“Dresses?” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Like to go to the club?”
“Well, you know, I don’t know if we’ll go out one night or …”
“Oh, la la,” Isabella said. “Abby and Dylan sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love …”
“Stop,” I said and glared at her. “That is not about to happen.”
“Then comes marriage,” Emma squealed.
“Emma!”
“Third comes the baby in the baby carriage,” Chloe finished, and they all laughed.
I shook my head at them. “You guys are too much. You know I can’t stand him.”
“Don’t lie. You think he’s hot and you want to fuck him,” Isabella said. “Because he is absolutely gorgeous and he’s sexy, and that’s okay. Just because he’s your asshole boss doesn’t mean you’re not also a woman.”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not going to lie, he’s cute, but it’s not going to happen.”
“If you say so, girl. If you say so.”
“Trust me, I say so.” I groaned as my phone rang. “Speak of the devil. I bet you that’s him.”
I grabbed my phone, but I was surprised to see it was my parents. “Hey, Dad, what’s going on?”
“Hi there, honey. I was just checking to see how you’re doing.”
“I’m good. I’m packing. You know I’m going to Scotland.”
“I know you’re going to Scotland with your boss. And I just want you to know that your mother and I are very proud of you and this career that you’ve gotten for yourself.”
“Thanks, Dad. I mean, I’m a secretary. It’s not like I’m a CFO or anything.”
“I know. I know, but you’re doing something very responsible.”
“What am I doing that’s responsible, Dad? Being a secretary?”
“Well, you know your mother and I thought that you would be a starving artist for the rest of your life.”
“Um, okay. Thank you for that. So you’re happy that I’m a secretary and not pursuing my dreams?”
“You know that’s not what we mean, Abby. We just mean that it’s important for you to be able to pay your way and pay off your debts. And once you’ve paid off your debts, then you can go after your dreams.”
“Okay, Dad. Well, thank you for this call.” I rolled my eyes and looked at my friends. “I’ll call you when I land in Heathrow or when I get to Edinburgh, okay?”
“Have fun,” he said. “I sure miss being over there in the UK.”
“I’m sure you do. Bye, Dad.” I hung up. “Oh my gosh, sometimes parents are so annoying.”
“What did your dad have to say?” Isabella asked.
“He was just going on about how he’s so proud of me, that I have this career. Like, I’m a secretary, Dad.”
“He’s just glad that you can finally pay your bills without asking him for help,” Emma said.
“Yeah, I guess so. But he doesn’t need to rub my face in it. You know?”
“I know,” Isabella nodded, “but you know, if you really want to go out on your own, you can always come to the coffee shop and do something there.”
“No, girl, that’s your thing. I can’t be part of that.”
“Sure, you can.”
“No,” I shook my head. “I need to do this for myself. I’m going to pay off my debts, and then I’ll figure out what I really want to do.”
“Yeah. I totally understand that.”
My phone started ringing again. “Oh for crying—is that my dad again?” I looked at it. “Worse, it’s Dylan. Hello, Mr. McAllister.”
“Hello, Ms. Waldron.”
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m downstairs in the car waiting.”
“What? I thought I had another—”
“How much time do you need? You’re still not ready?”
“What do you mean I’m still not ready? You said I had—”
“Ms. Waldron,” he interrupted me. “Be down in five minutes. There’s traffic, and I want to make sure we get to the airport on time.”
“We’ll get to the airport in plenty of time—”
“Goodbye, Ms. Waldron.” He hung up.
“I hate him. I hate him. I absolutely hate him!” I yelled. “He’s already here, and he’s all like, come down in five minutes.”
“Just ignore him, Abby,” Isabella said. “You’ll be fine. Okay?”
I let out a deep sigh and then took a couple of deep breaths. “I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. You’re right.” I zipped up my suitcase and then looked around my room. “Okay. Is there anything else that I need?”
“Girl, you know what you need to take,” Emma said with a grin.
“What?”
“You need to take one of your vibrators or something.”
“What?”
“Girl, trust me. You’re going to need to let off some steam. And if you’re not going to be doing your boss, something better be doing you.”
“Girl, I’m not taking a vibrator with me to Scotland.”
“Hey, why not? I take mine all the time when I go places.”
“Where do you go?”
“When I catch the bus to go to Philly or DC,” she grinned. “I’ve always got my trusted vibrator in my bag.”
“Fine.” I opened my drawer and grabbed my rose vibrator.
“What is that?” Chloe said with a giggle.
“It’s a rose. You’ve never heard of it?”
“Nope. What does it do?”
“It’s sucks and it flicks.” I giggled. “It’s almost better than a man.”
“Almost,” Isabella said. “Trust me, nothing beats the real thing.”
“Oh, shut up, Isabella.” Emma slapped her lightly on the shoulder. “We know, we know, your man is doing you good. The three of us are single, and we don’t have anyone.”
“Well, I’m just saying,” she smiled.
“Whatever.” I dropped the rose into my handbag. “Okay, I better go now. Otherwise, Dylan will probably show up at the door, and that’s something I do not want to deal with. Bye, guys. I love you all.”
“Love you, too. Have an amazing time.” Isabella gave me a big hug. Emma and Chloe followed suit. The four of us stood there for a moment in a big group hug.
“I’ll miss you guys.”
“We’ll miss you, too. Take lots of photos and FaceTime us when you get there. Okay?”
“Will do.”
“And try not to kill your boss,” Isabella said. “Promise?”
“I promise nothing.” I laughed and grabbed my suitcase. “Okay, I’m going.”
“Do you have your passport?”
“I do.”
“Do you have your driver’s license?”
“I do.”
“Well, then, have an amazing time. Love you.”
“I love you too. Bye.” With one final wave, I left.