Chapter 15 Clarice
CLARICE
Clarice desperately wished she had someone to squeal with.
She longed to have a girlfriend that she could text suggestive eggplant emojis with—someone with fashion sense who could advise her on shoes and hair and remind her to buy condoms and make her wear a shirt that showed more cleavage than she would actually be comfortable with.
She even considered telling her sisters, but stopped herself.
They would only worry for her and remind her about all of her prior mistakes.
This wasn’t a mistake.
She had a date.
Not only did she have a date, she had a date with Bruno, who was hot and nice and possibly also a wizard, since his son was at Tiny Paws and maybe (probably) could teleport. Warlock. Witch. Whatever. What would he think of Veronica’s wilder theories?
He was a psychiatrist. He’d probably have an explanation about Veronica trying to compensate for some early childhood disappointment with crazy conspiracies. He was too down-to-earth to be magical. And his little boy seemed cute and nice, even if he did sneak into cars without his clothes.
Clarice could feel her heart pound faster in her chest. What was she thinking? Dating a single dad? Thinking he might possibly be interested in her? She’d always been the dumpy one in her friend circles, watching everyone else pair up while she got the pity dates.
The phone rang and Clarice startled. She was going to worry herself into a psych case for him if she wasn’t careful. “Chase Realty. This is Clarice!” She forced herself to sound sunny and slow down.
Veronica appeared from her office just before lunch and Clarice greeted her with all the messages that hadn’t been worth interrupting her.
“The home inspector sent over the document for the Maple Lane property; it’s in your inbox.
I have the updated paperwork from Montana Mutual for the Smith-Jenson file.
You have a notification from the stable about a boarding rate increase.
You got reminders for your salon appointment tomorrow and your flight itinerary for your trip to Las Vegas was changed.
I checked and it was only a five minute change, so I didn’t have to adjust anything else. ”
“Did I hear Bruno Martin come in?” Veronica asked with a sly smile.
Clarice flushed. “Yes. Unfortunately, he has decided to postpone house shopping for understandable financial reasons. He’ll keep us in mind when he’s ready to buy.” She tried to keep her voice perfectly even and probably failed.
“He’s really good looking,” Veronica said, playing with the branded pens in the cup on the counter. “Don’t you think?”
“We have a date Saturday night!” Clarice blurted. “I can’t believe it!”
“You vixen!” Veronica said, but she said jovially. “I’m so delighted for you! What are you going to wear?”
“I hadn’t thought of it,” Clarice confessed. “I don’t even know where we’re going.”
“Dress for the best,” Veronica advised. “You have a nice figure and you should show it off. Pick something with a little cleavage! Green would make your eyes look hazel.”
Clarice looked down at herself in astonishment. Supermodel thin Veronica thought she had a nice figure? She caught herself sitting up straighter.
“I don’t want to ask you to come in on a Saturday,” Veronica said, even though she regularly asked Clarice to come in on Saturdays, “but we could meet here beforehand and I could help you with your makeup. Do you have contacts?”
Could Veronica actually be the girlfriend that Clarice had been hoping for? She could be so nice and friendly…when she wasn’t being the exact opposite.
“I have some disposable ones,” Clarice said. “I use them when I go swimming.”
“Bruno Martin won’t know what hit him,” Veronica said, framing Clarice in her hands like a photographer. “Get ready for your glow-up!”