Free Trivial Pursuits (Chicago On Ice Book 2) by Aven Ellis Page B

learned nothing —not what colors she likes, what venues are acceptable, what kind of invitations—
    “Alessandra, I do have a few quest—”
    “Collins, your aunt assured me you were a capable planner,” Alessandra says, staring down at us. “So be capable. Do your homework and present me a plan next week that I will love. I mean, that’s why I hired you, right?”
    Oh, she’s such a bitch.
    Worse, I know Collins has to sit here and take it.
    “Of course,” Collins says, smiling. Then she quickly gathers her stuff up, and I do the same.
    “MAAAAAAAAGGGGGDDAAA! COATS!” Alessandra yells. Then she turns to us. “Magda will see you out. MAGDA! I SAID COATS. DO YOU HEAR ME?”
    Then she spins on her high-heeled boots and sashays out of the room. “Where is my Princey Georgie?” she says sweetly as she goes down the hall.
    I don’t dare say a single word, or I’ll erupt in fury.
    Collins retrieves her phone, and I think she’s avoiding looking at me for the same reason.
    Magda hurries down the hallway. “Ladies, I’m sorry. Let me get your coats.”
    “No problem,” I say, smiling cheerfully at her.
    “Thank you for getting them,” Collins adds.
    Magda pauses and eyes us carefully. Then it hits me. We’re the same age as Alessandra, but we don’t act like immature spoiled brats. She’s probably not used to younger people showing her respect.
    “You’re welcome,” she says, heading down the hall.
    Within minutes, she has returned with our coats. Collins slips into hers, and I wrap myself up in my wool overcoat, as it’s so cold out today.
    Magda escorts us out of the luxury brownstone. We don’t speak until the door is firmly shut behind us and we’ve made our way down to the sidewalk.
    “What an evil bitch,” Collins hisses. “I’m so sorry. I never would have dragged you into this if I knew what I was getting you into.”
    I smile. “Well, you do know I’m unemployed. I need the work.”
    “No,” Collins corrects, “you’re self-employed.”
    “Under-employed.”
    Then we both laugh.
    “We’ll survive this,” Collins says aloud.
    “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
    “I need to convince both of us,” Collins says.
    We begin heading down the sidewalk, looking for a cab to hail. Collins wanted to do some shopping in Chicago, and I’m going to head back to the train station to go home and begin sketching.
    “Do you want to stay in the city?” Collins asks. “We could hang out, maybe I can pick your brain on this party, and then end it with dinner and drinks?”
    I shake my head. “Normally I’d say yes, but I’ve got plans tonight.”
    Collins studies me. “What kind of plans?”
    I hesitate. Only Aubrey and Beckett know about me and Landon. And is there a me and Landon anyway? We had one date. Landon even admitted he isn’t good at dating. I could see him tonight and he might never call me again.
    Then I remember the feel of his lips on my forehead, warm and gentle, his hands in my hair, the way he gazed at me with those piercing blue eyes.
    And I don’t believe that he’s going to run.
    But I can’t say this yet to Collins. I know she’ll freak out because of who he is. About Landon’s flirty reputation. And about what happened with Troy and how she spent so many hours with me on Connectivity video chat trying to help me pick up the pieces of my heart all the way from West Lafayette, Indiana.
    No, I need to see what happens tonight. Tonight will probably tell me everything I need to know about Landon’s intentions.
    “Livy?” Collins asks, snapping me from my thoughts.
    “Sorry, lost in thought. I’m going to the Buffaloes game with Aubrey,” I say casually, not lying, but not exactly telling her the whole truth either.
    “Fun!” Collins says. Suddenly her phone goes off, and she reaches into her bag. “If it’s Alessandra asking for a status report I’ll quit,” she quips.
    “I would never want your job, Collins,” I say truthfully. I