Read Now or Never: A Last Chance Romance (Part 1) for Free Online

has not been a positive one.
    “You’re just not good with change,” Patti tells me.
    “I’ll be in closed-door meetings all day.  So if you need anything, it’s going to have to wait until tomorrow.  And,” Aimee squints at her phone, where she must have some sort of app that tracks the department’s sales because she consults it every morning.  “Let’s pick up the pace, shall we?  Patti, I don’t like to point fingers.  But I’m talking to you.  God knows Clinique isn’t much to work with, but you’ve got to move some stock.  And speaking of stock, there are still half a dozen boxes in the back .  Whoever they belong to, that inventory better be on the shelves or behind the bay by lunchtime.  Or whoever is responsible will unpack everyone else’s inventory next week.”
    Patti and I look at each other.  I’m pretty sure they’re my boxes.  I was a big sluggish this morning and didn’t get to check the stock room before the rally.  I’m not used to being out late, or drinking.  Or laying awake all hours of the morning, thinking about how it would feel to have a man’s hands on my body.
    I hate to think about it now, in the rational light of day, but what happened in my bedroom last night was pretty intense.  Once I started, it was so easy to fall into the familiar rhythm.  It was startling almost, to find the pleasure right there for the taking.  I should be happy about it, but I’m a little bothered by Justin being so central to the whole thing.  That it was his fingers stroking and penetrating me — the thought of him sent me over the edge, making me so wet I felt like a teenager.
    “Are you hearing me, ladies?” Aimee says, startling me out of my reverie.
    We mumble in the affirmative.
    Aimee straightens her Banana Republic skirt, and saunters off to her office.  Patti scurries to my side.
    “Not much to work with?  Is she kidding me?  Clinique is the most classic brand in this department.  Mothers bring their daughters to get lipstick because it was where they got their first lipstick!”
    “Don’t take it personally,” I say.  But I know how she feels.  Our counters are our babies.
    “Speaking of personal,” she says, steering me to my counter.  “I know you don’t want to hear this, but really, I was talking to Geoff last night, and we both think it’s a bad idea to wait until November to do your surgery.”
    Patti and her husband, Geoff, talk about everything.  It’s difficult sometimes to maintain my cynical distance from men when I see their wonderful marriage.  But they are the exception, not the rule.  Sometimes I wonder if their closeness has to do with the fact they never were able to have children.  Their whole lives have been devoted to taking care of each other.  Maybe that makes all the difference.
    “Patti, the doctor said there is no rush.  I would never do something risky.  Look, Max just went off to school.  I want some time to enjoy myself and to get all my ducks in a row.”
    “Are you sure that’s all it is?  Because if you have doubts, or want a second opinion, I’ll go with you to someone else.  My sister said there’s a woman in New York who’s fantastic.”
    “I’m not going to New York, Patti.  I like Dr. Martell.  Honestly, there is nothing more going on here.  I feel okay about it.”
    “Have you told Max?”
    I bite the inside of my lip.  This is my second toughest decision.  I hate to lie to my son — at the very least I am lying by omission.  But I don’t want to burden him with this.  It’s his first semester of college.  I don’t want him worrying about mom.
    “Not yet,” I admit.
    “He’d want to be supportive, Claire.  You have to tell him when it gets closer to your surgery.”
    “I will.” My phone vibrates in the pocket of my uniform.  If I get caught checking on the floor during store hours I’ll be in trouble.
    Meet me at Red Ruby’s on Broad Street tonight 10:30.-