Love You Better (Better Love 1)

“Hey, I gotta go.” I love him, but I need some time inside my head to plan for my day at the office. “My Uber just pulled up. Love you.”

“Love you back. Text me this afternoon.”

“Kay. Byeee.”

I put my phone in my clutch and slide into the light blue Prius that’s waiting for me on the curb. My driver is a girl, probably a college student. She gives me an empathetic look and smiles shyly, but other than a soft “good morning,” she lets me ride in silence. I know I look like death, but there’s no judgment in her eyes. I offer her a latte and an extra five bucks on the tip if she takes me through the coffee shop, and she obliges. I drink the whole latte before we even get to my apartment, and I send a little thank you to the Ride Share Goddess for blessing me with an accommodating driver.

My Uber pulls up outside my building, and just before I slide out, I have a thought. It’s the same thought I usually have anytime my Uber driver is a woman, and I take a deep breath to control the anxiety I feel creeping up.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

She startles at the abruptness of my question.

“Clara…?” She’s timid and sheepish, no doubt confused and probably a little suspicious about my sudden interest.

“You ever drive at night, Clara?”

She nods. “Most Fridays and Saturdays. The pay is really good.”

I nod. I figured as much. I do a quick scan of her keychain and the center console and make up my mind quickly, snapping open my clutch and pulling out my hot pink bottle of mace.

“Here,” I say as I hand it over to her. “Keep it on your keychain or in the side pocket of your door. Somewhere easily accessible, okay, Clara?”

She reaches out slowly. “...Thanks?”

“Gotta be safe.” I shrug. “There are a lot of creeps out there.”

“You sure?”

“Of course. I’ve got more,” I reassure her as I nod my head to the apartments. “We women have to look out for each other, right?”

A smile takes over her face. “We definitely do.”

I nod and return her smile. “Have a good day, yeah?” and then I head toward my apartment.

The scent of fresh coffee embraces me when I open the door, and I say a heartfelt thank you to Yesterday Me. Programming the coffee pot before I went out last night was another win. I’m definitely crushing it at life.

Ivy Rivenbark, sultry temptress by night, pragmatic adult by day.

Bailey is asleep, so dropping my shoes at the door and stripping off my clothes as I go, I pour myself a cup of coffee and take it into the shower with me. I’ve got to be at the office at nine for internship hours, and I am never late.

* * *

Pulling open the mirrored glass doors always fills me with pride. There’s something so empowering about working for one of the top general practice law firms in the city, and even though I’m only an intern, I still feel like I belong.

Checking my reflection in the windows of the vestibule, I’m confident in how official I look. My dress slacks and button down are wrinkle-free, my blonde hair is pulled into a sleek and stylish high bun, and my makeup is fresh, feminine, and fierce.

Geoff greets me enthusiastically from the front desk.

“Good morning, you dangerous mountain lion of greatness! Amelia is already in the conference room pulling files.”

I roll my eyes with a smile at another one of his unusual greetings. They’re ridiculous but they always brighten my mornings.

“Mountain lion of greatness is a new one. I like it. It’s agile and graceful but also deadly.” I nod my head toward the conference room. “How long has she been here?”

“About fifteen minutes,” he replies, popping open the side drawer of his desk and pulling out one of the fancy espresso pods he reserves just for us. “You’re going to need this. I heard her mumbling a minute ago and I think today’s tasks are going to be nah-stay.”

He passes the pod to me, and I hug it to my chest as I make my way over to the instant coffee machine in the corner.