Ring of Truth (A Silver Script Novel Book 1) Read Free Page B

not. Even if he did run outside to bring me Coco’s collar when I left it in the store.” She rubbed her hand where it had brushed against Jake’s.
    They laughed as they left the diner. The temperature had dropped and Erin shivered in the cool breeze.
    “See you this weekend, if not before.” Carissa hugged Erin tightly before letting go to find her keys.
    “For sure. See you later.” Erin turned and headed for her apartment.
    “Good luck with your guy,” Carissa called, and then laughed.
    Erin just waved and kept going. She should have known Carissa wouldn’t let it go. She pushed Jake out of her mind and focused on what she needed to get done that weekend. She realized she hadn’t called her parents back, but it was too late by then. She’d just have to call and apologize in the morning.

    ***

    Erin had only slept for about three hours by the time her alarm went off the next morning. She’d stayed up rearranging a few of the ad layouts and making sure her presentation was just right. This job meant a promotion, and Erin was determined to make it happen.
    She climbed out of bed and took a quick shower, then changed into her blazer and pencil skirt. This was her lucky outfit, and she needed anything she could get. She’d won over her company, but now she had to win over the client. The jewelry campaign was solid, but that didn’t stop the butterflies. She pulled her hair up into a bun, and applied a little mascara and lip gloss.
    “Hey, Coco. You hungry?” Erin looked at her cat, who sat next to her food bowl when Erin walked into the kitchen for breakfast. She dumped food into the bowl. “There you go. You’re not going to run away today, are you?”
    Erin pulled out some bread to make some toast and then fried up an egg. The blender was still in the sink, so she skipped her smoothie and poured a glass of orange juice instead.
    “Okay, am I forgetting anything?” Erin made sure she had all the papers she’d need for the presentation, she shut her laptop bag and left her apartment. She double checked the locks so Coco couldn’t leave again—pushing away the idea of letting Coco go so she could go back to the pound to see Jake—and then headed outside to find a taxi. She flagged one down quickly and climbed in. It would take a while to get to work, so she pulled out her phone and sent a quick email to her parents. They wouldn’t be thrilled that she hadn’t called, but at least it was something.
    Her phone rang just as the taxi pulled up to her building. She paid the driver and answered the phone, groaning. “Hey, Mom.”
    “You don’t call me back, and you just expect me to be okay with an email?” Mom asked.
    “Sorry. The day got away from me.” Erin nodded to the man who’d opened the door for her and headed for the elevator. She stepped to the side so other people could get on. This call could take a while. “I just wanted make sure you heard from me. Sorry I didn’t call.”
    There was a pause on the other end. “So what kept you so busy?”
    Erin rolled her eyes. What her mom actually wanted to know was if there was a guy involved. “Work. I got the account I wanted.”
    “Oh, honey, that’s so great. You worked hard on it. Too hard, if you ask me.” There was another pause. “Listen, I need to leave for the salon, but I wanted to remind you that you have a plus one for the wedding. You do  have a date, right?”
    Right. The wedding.  She hadn’t seen her cousin, Emily, in years, but she was still expected to go. “Uh, not yet. But I’m working on it. Look, I’m at the office, and I have a huge meeting in ten minutes. I’ll call tonight, okay?”
    “Fine. But I hope you have a date by then. Otherwise, I have a few connections and we’ll find you one.” Her mom hung up.
    Erin punched the button for the elevator and waited for it to open. This conversation was the last thing she needed today. Debra stepped into the elevator right behind Erin.
    “Parent problems again?”