Janet Read Online Free PDF

It was normally two hundred bucks, but I got it for fifty. I was a hard core bargain shopper. I never spent full price on anything. I could afford quality items, but I chose to save my money. Having a big savings account gave me peace of mind. Life was so unpredictable that you never knew what might happen.
    Ryan and I had lunch together, but we were both fairly quiet. Ryan seemed relaxed now that I agreed to attend the gala as his date, but he was still careful around me, like he was walking over egg shells. I wasn’t sure what I did to make him feel so nervous and uncomfortable, but I’d clearly done something.
    When I went to dinner with Layla and Cassie, Layla was acting different.
    “So, anything new?” Layla asked.
    “No, not really,” I said as I drank my iced tea
    She nodded. “Is your sister still around?”
    I sighed. “I’m going crazy.”
    “Kick her out,” Cassie said. “On that perfect ass of hers.”
    “She still hasn’t told you the truth?” Layla asked.
    “She will when she’s ready,” I said.
    Layla rolled her eyes. “Your sister is a piece of work.”
    “I’m well aware of that fact,” I said.
    “So, are you still going to that gala with Ryan?” Layla asked, not meeting my gaze.
    “Yeah, as far as I know,” I said.
    Layla nodded. “So you like him?”
    I shrugged. “He’s fine.”
    Cassie eyed me. “You know what she means.”
    “He’s nice…” I shrugged again.
    “Is there something wrong with him?” Cassie asked.
    “No,” I said. “He’s a gentleman and he’s sweet. We get along pretty well.”
    “Do you like anyone else?” Layla asked.
    “I haven’t met anyone else,” I said.
    Layla stared at me. “So, no one has asked you out?”
    “I would remember someone asking me out,” I said.
    Layla looked into my eyes, searching for something I couldn’t see. I wasn’t sure why she was staring at me so intently. Her eyes were fixed on something in the distance in my eyes, something only she would notice. After a long moment, she looked away.
    When I came home that night, my sister was already in bed. She was making a mess of my apartment. Dirty dishes were in the sink, lids were off containers in the refrigerator, her clothes were dispersed around the room. It was a total mess. I wanted to yell at her but I kept it back in light of her pain. She lost her husband and her son. What could be worse than that? I did her laundry and her dishes before I went to bed.
    The next day, I went to work and watched the clock move slower than a snail. When the workday was almost over, Ryan came to my office.
    “Are we still on for tonight?” he asked with a smile.
    “Yeah.”
    “I’ll pick you up,” he said. “What’s your address?”
    I wrote it down and handed it to him. “I’ll see you then.”
    “I look forward to it.” He left and moved down the hallway.
    When I clocked out, I went to my apartment and started to get ready. The dress I found was burgundy and made of fine silk. It fit my curves but also made me appear thinner than I really was. I liked dresses that were somewhat deceptive. I pinned golden earrings into my ear and wore a matching necklace. When I pinned my hair up, a small strand kept falling. After using a whole can of hairspray, it still wouldn’t stay. I just decided to let it be. Otherwise I’d there all night, going to war with this tiny piece of hair.
    “Where are you going?” Beatriz asked when she saw me.
    “A gala for work.” I waited for her to compliment me but she never did.
    She grabbed a bowl of popcorn and sat in front of the TV, shoving it into her mouth.
    I sighed, knowing it was a lost cause.
    The knock on the door announced Ryan’s arrival.
    “Hey,” I said when I answered it.
    He stared at me, his eyes wide. “You look marvelous.”
    My checks blushed. “Thank you.”
    “This is a very different look from the office.”
    “I hope that’s a good thing.”
    “A very good thing.” He pulled a bouquet of roses from