Page 18 of The Reverse Cinderella

Chapter 3

Someone was knocking on Piaget’s door.

She figured it was probably the landlord, asking if this month’s cheque was going to bounce again. It was his way of asking for the rent. Plus, the question was usually legitimate with most of the tenants here. Dragging herself from her nap on the couch, which she had needed after an extra-long shift at the café, she released the locks and pulled it open it. “What?”

Max stood there, hand half raised to knock again, the other holding what looked like a music instrument case. He looked Piaget up and down. “Hi?”

Piaget’s face instantly flushed and she knew she wasn’t going to be looking pretty in her cut off sweats made into shorts with an I Heart New York t-shirt. It didn’t help that she was braless. Or makeupless. Or probably had an imprint from the couch cushion on her face. “Did I forget something?”

“The stars,” Max raised an eyebrow. “You said you wanted to learn about constellations.”

“Was that tonight?” Piaget couldn’t honestly remember. Between nervously waiting to hear if she’d gotten the coveted early broadcasting position, working extra hours at the café and studying for school, she was wiped. She had probably agreed to this when he was being her perfect study buddy and she had forgotten. She felt so bad for the mistake. “I’m so sorry. Let me get changed.”

“We can do it another time if that’s better for you,” Max offered.

“No!” Piaget knew she would probably forget about it again and it had sounded really interesting when he talked about it. Plus, she had now gotten some sleep so she was wide awake. “Give me two minutes.”

Piaget rushed into her bedroom and grabbed a bra. The t-shirt could stay but she added a hoodie and swapped out the ugly sweat shorts for capris.

“How did the test go?”

She ran a brush through her hair. “It started out rough but then I think I did really well. I won’t know the results for a little while. You were right about the first question. It was asking why we wanted the position.”

“That means you were prepared for it. Good.” She could hear Max move around the living room. “Who’s this?”

Piaget looked as she went into the bathroom and saw him holding up a picture frame. “The cheesy Christmas photos? Tiffany and Charles with their children. Tiff is my sister.”

“Piaget and Tiffany? Your parents have a thing for jewelry?” Max chuckled.

“My mother did. Not sure my father had any say in the matter.” Piaget swiped on some mascara and lip gloss. It was quick and easy. Plus, they were going to see the stars, not anything terribly special. Piaget flipped off the lights as she came back to the living room. “Ready?”

“Wow. That was fast.” Max smiled. “You look great.”

Piaget shrugged, but secretly she was pleased by his compliment. “Thanks. Should I bring anything?”

“Just yourself. And maybe a blanket in case it gets cold,” he held up the blanket that usually covered the couch. It was folded neatly over his arm. “I’ve already got the telescope so we are all set.”

“Where did you get the telescope?” Piaget couldn’t help but ask as she laced up her sneakers.

“AAA. Amateur Astronomers Association. I borrowed it from a member. As long as it gets back to him soon, he’s cool with it.”

“Nice,” Piaget locked up her apartment door and was surprised when Max led her up the stairs instead of down.

“I talked to the superintendent and he was kind enough to give me the roof key. Turns out, you’re one of his favorite tenants. He says you pay on time the most.”

“I do try,” Piaget said wryly. Five floors later, they managed to get to the roof door and she held the blanket while Max worked the key in the lock. On top of the roof it was a little cooler with a little breeze in the summer air. Piaget could hear the traffic far below and the lights of the buildings around had a different perspective from this high up. It was rather nice. She wondered why she had never come up here before.

They spread out the blanket and Max set up the telescope. They had fun looking around the neighborhood with it, finding places that they knew and spying on a few people eating at a local diner before pointing it to the stars.

“How many people belong to this amateur astronomers’ club?” Piaget suddenly asked.

“Quite a few,” Max said absently as he worked on the focus and she looked thoughtfully at the street below.

“How many of those people are shady and are probably using their telescopes to look in people’s apartments? At least, part of the time?” It was her mother’s voice in her head. Piaget tried to see the world through less biased eyes, but it was hard when she had such a critical woman raise her.

“Probably only a couple. Why? Worried someone is going to spy on you?” Max teased Piaget. “You are gorgeous but anyone with binoculars and a good vantage point can do the same.”

“I think I’ll start closing my drapes a little more,” Piaget came back to the blanket and sat near the telescope. With a flourish, Max presented the site of the telescope to her and Piaget took a tentative peek. The stars were numerous and bright compared to the night sky in the city. “Wow.”