The Green Ticket Read Online Free Page B

take a yoga mat down with me while you lift,” I offered, upping my speed on the treadmill. Trying to motivate my friend to do the same.
    Lila didn’t take the hint. She continued at her snail pace, not even breathing heavy or breaking a sweat yet. “Hey, did you ever apply for the manager job at the spa?” Nice change of subject.
    “I got my résumé all ready to go. I wanted to get Hannah to proof it for me before I send it off. I have it down for tomorrow to get it emailed. But I really don’t think I’m even going to get an interview. Who hires a college student to run a spa and salon?”
    “I bet it happens more than you think. They can probably get away with paying you a bit less if you don’t have a degree yet. Then by the time you do graduate, you can get a raise and they have a fab employee who knows all the ropes already, so they won’t be losing any money from the deal. It’s basically a win-win for everyone.”
    I thought that over. Why didn’t I think of that? I was the business major after all. “Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better. The worst they can say is no, right?” I continued without letting her answer. “And maybe I can at least get an interview, get some practice for my interviewing skills. That’s never a bad thing.”
    “Right. I learned in class last semester that you’re supposed to go on a job interview like twice a year or something, even if you’re happy with your job. It helps keep those skills alive. Or something.Maybe it was more times a year. I don’t really remember. But anyway, good plan. I say you can count on at least getting an interview.”
    “You don’t have the vibe that I could get the job?”
    Lila paused, putting her index finger in the air like the (non-existent) wind would give her the answers. “I’m sure if your résumé is good and you fly through the interview like you always do, you could be a definite contender.”
    I smiled while continuing my run. I knew Lila was saying that as my friend, not as some hocus-pocus psychic. She was always one of my biggest supporters, and I was grateful for that. While Lila came from a close-knit family –– mom and dad happily married, two younger sisters that were close in age to her –– she understood my family complications. When I couldn’t make it to Seattle to visit Alicia and my family over holidays or school breaks, Lila took me back to Okana to stay with her family. The Medlin’s were like my surrogate family. And I loved them for it.
    We finished up on the treadmills–– me wiping sweat from my forehead, Lila still not breathing heavy–– and made our way down to the weight room. I loved that Kaufman promoted health and wellness on campus. We had a workout room with plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes and a full weight room. In addition to those, we had a back room that had a TV and DVD player, and students could either bring their own workout DVDs or use the ones Kaufman supplied. There was also a gym that was used for basketball and volleyball games, and intramurals were popular on campus. The lounge on campus gave nutritional value of foods that were served, and only one pop machine was on campus.
    Once we got back to Wacker and showered, I texted Hannah and asked her to come up to our room. Hannah lived by herself on the top floor of our dorm, where all the rich kids resided. No sharing a shower for her. She got her own bedroom, living room, kitchen, and full bathroom. Oh, to have parents with cash. Lots of cash. We could never hold that against her, though. Hannah was too sweet to dislike.
    While waiting for her to arrive, I took a call from Alicia, who called every Sunday night regardless of what was happening in our lives. “Hello, sister,” I said.
    “Hi, honey. How is everything with you?” Alicia sounded upbeat, as usual, and I could just imagine her red hair curled to perfection and her green eyes bright even though she chased five kids around all day.