versations blending into white noise. I barely registered the sy

ther a plan, but all I could think about

my vision swam with unshed tears. I couldn't cry here, not in fron

the motions, answering emails and finishing up reports, all while

r was he willing to go? And what

, I was out the door, the transfe

'd know what to do, or at lea

sual, the weight of the day pres

found Kate waiting for me in the hallway, her ar

d? You look like you've been through hell." I sighed, unl

and pulling out the transfer letter. "Tomford's threatening and

canning it quickly. "Threatening? Southern view? That

aw something I wasn't supposed to, and now he's covering his tracks, and I m

hesitated, glancing at her. "I can't tell you everything," I said finally. "Not yet. But let's just sa

he said slowly. "So what's the plan? Are you going to take the transfer"? I

d with my student loans and rent,

transfer. It's not the end of the world. The southern view mi

re the most exciting thing to do is wat

Vanessa. You're always complaining about how boring

Leave it to Kate to find the silver lining in

tanding up and pulling me to my fee

exactly in the mood for a night out

nd dragging me toward the door. "You've had a crap day, and you

oo tempting to resist. "Fine," I said, grabbing my bag and following her

She climbed onto the counter, reaching for the top cabinet; apparently, that's where she kept her stash of alcohol. "Ah, here

lding out on me. Since when do you h

down and setting the bottles on the counter. "Now

two shot glasses from the cabinet. "Y

t. She handed me one and raised hers in the air. "To ne

downing the shot. The tequila burnt its way down my throat, warm

another round. "Now, let's get ready.

that screamed frustrated office girlie. "Fair point. Bu

ll of the above. Now, come on.

et. "Oh, this," she said, pulling out a little red dress that hugged every cur

u want me to wear that?

e red dress at me. "You're singl

than I remembered, the fabric clinging to my body like a second skin. "

shiny minidress that sparkled under the

g out in concentration as she applied eyeliner with surgical precision. "So," she said, her vo

" I said, rolling my e