Autumn and Summer (5 page)

“I don’t
usually
sleep with them on the first date,” Summer whispered mischievously and then she winked. “Maybe right after the date is over, but never
on
the first date.”

“You are a mess,” I laughed.

“But seriously, my vagina is selfish and she only thinks about herself! So when you choose a guy for me, I’ll be able to figure out if I’m into him before she tries to steal the show. I mean, obviously, I’ll consult her as needed…” Summer joked, causing me to laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes.

“Okay so that’s rule number two,” I said, once I caught my breath.
“Rule number three should be that we don’t try to fix each other up with anyone that we are tied to in a permanent way. Like a supervisor—”

“Oh good call!” Summer interrupted, gesturing emphatically. “I wouldn’t want you to hook me up with your boss and then it not work out and then it would be weird for all of us. And I wouldn’
t hook you up with someone like my brother—”

“Okay
, your brother is like my brother so that’s just gross!”  I shook my head as the words left my mouth.

“You know what I mean!”

“Yes, definitely. And that’s what was making Olivia so nervous. It’s already rough enough to go on a blind date, but to then have to worry about damaging relationships because the two of you don’t hit it off is a lot of pressure!”

With the same twinkle in her eye that made me nervous earlier, Summer said,
“This last rule is super important… rule four is no names.”

“What?” I sputtered
. “No names? Wha—?” My voice trailed off and I shook my head dubiously.
She’s crazy,
I thought as my recently waxed eyebrows rose in disbelief.

Giggling
, Summer started shaking her head along with me. “No listen…hear me out. What’s the first thing you do when you meet a new guy? You Google him to make sure he’s not a creeper. And then based on the search results and social media page, we decide if the guys are our type. If we do that, we’ll go into the dates already deciding if the guys are our type or not instead of just going on the date and seeing what happens. So here’s what we’ll do—we will check each guy out before we set up the date. We will show the other pictures of the guys, but we won’t give names. That way, we’ll know what the guys look like, but we won’t be able to look into anything else.”

Tha
t sounds dangerous…and reckless…and sketchy…and stressful…and completely unlike me,
I thought slowly as a smile played on my lips.
But it also sounds kind of fun.

“
Auty, is that a smile?” Summer teased in a singsong voice. “Is that a yes?”

Biti
ng my lip to stop the smile from spreading, I narrowed my brown eyes at her. We sat silently for a minute. She was smiling prettily as if she had suggested the most normal thing in the world. I sat glaring at her, trying to ignore the undeniable intrigue that had planted itself in my mind.

This is crazy and so unlike me. But maybe I need to step out of the box for once. I mean, it’s just for a month.
Ten dates with ten guys that my best friend will vet. What’s the worst that could happen? I trust Summer. She wouldn’t lead me astray. Not when it comes to men anyway. When she was trying to dress me like her and trying to get me to get a tattoo and trying to get me to give up meat…and carbs on two separate occasions…she was definitely trying to lead me astray. But never when it came to men,
I considered silently, weighing the options.

“
Okay,” I agreed, breaking eye contact briefly to smile at the waiter as he refilled our glasses. “I’m in.”

“Yes!” she cheered. “This is going to be awesome! I’m so excited.”

Her excitement coupled with the excitement that I felt bubbling inside of me and I couldn’t do anything but laugh. Raising my glass, I gave a toast, “This is either going to be really good or really bad. Either way, let the games begin!”

By
the time we finished eating and celebrating, it was close to 8 p.m. Knowing we would be drinking, Summer left her car parked at the row house in Wellington and took a taxi into the heart of the city. Walking out the door of the busy restaurant and bar, we heard the beginning of one of our favorite childhood songs. As we climbed in our taxi, we sang the entire song, much to the chagrin of the driver. Neither of us had great voices, but they were decent enough.

We were home in fifteen minutes and we were exhausted. Betwe
en waking up early and the half-priced margaritas, we were both ready for bed. Walking into the house, I felt grateful that Summer had spent so much time visiting since I’d been living in Wellington. It was a relief to not have to show her around or get her acclimated with her new living space.

I just want to go to sleep,
I thought as we climbed the stairs silently.

“I know we said at dinner we’d watch a movie and have more girl talk, but I’m exhausted,”
I announced once we made it to the second-floor landing.

“I was going to suggest the
same thing! That drive and being up so early took a toll on me. I need my beauty sleep. Not everyone can look like a glamour girl every moment of every single day,” Summer said, fluffing my hair.

“I take a few moments off in the wee hours of the night, but then I’m back at it. It’s a hard job, my friend,”
I joked as I enveloped her in a hug. “I’m so glad that you’re here!”

“I’m glad to be here.
” She hugged me tightly. “Thank you so much for letting me move in with you.”

Pulling away, I admit with seriousness, “At times, it was lonely here by myself.”

“Well, now the dynamic duo is back together.”

Saying goodnight, we both retreated to our rooms. I showered and climbed into bed. Even though I was tired, I couldn’t turn my brain off.
One week from today, we start our month long dating spree,
I contemplated.
And I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited and nervous at the same time. I’m excited by the idea of it. But as excited as I am, I’m nervous because I’m relinquishing control. Granted, I’m relinquishing it to my best friend who knows me better than anyone in the world. And ultimately, I decide who I will continue to date. But for a month, Summer is in control of my love life… starting Friday. And I am in control of hers.
I laughed despite myself.
This could go either way
, I thought, turning over onto my belly and pulling the covers over my head.

**********

              “Thursday morning meeting, come on!” Meghan chirped as soon as I answered the phone in my office.
Well, not my office but still,
I thought, surveying the nice sized office space with two desks. The desks faced each other and left virtually no room for anything else in the room. During the interview, I didn’t realize the photography office was a shared office. But it’s cozy.

             
Looking around the room, I smiled as I stood.  “On the way!”  Hanging up the receiver, I grabbed my notepad and a pen and then headed to the large open workspace of the main floor area, known as ‘The Pit.’

Even though it was my fourth day at work, I still marveled over my new employment opportunity.
Among the various dry erase boards and projection screens, in the back of the room was the largest projection screen that covered most of the back wall. Displayed in large, bright green font, the words ‘June Issue’ was blinking against the screen. A large, cream-colored conference table with twenty-four cream leather chairs was the cornerstone of the space. All the other stations had stools and high desks meant for group work and magazine construction. It was set up like all of the studios I’d ever worked in, except this conference area looked straight out of the corporate world.

I slid into the
seat next to Meghan with a goofy smile on my face. I couldn’t see myself, but the way in which my cheeks made my eyes squint, I knew it was goofy. I tried to contain it. I bit my cheeks to help. But looking around the table, I saw the future I’d always dreamed of—combination of independence, creativity, and steady pay with a dash of structure.
There weren’t many photography jobs that would allow me to be an independent contractor and receive a steady paycheck with steady work,
I thought in awe as I looked around the table.  As it was my first meeting, it was my first time seeing everyone at the same time. There were people dressed in sleek suits and expensive dresses, people dressed in cool eccentric styles, and people dressed in jeans.
And I work here. I get to work in this cool, trendy place with—

“Get it together,” Meghan whispered
jokingly as she elbowed me gently in my side.

I laughed and turned my chair slightly toward her. “
What?” I asked, still unable to control the enormous smile that graced my face.

With her choppy hair
styled toward her face and covering her right eye, Meghan looked like she was in her element. Her polka-dot shift dress looked like it was the future of fashion and vintage at the same time. “You are grinning from ear to ear!” She looked around as people trickled into the conference area. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she pointed out, “Mega Bitch just got back from an assignment and she will be here soon. And she will eat you alive for looking so happy.” Giving me a rueful smile, she added, “That’s why she hates me. She doesn’t like to see anyone happy.”

My smile faltered
as I thought about Gabriella Torres. Although John Orlando had introduced me to a number of people during my first day in the office, several people weren’t in the office during that time so there were plenty of people I had yet to meet—Ms. Torres being one of them.

As if on cue, Gabriella strolled in wearing a pantsuit that hugged her body tig
htly. The light clinking of her heels on the floor announced that she was descending upon the group without her having to open her mouth. Everyone quieted as she took her seat toward the head of the table. We all sat in silence as we waited for the last few members of the team to be seated. Glancing around the table, I noticed everyone’s eyes diverting away from her. Going with the flow, I sat back in my chair and relaxed.

I can’t believe how fast everything is moving. I have so much to do
,
I thought as I tapped my pen against the notepad in front of me.
Today is the day I get my first real assignment. Once I get an idea of how much time I need to budget for that, I can start figuring out where I can go to meet Autumn’s Mr. Right!

“What’s the name of that place on Vine you told me about?” I whispered to Meghan, keeping my head down and focused on the notepad.

“It had to be either Dirty Dozen or FX. Those are the only worthy places on Vine Street,” Meghan whispered back conspiratorially.

I wrote the words
‘thank you’ in the corner of the notepad before writing down Dirty Dozen and FX so I wouldn’t forget.

I will not be intimidated about finding Autumn a worthy man,
I thought, giving myself a pep talk as my stomach turned.
Just because she is the best person I’ve ever met in my whole damn life and deserves the kind of man that I’ve never heard of existing outside of movies and romance novels, I won’t be intimidated. Oh my God, what am I going to do? I don’t know why I thought I would just bump into ten high-quality men in my first week living here. What the hell was I thinking? Of course, I never thought that she would agree! She never does anything like this. She’s so…so level headed! Okay, I always land on my feet. I’ll figure something out.
Unconsciously, I started tapping my pen faster against the notepad.
There has to be a pool of educated, sexy, single men that I can tap into. There has—

“Good morning!” John called out
, interrupting my thoughts as he quickly moved toward the head of the table in his jeans and graphic t-shirt. “June is here!”

Everyone clapped enthusiastically in response so I joined in quickly.

“This meeting is going to be short and sweet because we need to get started today,” John started, picking up the remote to the projector and clicking to the next slide. “June is our biggest issue. When summer is in the air, people want more Style Magazine. So here’s how we are going to triple our numbers this summer…” John paused for added effect and then clicked to the next slide. “Style Magazine’s ‘Summer of Love’.”

As a murmur erupted through the crowd, my eyebrows flew up.
Summer of Love,
I repeated silently, letting the tagline roll over my mind.

“Style Magazine’s
‘Summer of Love’ will be dedicated to summer romances, summer flings, summer dates. We will feature the best places to go, best things to do, and most importantly, some eligible people to do those things with! June will feature twenty of the area’s most eligible bachelors. July will feature twenty of the area’s most eligible bachelorettes. And August…well August will be a surprise,” he laughed. “We need to focus on June. I’m going to be honest with you, this is going to be a lot. Everyone will have to bring their best work—especially those of you who are tasked with writing the articles on the bachelors. This isn’t some cheesy dating magazine. The twenty men and women selected are high caliber and major contributors to the area in some way, shape, or form. This issue is going to get a lot of attention and I don’t want to sound like a cliché, but this will make or break your career.”

As John continued with the presentation, I listened intently and took notes.
The cornerstone of the assignment was the interviews, but with each interview, a big glossy picture would accompany it. I smiled at the possibilities.

When
the meeting adjourned and we were officially given our tasks, everyone hustled to the high tables around the main floor to collaborate with their groups. The newer writers were assigned to write about the various places and things to do in June. The seasoned writers were assigned to interview and write about the June bachelors. And I was assigned to be the photographer for each of the bachelors, working hand in hand with the seasoned writers.

I caught two female writers who
I’d only seen once in passing since I started with Style Magazine exchange a disapproving look when my assignment was read. As I walked to the last available barstool at the table, I shook my head and smirked.
I love being underestimated,
I thought a
s
I recalled the whispers and sidelong glances they exchanged.  Sitting across from them, the brown haired girl looked at me and I winked.
Bring it on, bitches!

             
“Here’s the list of bachelors,” Gabriella Torres announced, dropping off eleven sheets of paper. Before we had a chance to pick up our lists, Gabriella slammed a manicured hand down in the center of the papers. The loud smack made us all jump.  Her brown eyes bore into us and I felt the tension. 

After a moment of silence, Gabriella whispered,
“There’s a lot riding on this ‘Summer of Love’ series. If June doesn’t do well, there will be some major changes being made…starting with all of you. John is a lot more easygoing and trusting than I am because, let me be the first to tell you, I wouldn’t have chosen any of you to work on this project. Well, maybe you, Tyler. But the rest of you, you need to prove yourselves. And you…” She looked at me and sneered. “I can’t believe John trusts this project to an untested amateur. You better pray you get this right, new girl.”

             
As soon as I opened my mouth to respond, John Orlando appeared. “Gabriella, our meeting is starting soon,” he said as he walked by.

Giving us one last look, she turned on her heel and followed John out of the work room.

              “Wow,” Tyler breathed, running his hand through his prematurely greying hair. He adjusted his glasses and then handed each of us our sheets of paper. We all reviewed the list in silence, but I was fuming.

How dare she talk to me like that?
I bristled silently. My eyes flitted over the list, not recognizing any names, but I was preoccupied with my growing hatred for Mega Bitch.

“Listen, we are all competent
at what we do. John hired us all for a reason. Let’s do our jobs and shut the haters up,” Tyler said.

We
spent the next thirty minutes figuring out deadlines. The writers divided the list up, each taking two people. I had to photograph all twenty. And that’s when the idea hit me.
All twenty of these men are eligible bachelors. At least half of them are likely to be Autumn’s type…which means I have my pool of educated, sexy, and single men! I can photograph them and chat them up and then see who would be interested in dating my best friend. Easy!

“…so are you good with that?” Tyler asked. “Summer?”

Shit!
I thought nervously, looking around. Everyone had gotten up from the table except Tyler.
I got so excited about Autumn’s future dates that I completely spaced on the conversation. Not that it is completely necessary for me to pay attention to who is writing about who since my job is to shoot the photos. Sometimes it helps to know the direction of the piece but they don’t even know that right now. Crap, he’s still looking at me. I did it again!

“Summer!” Tyler repeated.

“I’m sorry. I—”

“Don’t let what Gabriella said get to you. Just pay attention and do your job.”

“Thanks, Tyler.”

With a tight smile
, I got up from the table with the list of bachelors. After setting up photo shoot appointments with each bachelor for the next couple of weeks, I sat back in my office chair while reviewing my calendar.

Starting tomorrow, t
his is going to be a breakneck schedule. Between the actual shoots and the edits and any reshoots that need to take place, this month I am completely booked,
I thought as I exhaled a deep breath. Contentment and complete satisfaction rolled through my body and I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Knock
, knock,” Meghan said as she stood in the doorway. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Great actually! And to think, it’s not even Friday.”

“Good. I just wanted to check on you. I just heard about Mega Bitch when I was getting some coffee. Just wanted to make sure she didn’t get to you.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “No, she didn’
t. But here’s what I don’t get about why you call her Mega Bitch. She never transforms
.
I’ve never seen or heard of her being anything other than a bitch.”

“Oh yeah you have,” Meghan responded, walking through the doorway and right up to the edge of my desk.
“You were here the day Mr. Ford was here. Gabriella turns the charm all the way on for hot guys…or anyone with power. And then as soon as they are gone, she’s back to bitch mode. She’s a transformer. Hence the name, Mega Bitch.” She raised her eyebrows and then turned on her heels. “I have to get back to my desk, but I’m glad you’re okay.”

I didn’t forget about Mr. Ford.  I had pushed him out of my mind
as soon as I walked into my interview. I needed to focus on new opportunities. I needed to focus on my new job. I needed to focus on my new city. I needed to focus on my dating game with Autumn. A model type sex symbol who almost melted my panties off with a fleeting glance in an elevator was not what I needed. But as soon as Meghan said his name, my skin tingled and my stomach dropped.
Mr. Ford,
I mused silently.

Before she could walk out of the door, I called out to her. “
Hey, Meghan. Was Mr. Ford Mega Bitch’s boyfriend?”

“
God no! I’m sure she wishes though. He has this mysterious, tough guy image that’s working for him. And he’s sexy, right?”