Chapter 99
**Sara**
I pushed open the door of Café Latte, the familiar jingle of bells announcing my arrival. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and warm pastries enveloped me, instantly soothing my frazzled nerves. It had been a long day of classes and trying not to stare at Tom's ass while he wrote on the whiteboard.
I spotted Claire waving at me from a corner booth. Her auburn hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she had that mischievous glint in her eye that always spelled trouble. Or gossip. Or both.
"Sara! Over here!" She called out as if I hadn't already seen her enthusiastic arm-flailing.
I weaved through the tables, narrowly avoiding a waiter with a precariously balanced tray of lattes. "Hey, Claire," I said, sliding into the booth across from her. "Long time no see."
"Girl, it's been what? Two months? That's practically a lifetime in bestie years."
"True. A lot can happen in two months."
"Speaking of which," Claire leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "are you still with that hunky piece of man-meat, Matt? Or did you finally wise up and dump his sorry ass?"
I winced. Leave it to Claire to cut straight to the chase. "Actually, we broke up. On that very day, you told me about Victoria."
Claire's jaw dropped. "No way! I mean, I'm glad you ditched the cheater, but damn. That was fast."
"Well, when you catch your boyfriend with his pants around his ankles and another woman's lipstick on his... well, you know... it tends to speed up the breakup process."
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. But also, not sorry? Does that make sense? He was a grade-A asshole."
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. "Yeah, it still stings, but I'm better off without him."
Claire reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Trust me, you'll find a nice one. Someone who deserves you and won't think with his... lower brain."
I couldn't help but snort. "Lower brain? Really, Claire? We're not in middle school anymore."
"Fine, his dick. Happy now?" She grinned, raising an eyebrow.
I laughed at Claire's bluntness. "Alright, alright. Let's change the subject before we scandalize the entire café."
A waiter approached our table, notepad in hand. "What can I get for you ladies today?"
"I'll have a caramel macchiato and a blueberry muffin," Claire said, flashing a flirtatious smile at the young man.
I rolled my eyes. "Just a black coffee for me, thanks."
As the waiter walked away, I caught Claire openly ogling his backside. She wasn't even trying to be subtle about it.
"Claire, seriously? Are you trying to undress him with your eyes or burn a hole through his jeans?"
She grinned, unabashed. "What? I'm just appreciating the view. You know, window shopping."
I shook my head, amused despite myself. "Speaking of shopping, what's new in your love life? Still swiping right on every breathing male within a ten-mile radius?"
"Oh honey, I've upgraded. Swiping is so last season. I'm now juggling multiple men for some casual fun. It's like having a buffet of eye candy at my fingertips."
I nearly choked on my own spit. "Multiple men? How do you manage that without your life becoming a sitcom disaster?"
"It's an art form, darling. I've got spreadsheets, color-coded calendars, and more fake emergencies than a soap opera," she said with a wink.
"But Claire, doesn't that get... complicated? I mean, you're not exactly known for keeping things drama-free."
She laughed, tossing her hair back. "Oh please, I thrive on a little chaos. Besides, it's all in good fun. No strings attached, no hearts broken. Just good old-fashioned bedroom gymnastics."
I felt my cheeks heat up. "Bedroom gymnastics? Really?"
"What? Would you prefer 'horizontal tango'? 'Mattress mambo'? 'Bumping uglies'?"
"Stop, stop! I get the picture. Vividly. Maybe too vividly."
Claire smirked. "You stick to one man and be a good girl, Sara. Leave the wild side to me."
"Trust me, I'm not looking to juggle anyone. One relationship is complicated enough."
Her expression softened a bit. "I know what you mean. Truth is, I'd love to find that one perfect guy. But until then, I'm enjoying the... um, sampling process."
"You make it sound like you're at a cheese tasting."
"Well, some are pretty cheesy," she quipped, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
I groaned. "That was terrible, even for you."
Our drinks arrived, and I gratefully wrapped my hands around the warm mug of coffee.
I took a long sip of my coffee, savoring the bitter warmth as it slid down my throat. Claire was halfway through her muffin, somehow managing to talk and chew simultaneously without looking like a disaster. It was a skill I'd always envied.
"So, Sara," she said, swallowing a mouthful of blueberry goodness, "what's the grand plan after you finish your MBA? Are you going to take over the world one spreadsheet at a time?"
"Hardly. I'm thinking more along the lines of getting a job. Like a normal person."
Claire rolled her eyes dramatically. "A job? How pedestrian. I expected something more exciting from you. I don't know, becoming a professional cat herder or a unicorn wrangler."
"Sorry to disappoint," I laughed. "But I'm pretty sure those aren't real jobs. Besides, I'm more of a dog person."
"Boring!" Claire declared, waving her fork at me accusingly. "But fear not, my dear Sara. Your fairy godmother Claire is here to save you from a life of mundane employment."
"Oh really? And how exactly do you plan to do that? Wave your magic wand and turn me into a CEO?"
"Better," she grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. "I can find you a job. A real one, with actual money and everything."
"Wow, a job with money? What a concept," I deadpanned. "And how, pray tell, will you accomplish this miracle?"
Claire sat back, looking smugger than a cat who knocked over a fishbowl. "Simple. My brother's friends are all doing well in various companies. I'm talking about corner offices, expense accounts, and the whole shebang."
I blinked, surprised. "Wait, your brother has successful friends? The same brother who once tried to microwave a fork to 'see what would happen'?"
"Hey, don't judge. Even idiots can have smart friends," Claire defended. "Besides, he's grown up a lot since the Great Fork Incident of 2015."
"Uh-huh," I said, unconvinced. "And these friends of his, they're just dying to hire a fresh MBA grad with zero experience?"
Claire waved her hand dismissively. "Details, details. Look, these guys are always on the lookout for new talent. And with your brains and my... let's call it 'networking skills', we're sure to land you something fabulous."
"Is that what we're calling your ability to flirt your way into VIP sections now?"
"Hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it," she winked. "Besides, I'll have you know my networking skills are top-notch. How do you think I got that internship at the fashion magazine last summer?"
"I always assumed it was your sparkling personality and vast knowledge of designer handbags," I teased.
Claire stuck out her tongue at me. "Mock all you want, but my methods get results. So, what do you say? Want me to put out some feelers?"
"Alright, alright. Let's see where this goes. I mean, I'll finish my MBA soon, so we might as well give it a shot."
Claire's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Yes! Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I can already picture you in a corner office, bossing around many interns."
"Whoa there, slow down," I said, holding up my hands. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'd be happy with a cubicle and a working coffee machine now."
"Psh, aim higher, Sara! With my connections and your... well, Sara-ness, we'll have you running the place in no time."
I raised an eyebrow. "My Sara-ness? Is that even a thing?"
"Of course it is! It's that unique blend of smarts, sass, and... what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah, nerdiness."
"Gee, thanks," I deadpanned. "I'm not sure whether to be flattered or offended."
"Oh, hush. You know I mean it in the best way possible. Now, let's start brainstorming. What kind of job do you want? Something flashy? Something with lots of travel? Ooh, how about something with a company car?"
"How about we start with something in my field? You know, finance? The thing I've been studying for the past two years?"
"Boring!" Claire declared, sticking out her tongue. "But fine, if you insist on being responsible."
"Hey, some of us actually want to use our degrees. Not all of us can make a career out of being fabulous."
"Ugh, you're no fun," Claire pouted. "Fine, I'll ask around for boring finance jobs. But don't blame me if you end up crunching numbers in a windowless basement somewhere."
"As long as there's coffee, I'll survive," I quipped, sipping my now lukewarm drink.