the first time in a long time it felt good to have friends.
***
The week progressed at a snail’s pace. The kids were already starting to get tired and we hadn’t even made it past the half way mark. I knew if we could get through this week, the kids would be looking forward to our big overnight trips to New York and Washington, DC.
Sofia grabbed me after classes let out on Wednesday. “I have a surprise,” she said as she pulled me toward her car.
“I’m not too keen on surprises,” I replied.
“It’s a good one, I promise.”
***
“What are we doing at the mall,” I complained as Sofia pulled her Honda into the parking lot.
“We’re getting you some new clothes. Ones with some color. Now that your hair and makeup are toned down a bit, I thought we could work on your wardrobe. Besides, don’t you want something pretty to wear when we go out on Friday night?”
“Who said anything about going out on Friday night?”
Sofia frowned. “You mean he hasn’t asked you out yet?”
“If by he, you mean Cameron, the answer is no.”
She shook her head. “He’s nervous.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, right. What does Cameron Connelly have to be nervous about? When we were in high school, he went out with nearly the entire cheerleading squad.”
“Haven’t you changed a lot since high school?”
That was an understatement. “Of course. Everything changed after Alex died.”
“My point exactly. Didn’t you listen to Cameron when he gave his speech? Everything changed for him, too.”
“So you’re telling me he’s nervous about asking me out?” It sounded so ridiculous coming out of my mouth.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now let’s find you a killer outfit for a night of dancing and fun.”
***
Two hours and a hundred dollars later, I had three new outfits. Two pairs of skinny jeans and v-neck T-shirts (one coral and one sapphire) and a little white summer dress.
“You’re definitely wearing that cute dress on Friday night. Cameron is just going to flip when he sees you in it.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“We need to rebuild you confidence,” Sofia stated.
“Rebuilding implies that I once had confidence, which I don’t think is the case.”
“Girl, you’ve got a lot going on.” She scanned up and down my body. “You just need to use it.”
“I will try,” I promised.
She eyed me. “Not try, just do.”
***
I put on my new skinny jeans and coral v-neck and looked at myself in the mirror. It had been so long since I’d worn anything but black, I had forgotten how certain colors looked with my light skin tone and light brown hair. The coral was definitely complementary and brought out a little sparkle in my eyes that I hadn’t noticed before.
I heard a soft knock on my door. It was so soft, I wondered if I had actually heard it. But then it persisted.
When I answered it, I was surprised to see Cameron.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Sure.” I stepped aside so he could enter.
He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. It was a gesture I was getting used to seeing when he seemed nervous.
“So, I was wondering what you were doing Friday night?”
I wanted to say: besides going to Bogey’s with you but I r efrained. His voice seemed so fragile, I didn’t want to make him feel any more uncomfortable.
I looked up at him and stared into his rich green eyes. He swallowed then said, “Do you want to go to Bogey’s?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I probed coyly.
He still looked so nervous and I thought he might break into a sweat at any moment. He nodded.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Okay?” he repeated, as if he didn’t believe me.
“Yes, I’ll go with you.”
A small grin replaced his pained expression. “I’ll come by at eight o’clock, if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
He turned to leave then turned back toward me. “I really like that outfit. It’s a good color on you.”
He turned to
***
The week progressed at a snail’s pace. The kids were already starting to get tired and we hadn’t even made it past the half way mark. I knew if we could get through this week, the kids would be looking forward to our big overnight trips to New York and Washington, DC.
Sofia grabbed me after classes let out on Wednesday. “I have a surprise,” she said as she pulled me toward her car.
“I’m not too keen on surprises,” I replied.
“It’s a good one, I promise.”
***
“What are we doing at the mall,” I complained as Sofia pulled her Honda into the parking lot.
“We’re getting you some new clothes. Ones with some color. Now that your hair and makeup are toned down a bit, I thought we could work on your wardrobe. Besides, don’t you want something pretty to wear when we go out on Friday night?”
“Who said anything about going out on Friday night?”
Sofia frowned. “You mean he hasn’t asked you out yet?”
“If by he, you mean Cameron, the answer is no.”
She shook her head. “He’s nervous.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, right. What does Cameron Connelly have to be nervous about? When we were in high school, he went out with nearly the entire cheerleading squad.”
“Haven’t you changed a lot since high school?”
That was an understatement. “Of course. Everything changed after Alex died.”
“My point exactly. Didn’t you listen to Cameron when he gave his speech? Everything changed for him, too.”
“So you’re telling me he’s nervous about asking me out?” It sounded so ridiculous coming out of my mouth.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now let’s find you a killer outfit for a night of dancing and fun.”
***
Two hours and a hundred dollars later, I had three new outfits. Two pairs of skinny jeans and v-neck T-shirts (one coral and one sapphire) and a little white summer dress.
“You’re definitely wearing that cute dress on Friday night. Cameron is just going to flip when he sees you in it.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“We need to rebuild you confidence,” Sofia stated.
“Rebuilding implies that I once had confidence, which I don’t think is the case.”
“Girl, you’ve got a lot going on.” She scanned up and down my body. “You just need to use it.”
“I will try,” I promised.
She eyed me. “Not try, just do.”
***
I put on my new skinny jeans and coral v-neck and looked at myself in the mirror. It had been so long since I’d worn anything but black, I had forgotten how certain colors looked with my light skin tone and light brown hair. The coral was definitely complementary and brought out a little sparkle in my eyes that I hadn’t noticed before.
I heard a soft knock on my door. It was so soft, I wondered if I had actually heard it. But then it persisted.
When I answered it, I was surprised to see Cameron.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Sure.” I stepped aside so he could enter.
He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. It was a gesture I was getting used to seeing when he seemed nervous.
“So, I was wondering what you were doing Friday night?”
I wanted to say: besides going to Bogey’s with you but I r efrained. His voice seemed so fragile, I didn’t want to make him feel any more uncomfortable.
I looked up at him and stared into his rich green eyes. He swallowed then said, “Do you want to go to Bogey’s?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I probed coyly.
He still looked so nervous and I thought he might break into a sweat at any moment. He nodded.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Okay?” he repeated, as if he didn’t believe me.
“Yes, I’ll go with you.”
A small grin replaced his pained expression. “I’ll come by at eight o’clock, if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
He turned to leave then turned back toward me. “I really like that outfit. It’s a good color on you.”
He turned to
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