Make Believe: A Novella by Sharlay Read Free Book Online Page B

interesting as it is to be talking flowers and dresses, some of us have work to go to,” I said before kissing April on the lips and planting a kiss on Crystal’s forehead and messing up her hair.
    “Aiden!” I heard her scream . I continued walking out the door with an extremely satisfied smile on my face.
    I got into my car, set up my phone for hands free, found the number I wanted, and drove off.
    “Hey , douche!” The voice came in loud and cocky. No change there then.
    “Seriously, Ant ! What are we, in high school?” I smiled, shaking my head at my stupid best friend.
    “No, I didn’t even use that word in high school , but now that Ella-May is here, I need to make sure I’m down with the kids .” I rolled my eyes.
    “She’s one day old.”
    “It pays to be prepared my friend. I need to know what lines these little jerks are going to try and use on my baby girl.”
    “ Not every kid is like you were, and do you even know what a ‘douche’ is?” I asked while laughing to myself.
    “No, what?”
    “Google it. Anyway, I didn’t call to talk about your expanding vocabulary,” I said. “I called to talk about Leah. She starts today.”
    “Ahh, the PA. So, is she hot?” I could hear the sound of a smirk in his voice.
    “Ant, you’re an idiot . You know that, right?”
    “Hey, a guy has to ask. Don’t want her scaring off potential clients, right?”
    “Oh, how noble of you. If only I was half the man you are.”
    “ A dream many share, my friend.” I could hear him chuckling over the phone.
    “Anyway, her resume was pretty impressive, and her situation makes her perfect for the job.”
    “How so?”
    “Well, she only plans on staying in California for a month, then moving on to Nevada after that.”
    “ So she’s moving to the desert then?”
    “Well, she’s going to live with her father, apparently he’s not too well. He lives there.”
    “Interesting, so she’s happy with the whole arrangement?”
    “Yeah, it was perfect . She knows you’ll be back in a month, and she’ll be gone by then.”
    “Sounds too good to be true , but I’ll take it anyway,” he said.
    “There’s not much you wouldn’t take, let’s face it.”
    “Hey, that’s not true! I don’t take orders from Jess, no matter how hormonal she is….”
    “Excuse me ?” I tried not to laugh too loudly when I heard Jess’ voice in the background.
    “Where did you come from? I thought you were upstairs getting dressed.”
    “Oh, I bet you did.”
    “Someone’s in trouble,” I laughed.
    “Shut up,” he mumbled into the phone.
    “What did you say ?”
    “No, not you baby! I’m on the phone.”
    “ Oh, I know that because I heard your little conversation about my hormones!”
    “It wasn’t a conversation , just one sentence….”
    “Shut up, Anthony!”
    “Er, I’m going to have to go. Catch you later....” The phone went dead, and I was left laughing to myself in the car. A sudden knock on my window startled me. When I looked up it was Leah.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said as she moved a few stray strands of brown hair from her eyes. I could see the slight hint of a smile on her face , but I could tell she was trying to hold it back.
    “You didn’t,” I replied, stepping out my car. I cleared my throat, and said “Morning.”
    “Morning,” she said, biting her lip and averting her blue eyes.
    “O K, maybe I was a little shaken up….”
    I was cut off as she let her laugh loose, bringing a slight smile to my face.
    “Sorry, I’m not usually a victim of laughing fits. I was a little early and saw you sitting in your car. I didn’t know that knocking a window would scare you so much.”She was making no effort to hide the smile on her face anymore.
    “Well , at least its day one, and you’re smiling. That’s got to be a good sign, right?”
    “Right,” she replie d as we turned and headed inside.
    “After you,” I said, gesturing toward the automatic doors