Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Our moms both own a hair salon together and Nellie went into design. They all have an eye for making things look pretty when I can’t put an outfit together to save my life. If it wasn’t for my mom and aunt I’d probably look like a hot mess, but I wouldn’t know it if I did. I enjoy our monthly salon dates even if it isn’t my thing. They never make me feel like I’m anything less than fabulous. They dote on me while they do what they call upkeep. I never care what they do to me while I’m there, I just enjoy being together. We can all get busy with work and we make sure we hold our dates with each other.
I pick up my cell phone from the counter and hit the call button. “The contractor will be there tomorrow,” Nellie says when she answers the phone. “It must be driving you nuts if you’re calling and not texting.”
That’s the truth, because who calls people anymore? Okay, our moms call, but over forty is the exception to the rule; also, moms can do whatever they want.
“I can’t get anything done.” I motion to my laptop sitting on the sofa as if she can see me do it.
“I’m sorry! This contractor is usually so good, but he just can’t get there today because it’s Sunday,” she reminds me, and I know her tone. Without saying it, she’s telling me I shouldn’t be working anyway.
It doesn’t count though because I really enjoy this project. A new company contracted me to try and hack their system. For the first time in a long time it’s a challenge. It’s both annoying and fascinating and I should be locked into finding a way into their system and accounts but the sink is driving me bananas. I’m going to blame the sink on the fact that I haven’t cracked their system yet. I’m not used to giving a report that says “your online security is perfect.” Mom would tell me I couldn’t win them all if she were here.
“Fine. I’ll wait,” I sigh. The contractor did a good job on the rest of the kitchen and it’s pretty. My office is coming together, too, but I’m just impatient.
“Liar,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “You stay away from that sink unless you’re emptying the pan under it.”
My eyes go back to the dripping pipe. How did she know I was thinking about trying to tighten it myself? I read online it could be a simple fix. All you have to do is tighten it a little and I’m sure I have the tool I saw online. There has to be one in my office, which is more like a construction site right now. I saw tools all over in there when I peeked inside.
“Whatever,” I mumble, not confirming or denying that I might try and fix it myself. I should be able to fix it. I’m a smart capable woman and I can do this.
“You’re computer smart,” Nellie chirps into my ear, reading my mind. “You have no idea how to fix a pipe or pump gas.” Okay, maybe she’s right, but I don’t have to admit it.
“I can pump gas.” My face warms as she bursts into laughter. “It looks easy.” I don’t own a car, but I think I can put the pump thing in the car-hole-thing easy enough.
“I’m sure you could, but I’m also sure you’d end up doing something to make things go terribly wrong. Like the time you tried to fix my flat iron.”
“Why do you always bring that up?” I was thirteen and was sure I could figure out why it wasn’t working. I was wrong, and not only was I wrong but I got the shock of my life after I took it apart and put it back together. It shocked the hell out of me and took out the power to the whole building we lived in. To this day no one else knows I was the one to cause that outage. Nellie and I are taking that one to the grave, but it doesn’t stop her from bringing it up when it’s just us.
“I’m keeping it fresh in that mind of yours. That way you remember you can’t do everything just because you read how to on the internet.”
She’s wrong, because why else would everyone post how to do things on the internet?
“Fine. Tomorrow.” I pretend to give in.
“Harlow,” she warns.
“See you then.” I end the call quickly before she can try and stop me; I’m not that hopeless.
I can fix a stupid pipe and I decide that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I go to my office and grab the wrench. It’s only a little turn, I think I can manage it. My phone rings and Nellie’s number lights up on the screen. I’ll call her back after I fix the leak. I’ll be extra smug about it, too.