I’ll never give her another goodbye kiss ever again.
She’s stuck with me whether she wants to be or not.
I hope she doesn’t take much convincing.
“I admit, Leesh, this is outstanding.” I twirl in front of the full-length mirror attached to the back of my bedroom door. The black-and-white patterned wrap dress accentuates my nipped-in waist, and while the dress doesn’t minimize my chest, it doesn’t call undue attention to it, either. Which is fine because the only person I want looking is Shay.
The teardrop earrings highlight my face, and Miguel worked miracles taming my hair with his multitude of sprays, brushes, and the flat iron.
I hardly ever take the time the time to straighten my hair. While I like my natural curls, I’m crushing on this sleek style, pulled back on one side, and falling across the other shoulder.
As soon as I wash my hair, the curls will bounce back, but I’ll enjoy this while I can.
Leesh beams, proud of her handiwork.
I sweep on mascara and lipstick. A sharp rap at the door startles me, and I have to wipe off the lipstick smudged by my jerking hand.
6:55 p.m.
Of course, he’s early.
“I got this!” Leesh calls back as she walks to the door. “You make an entrance when I call you.”
I sigh. I hate doing this, but she took two hours of her time to help me get ready, even though I would never have taken two hours on my own.
“Thea, honey! Yoo-hooo! Your date’s here.”
Must she be so embarrassing?
I slide on my dressy flats and glide—at least I try to glide—to the living room.
Shay stands in the entry hall, and my breath catches. He’s not as dressed up as earlier, when he was dead sexy in his suit and tie, but tonight he’s . . . wow. He’s wearing a dark green shirt, and khaki pants hug the solid muscles of his legs.
I swallow, remembering what’s underneath the clothes, and a wave of electric desire surges through me, urging me forward.
Makes me want to kick my friends out so I can rip Shay’s clothes off.
I take a breath to soothe my overwrought libido.
“Hi.” His smile is shy like the first night we met. Funny, since we’ve seen each other naked from different angles, and he looked fantastic from all of them.
My face heats at my thoughts, and from his attention.
If we don’t get out soon, his clothes will still look good.
In a pile on my bedroom floor.
“Shall we?” I usher Leesh and Miguel out the door. Shay and I follow, and I lock the door behind us.
I spot his hybrid in the drive, and he opens the door for me. Chivalry is not dead.
The radio’s tuned to a classic rock station, but he offers me control of the music. That song starts playing again. I change the station.
I got this, Mama .
I can handle my dates on my own. Especially this one. I handled him exceptionally in Key West.
Except for the ending part. I’m no good at endings.
I think I shouldn’t try to end this. This could be the chance for a fresh beginning.
Which means being honest with him about everything. Not tonight though. Tomorrow or Sunday.
Honesty could result in loss, and I’m not prepared to lose him yet.
He puts the car in gear and flashes his stunning grin.
I like the view from the front too much to watch him walk away.
She’s so beautiful she makes my heart hurt. I never thought I’d connect with anyone this way. After high school, I’d kind of sworn off serious stuff, spurred by my growing knowledge about the genetic links in mood disorders. Would I develop depression as severe as Rose’s someday? Would I pass the disposition to my children?
I don’t want to hurt anyone to the same degree. Rose had broken everyone’s hearts, but she shattered Da’s soul, and I never wanted to give anyone the ability to hurt me like that. Or hurt anyone like that myself.
It must’ve sucked for him to discover the woman he’d trusted with his heart was such a monster.
Not a monster, I remind myself. Sick.
She’s the reason I got into
She’s stuck with me whether she wants to be or not.
I hope she doesn’t take much convincing.
“I admit, Leesh, this is outstanding.” I twirl in front of the full-length mirror attached to the back of my bedroom door. The black-and-white patterned wrap dress accentuates my nipped-in waist, and while the dress doesn’t minimize my chest, it doesn’t call undue attention to it, either. Which is fine because the only person I want looking is Shay.
The teardrop earrings highlight my face, and Miguel worked miracles taming my hair with his multitude of sprays, brushes, and the flat iron.
I hardly ever take the time the time to straighten my hair. While I like my natural curls, I’m crushing on this sleek style, pulled back on one side, and falling across the other shoulder.
As soon as I wash my hair, the curls will bounce back, but I’ll enjoy this while I can.
Leesh beams, proud of her handiwork.
I sweep on mascara and lipstick. A sharp rap at the door startles me, and I have to wipe off the lipstick smudged by my jerking hand.
6:55 p.m.
Of course, he’s early.
“I got this!” Leesh calls back as she walks to the door. “You make an entrance when I call you.”
I sigh. I hate doing this, but she took two hours of her time to help me get ready, even though I would never have taken two hours on my own.
“Thea, honey! Yoo-hooo! Your date’s here.”
Must she be so embarrassing?
I slide on my dressy flats and glide—at least I try to glide—to the living room.
Shay stands in the entry hall, and my breath catches. He’s not as dressed up as earlier, when he was dead sexy in his suit and tie, but tonight he’s . . . wow. He’s wearing a dark green shirt, and khaki pants hug the solid muscles of his legs.
I swallow, remembering what’s underneath the clothes, and a wave of electric desire surges through me, urging me forward.
Makes me want to kick my friends out so I can rip Shay’s clothes off.
I take a breath to soothe my overwrought libido.
“Hi.” His smile is shy like the first night we met. Funny, since we’ve seen each other naked from different angles, and he looked fantastic from all of them.
My face heats at my thoughts, and from his attention.
If we don’t get out soon, his clothes will still look good.
In a pile on my bedroom floor.
“Shall we?” I usher Leesh and Miguel out the door. Shay and I follow, and I lock the door behind us.
I spot his hybrid in the drive, and he opens the door for me. Chivalry is not dead.
The radio’s tuned to a classic rock station, but he offers me control of the music. That song starts playing again. I change the station.
I got this, Mama .
I can handle my dates on my own. Especially this one. I handled him exceptionally in Key West.
Except for the ending part. I’m no good at endings.
I think I shouldn’t try to end this. This could be the chance for a fresh beginning.
Which means being honest with him about everything. Not tonight though. Tomorrow or Sunday.
Honesty could result in loss, and I’m not prepared to lose him yet.
He puts the car in gear and flashes his stunning grin.
I like the view from the front too much to watch him walk away.
She’s so beautiful she makes my heart hurt. I never thought I’d connect with anyone this way. After high school, I’d kind of sworn off serious stuff, spurred by my growing knowledge about the genetic links in mood disorders. Would I develop depression as severe as Rose’s someday? Would I pass the disposition to my children?
I don’t want to hurt anyone to the same degree. Rose had broken everyone’s hearts, but she shattered Da’s soul, and I never wanted to give anyone the ability to hurt me like that. Or hurt anyone like that myself.
It must’ve sucked for him to discover the woman he’d trusted with his heart was such a monster.
Not a monster, I remind myself. Sick.
She’s the reason I got into
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