Boss Daddy: A Secret Baby Romance by Black, L. (good books for high schoolers .TXT) 📕

from the corner of her eye. “I hate guys like that, and I’m sorry you were treated that way. But that’s over. Now you can be you. In all your glory.” I motioned to the dress and smiled.

“Thank you,” she said. “Now, let’s find you something that matches.”

“You mean Captain Goggleface won’t work?” I teased.

“Is that what you named that character?”

“For now. Unless you have a better name.”

“Nope, nothing better than Captain Goggleface. What is he a captain of, exactly?” she asked.

“A train, of course,” I said, grinning.

“Ahh, I should have known.”

We went back to the dressing rooms, and she helped me pick several pieces together to make a cohesive costume, and we left with our bags and with me feeling a lot closer to her.

16 Hannah

I found myself looking forward to the Gatsby theme night more than I had any other theme night since I started working at the bar. Maybe it was because the idea for the night had come from me, and I was really looking forward to seeing how everybody responded to such a different approach.

And maybe it was because of how much fun Jordan and I had finding the outfits we were going to wear, and I was really looking forward to seeing him. Either way, the day of the Gatsby night, I spent far longer getting ready for work than I usually did.

This started with several hours of research. As soon as I finished breakfast, I curled up in front of my computer and started going through images from that era, taking notes about how the women looked. I wanted to make sure my look was as authentic as possible. I knew it was just a themed night at a local bar, but I wanted to pay attention to all the details and not miss anything.

That was part of the fun of these theme nights. I really enjoyed taking an idea and running with it, finding as many ways as possible to stay true to the theme in my appearance as much as we did with the food and drinks we offered.

After finally settling on exactly how I wanted to do my hair and makeup to complement the outfit I chose while at the costume shop with Jordan, I took a long shower, then carefully dried my hair. While it was setting in curlers, I went about the feat of recreating the makeup application style of the era.

As I was etching on the line around my lips, my phone rang. I reached over and answered it, putting it on speakerphone when I saw it was Samantha calling.

“Hey, Samantha,” I said.

I leaned closer to the mirror to make sure my lip liner didn’t end up wiggly on the bottom.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “Why do you sound so weird?”

“I’m getting new appreciation for what the women in the 1920s went through just to get themselves ready. Maybe this is why Daisy never showed up at the party. It took too damn long to get herself presentable,” I said.

There was a long pause.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Is this code? Have you been abducted and you’re trying to tell me that I need to help you? Did we come up with this and I forgot?” Samantha asked, her voice getting higher and more anxious with every question she asked.

“No, this isn’t code. Thank goodness, because if it were, I would most definitely be dead by now. I’m getting ready for that Gatsby night I was telling you about.”

“Oh, yeah, the theme night at the bar,” Samantha said. “That makes a lot more sense.”

“It does,” I said. “It’s also complicated as hell. These women took high-maintenance grooming to a whole new level. Either that, or I’m just not great at trying new things.”

“Considering you picked up your entire life and moved all the way across the country, I don’t think that’s an accurate evaluation of you,” she said.

I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “We’ll just go ahead and settle somewhere in the middle. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing, really,” she said. “I just thought I would call and check in on things with Jordan.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “There are no things with Jordan. But that was a good effort, trying to slip it in there so I wouldn’t notice.”

“I’ve got to keep trying,” she said. “But I still want to know why there isn’t anything going on with him. You said that he’s attractive and sweet, and that you like spending time with him.”

“He’s gorgeous,” I said. “And one of the kindest, funniest people I’ve ever known. But I technically work for him. And even if I didn’t, I don’t feel like I’m at a place where I can start anything with anybody. Not after what happened with Ethan. That messed me up too much to even think about a relationship.”

“So, you’re letting him win?” Samantha asked.

I tossed the phone a disgusted look. “I’m not letting him win. I’m just thinking about myself for once.”

“Alright,” she said. “If that’s how you want to see it. But I still think you deserve to have a little fun.”

“I am having fun.”

“Not the kind I’m talking about.”

“Thank you for your input, Samantha,” I said. “But I’ve got to get going. I’ve got to get to work.”

“Just a little bit. Just one night. It doesn’t even have to be the whole night,” she said.

“Goodbye, Samantha.”

I was laughing as I hung up the phone and put the finishing touches on my makeup before putting on my costume. I wanted to get to the bar early so I could help set up. This was definitely Ava’s thing, but I felt a little bit of ownership and pride over it. I was looking forward to seeing the ideas come to life. I had a feeling it was going to be much better than the party that inspired the theme idea.

I pulled into the parking lot behind The Hollow and climbed out just as a