The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe

Author:Lauren Forsythe [Forsythe, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

“Don’t you think the wig is a bit much?” I tugged at my newly light brown bob as it brushed my shoulders. Tola and I were in the toilets of the bar, preparing for my big entrance, and I stood in front of the mirror, suddenly nervous.

“Hey, if I get to be the boss, I’m creating the vision. Seeing is believing.” Tola laughed at me and adjusted my silver dress, handing me some lipstick. We’d been limiting the Fixer Upper sessions, what with solving all of Nicki’s problems taking up most of our time, but we had commitments, and Tola needed me.

She held up her phone with the photo of the latest project. Mark Jenkins, thirty-five, sales associate. His girlfriend, Lucy, had hired us for a motivation package. Those usually fell into one of three categories: career, commitment, or self-care. You’d be surprised how many grown men didn’t shower regularly. It was horrifying.

That night’s Fixer Upper challenge was an easy one—encourage Mark to finally step up in terms of his career. He’d been talking about it for eight years, and Lucy was basically paying us so she never had to hear about it again.

Luckily, Mark seemed like a man of simple dreams—he wanted money, he just needed to know someone like him could do what he wanted to. It was a comfort thing. After all, people are afraid of failure. Especially in front of a partner. It’s easy enough to just keep saying you’ll do something, because then you never have the chance to fail. And luckily enough, life will always find a way to get in the way.

But not anymore.

Tola nodded at me. “Eric’s at the bar. You know what to do.”

I nodded, swishing my hips a little. Tola followed me out from the toilets, then set herself up at a table nearby. I didn’t need her for this bit, but she just liked to “see the magic happen.”

Eric was already next to Mark at the bar when I stumbled over.

“Baby, baby, I want to drive the Jag home, please!” I threw my arms around Eric’s neck, and he smiled indulgently.

“You think I worked this hard to finally buy my dream car, only to have you crash it? You’re having a laugh, woman. I love ya, but you’re mad.” He watched as Mark made eye contact, so they could share a women, honestly look. That was why I needed Eric. It didn’t work without him. Turns out men don’t listen to women they’re not sleeping with. Shocker.

“Brand-new car I’ve been waiting half my life to buy, and she thinks I’m gonna let her drive it!” Eric exclaimed, having found his male audience. “Can you believe it?”

“What’ve you got?”

“Jaguar F-Type.” Eric smiled. “My pride and joy.”

I looked across and saw the bartender approaching Tola with a bright green cocktail on a tray. Someone had sent it to her. I never saw anyone do that in real life except for around Tola. And she always accepted them with a flirtatious smile and a thank-you, but never drank them because you couldn’t trust people.

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