Love Like Crazy. Crystal B. Bright

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СКАЧАТЬ pretty hard to me.”

      “I never said—”

      Laz continued speaking. “Hard-working people like them will normally check in. When they do, I’ll be here waiting.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a new business card that he had created after he left Universe. He placed it on the receptionist’s desk and slid it to her. “Here’s my contact information. It would be great if you could reach out to Chantel Woodley. She and I have history.”

      He had gone to bat for the talented singer when she got out of Peaceful Acres. He would leave out the fact that he also saw her the time she fainted off the stage on the day of her mother Fatima’s funeral.

      “If you’re that close to Mrs. Woodley, why don’t you—” The sassy woman stopped her query, and then firmed up a smile on her face.

      Laz cocked his head while giving her a smile that Bradley Kyson would endorse. “I like an inquisitive woman with impeccable manners like yourself. Makes doing business a pleasure.”

      The receptionist did smile, and even looked like she took a much-needed deep breath before she continued talking. “Thank you for your information. I wish I could do more for you. Again, it won’t help you to wait here.”

      “It also won’t hurt unless you look away from me.” He winked at her and sauntered to the couch where he sat right in the middle.

      This receptionist didn’t understand Laz’s dilemma. He had no options. No job. No backup plan. He needed this to work. He needed a break.

      An hour-long wait turned to two, then three, and before Laz knew it, the receptionist, who had gone to lunch and received packages from couriers throughout the day, now packed up her belongings. She would be kicking him out soon. Damn if she thought he would give up so easily.

      It looked like she started to address him when another delivery man came through the front door. At that moment, Laz went to the men’s room. He could wait it out in there, or at least stay there until he came up with a game plan.

      The standard bathroom facility had an “L” shape, which he took advantage of while he thought about his next steps. He walked over to the other side away from the door and paced.

      “Come on, man. Think.” He muttered to himself without caring if anyone else had been in the place. “Being Mr. Nice Guy will only get you so far.”

      No one stood in front of the urinals, and although he didn’t look under each and every stall door, he didn’t notice any closed doors.

      “If I stay here until they close, it’s not like Chantel or Truman will show up.” His pacing slowed the more he talked to himself. “I can’t give up.”

      He leaned against the wall covered in white tile. He closed his eyes and thought about his choices. A fleeting thought crossed his mind that he shouldn’t have quit his job at Universe. A glorified babysitter had to be better than being broke.

      Laz shook his head. No way could he do that and be able to look at himself in the mirror.

      He heard the main bathroom door open. His heart pounded as he slipped in the last stall and eased the door closed.

      “I’ll check in here,” Laz heard a voice say from the door.

      Apparently, the guards had the task of sweeping the office at the end of the day. Laz braced to be caught when he heard the opening of a popular rap song coming through a cell phone.

      “Hey, babe.” The gruff voice softened a bit. “Yeah, I’m on my way home now.”

      Laz heard the door opening again before silence filled the spacious bathroom. He exhaled but didn’t bother leaving the sanctuary of the stall just yet. If nothing else, maybe he could leave a handwritten note for Chantel and Truman.

      A note? No, he had to do more than that. He had to find talent. He wouldn’t be able to do that from the bathroom, even one at Charisma Music.

      Still in the bathroom stall, Laz pressed his back against the tile wall again and leaned his head back. “Come on. You’ve been in tighter spots than this before. You can turn this around.”

      Laz’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He retrieved it and started to ignore the call when he noticed his sister’s name across the screen.

      “Hey, Stinky.” Laz smirked.

      “You know I hate it when you call me that.”

      He could almost see his baby sister with her septum piercing and lip ring sneering. “Why do you think I do it?” He kept his voice low while he spoke to Marissa.

      “Okay. Either you’re in a meeting or you’re with a bad date and trying to get out of it.” Marissa chuckled. “Why are you whispering?”

      “It’s a little of both of what you said. I’m somewhere where I’m trying to get a meeting, but it’s turning out like a bad date.” Laz had to face facts. He would need to leave soon and try to get through to Chantel the proper way.

      “Speaking of bad dates, hold on.”

      “Wait. You’re not on one right now, are you?”

      “It’s cool. It’s a first date. We just met and she’s really ditzy.” Marissa laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she had one of those fidget things spinning around on her finger when I get back out there.”

      “Only the best and the brightest for you, right?” Laz chuckled, but tried keeping his voice down.

      “Of course. Now, back on you. Did I hear that you’re coming down the east coast?”

      Laz never suspected that Marissa would have talked to their father. “For work.”

      “Coming to D.C.? I would love to see you. Plus you’re chick bait.” This time Marissa laughed.

      “You are definitely Dad’s kid.” He shook his head.

      “Ooh, low blow.”

      “Truth hurts.” He loosened his necktie. No use looking neat and presentable when he had no one to appreciate it. “I’m actually in Virginia.”

      “Northern Virginia?”

      Laz hesitated before he answered. “Virginia Beach.” Before she could complain, because he had already heard her huffing, Laz explained himself just like he had to with their father. “I’m looking for a singer or group or, hell, both.”

      “Have you tried looking in a mirror?” Marissa asked.

      “Now you really sound like Dad.” Laz rubbed his hand across the back of his neck.

      “And now I think I really hate you.”

      Before Laz could make a witty response, she placed him on hold. One thing he and his sister had in common had to be their love of music. While she had him on hold, a cool jazzy song played through his earpiece. He could listen to this for a while.

      When it seemed like he had heard the full song and another one, he realized that СКАЧАТЬ