Eastern Lights (Compass 2)

“For a long time, I thought you were an all-around perfect girl, but tonight you kind of killed that idea as you began eating kale,” I said, shaking my head in disappointment.

She laughed. “It’s not that bad. It’s actually good if you massage the dressing into the leaves and let it sit for a while. Plus, the grilled chicken is full of flavor. And my green drink—”

“Just admit you don’t like things that taste good, Red, and leave it at that. You’re eating grass and drinking grass.”

“Listen, do you know how much fat and unhealthy chemicals are in your burger and fries?” she asked.

I held up a stern hand. “No, and you better not tell me otherwise we will be roommates at war.”

“I’m just saying. What you put in your body has a big effert on your overall wellness. A bit of kale wouldn’t hurt you, Cap. Greens are your friends.”

“And a few fries wouldn’t hurt you either,” I said, waving one in her face. “Life is about balance. And, for your information, there is a slice of lettuce and tomato on my burger. And what is that I see?” I took the top bun off of my burger and dangled a piece in the air. “Is that an onion and pickles? I’m pretty much the healthiest man alive.”

She tossed her hands up in surrender. “Okay, health nut, my mistake. I need to be more like you.”

I held a fry in front of her face, and she took a small bite of it. Her eyes almost rolled into the back of her head, because Charley’s Diner seasoned fries were the best fries in the history of potatoes.

I smirked. “See? What’s life without a bit of deliciousness?”

She stabbed a piece of kale and held it in my direction. “Open up.”

I pressed my lips together and shook my head. “Nah-uh,” I said through my closed mouth.

“Connor! Fair is fair.”

I kept my mouth locked closed. “Life’sNotFair,” I mumbled.

“You’re so dramatic.”

“IKnowButThat’sWhoIAm.” I shrugged, she laughed and my God, I was so happy she didn’t marry that asshole.

She gave up and pushed the fork into her own mouth, allowing me to part my lips in victory.

“One day I’m going to get you to eat a kale salad,” she warned.

“Don’t hold your breath. If my mother couldn’t get me to do it, a beautiful lady won’t be able to do it either.”

“Don’t flatter me.”

“Don’t be so beautiful, then.” Her cheekbones shined through as she grew bashful. I threw a french fry her way. “Don’t blush like you don’t know you’re beautiful.”

“I don’t take compliments well,” she said, tossing the fry back my way, and like the professional fry eater I was, I caught it with my mouth.

“That’s because you’re too humble. You should stop being so damn humble. You’re the shit, Aaliyah. You work at one of the top magazine companies in the world as an editor, you are educated, you are a great person, and you are hot as fuck—”

“Don’t say hot as fuck,” she said, blushing even more.

I placed my hands on her shoulders and shook her back and forth as I hollered. “Aaliyah Winters you are hot as fuck and the whole world deserves to know it!”

“Oh my gosh, Connor shut up!” she whispered, covering my mouth with the palm of her hand. “You’re so extreme.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“I’m just saying. You are the shit, and you need to start acting like you’re the shit.”

“But I don’t feel like I’m the shit. I honestly feel…weak.”

“Who cares, though? Fake it till you make it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Life is created by habits. We teach the world how to treat us, and that all comes down to how we treat ourselves. I learned this at a young age. When I moved out to New York, I had one thousand dollars to my name, and no idea what the hell I was going to do. All I knew is I needed to act like I was a rich man in order to get through the doors of real rich men. I faked it until I made it. I walked into every room as if I belonged there. I drank whiskey with people who are billionaires. I attended galas and parties for the elite when I still only had pennies in my bank account. You know why I was invited?”

“Do tell.”

“Because I showed up as if it would be their loss if they didn’t invite me. Confidence is a repeated habit. Act confident in your own skin until it becomes your outer layer.”

She narrowed her eyes in thought. “Fake it until I make it?”

“Yeah, and don’t take life too seriously. Life is short, might as well learn how to laugh at yourself sometimes, too.”

“Sounds like you need to be my life coach,” she laughed. “I mean, let’s be honest, you kind of were my life coach on that Halloween night all those years ago.”