Penny had known that I was going out of town to visit a gorgeous man that
I’d only just met and was having a whirlwind romance with, she certainly would
have denied my request out of sheer envy. It was Maureen’s idea to claim that I
was having a minor surgical procedure and would need a three-day weekend to
recover. Request granted.
I spent a small
fortune on new dresses and shoes. I couldn’t look anything less than
spectacular for Jay. We’d have three days together, and I had to look my best
at every turn. It was unquestionable that he’d be looking as hot as ever, and I
had to measure up as best I possibly could. I spent hundreds of dollars on spa
services too. I had to be smooth, flawless, and free of excess body hair.
Not only
had I put an obscene amount of money on my credit card, I'd also spent hours on
end trying on every frock, jumpsuit, romper, skirt, caftan, and blazer in my
closet. To be fair, though, I did that before every trip. I couldn’t go
somewhere without trying on the clothes I planned to wear first. I hated over
packing and didn't want to look too high maintenance by bringing too many
outfits (a little high maintenance was acceptable, but having backup outfits
for every single day and night was bordering on insanity, and I couldn’t have
Jay seeing all of my idiosyncrasies just yet).
I never failed
to struggle with sleep the night before any exciting event (like Christmas or
girls’ trips back in college), but before leaving for New York I tossed and
turned like never before. A hybrid of excitement and terror filled every fissure
of my brain. This time would be the real deal—the litmus test. It was my
third encounter with Jay and would include two nights, three days, and
hopefully lots and lots of Jay Conrad's delicious body all over mine.
My flight out of
Columbus International Airport departed in the late morning. After a blowout at
Drybar, I changed into my jet-setting outfit: black J. Crew leggings, an ivory
Alice & Olivia tunic, and black wedge booties. Shortly before ten thirty,
Luna and I ventured downstairs. Emily was picking us up to take me to the
airport and would take the dog to my parents’ house for the weekend.
“Hey,” Emily
said, as I opened her car door to pass off Luna.
“Hi, Em.” I was
on autopilot. I popped my luggage into her trunk and hopped into her front
seat. “Thanks again for taking me.”
“No problem. Are
you excited?”
“Yes, but
nervous too.”
“Why are you
nervous?” she asked.
“You just have
to know Jay. He’s intimidating. His hotness is off-putting.”
“You’re out of
your mind.” I didn’t know where she was going after that slightly offensive
remark. “You need to take him off the pedestal and put yourself on it instead.”
It was an eye-opening insight from my younger sister. It was easier for her to
feel that way than it was for me, though; she’d always been someone who guys
fawned over.
“I know, I
know.” But I had no desire to discuss it any further. “How’s Mom?”
“Good, but she’s
still bitching about how you never come over. Says your job is bullshit.”
“Well, she’s
right about that. It’s taking over my life. It’s a miracle that I got these
three days off in a row.”
“You can’t keep
this up forever, Elle,” Emily said. “You’ll burn out.”
“Just a little
while longer.”
“And then
what?”
I didn’t have an
answer, but Emily had posed a thought-provoking question. What was next? I knew I couldn’t spend the
rest of my life working six out of seven days every week at a job that I hated.
I wasn’t getting any younger, and in all of my excitement surrounding Jay, I’d put
my future career aspirations on the backburner.
Sitting
in the terminal, I couldn’t help but notice how lean I’d gotten from all the
hours I’d spent running. With a few less pounds on my frame, I was thrilled at
the thought of meeting Jay’s eyes. Jay’s
eyes. I couldn’t wait to see
I’d only just met and was having a whirlwind romance with, she certainly would
have denied my request out of sheer envy. It was Maureen’s idea to claim that I
was having a minor surgical procedure and would need a three-day weekend to
recover. Request granted.
I spent a small
fortune on new dresses and shoes. I couldn’t look anything less than
spectacular for Jay. We’d have three days together, and I had to look my best
at every turn. It was unquestionable that he’d be looking as hot as ever, and I
had to measure up as best I possibly could. I spent hundreds of dollars on spa
services too. I had to be smooth, flawless, and free of excess body hair.
Not only
had I put an obscene amount of money on my credit card, I'd also spent hours on
end trying on every frock, jumpsuit, romper, skirt, caftan, and blazer in my
closet. To be fair, though, I did that before every trip. I couldn’t go
somewhere without trying on the clothes I planned to wear first. I hated over
packing and didn't want to look too high maintenance by bringing too many
outfits (a little high maintenance was acceptable, but having backup outfits
for every single day and night was bordering on insanity, and I couldn’t have
Jay seeing all of my idiosyncrasies just yet).
I never failed
to struggle with sleep the night before any exciting event (like Christmas or
girls’ trips back in college), but before leaving for New York I tossed and
turned like never before. A hybrid of excitement and terror filled every fissure
of my brain. This time would be the real deal—the litmus test. It was my
third encounter with Jay and would include two nights, three days, and
hopefully lots and lots of Jay Conrad's delicious body all over mine.
My flight out of
Columbus International Airport departed in the late morning. After a blowout at
Drybar, I changed into my jet-setting outfit: black J. Crew leggings, an ivory
Alice & Olivia tunic, and black wedge booties. Shortly before ten thirty,
Luna and I ventured downstairs. Emily was picking us up to take me to the
airport and would take the dog to my parents’ house for the weekend.
“Hey,” Emily
said, as I opened her car door to pass off Luna.
“Hi, Em.” I was
on autopilot. I popped my luggage into her trunk and hopped into her front
seat. “Thanks again for taking me.”
“No problem. Are
you excited?”
“Yes, but
nervous too.”
“Why are you
nervous?” she asked.
“You just have
to know Jay. He’s intimidating. His hotness is off-putting.”
“You’re out of
your mind.” I didn’t know where she was going after that slightly offensive
remark. “You need to take him off the pedestal and put yourself on it instead.”
It was an eye-opening insight from my younger sister. It was easier for her to
feel that way than it was for me, though; she’d always been someone who guys
fawned over.
“I know, I
know.” But I had no desire to discuss it any further. “How’s Mom?”
“Good, but she’s
still bitching about how you never come over. Says your job is bullshit.”
“Well, she’s
right about that. It’s taking over my life. It’s a miracle that I got these
three days off in a row.”
“You can’t keep
this up forever, Elle,” Emily said. “You’ll burn out.”
“Just a little
while longer.”
“And then
what?”
I didn’t have an
answer, but Emily had posed a thought-provoking question. What was next? I knew I couldn’t spend the
rest of my life working six out of seven days every week at a job that I hated.
I wasn’t getting any younger, and in all of my excitement surrounding Jay, I’d put
my future career aspirations on the backburner.
Sitting
in the terminal, I couldn’t help but notice how lean I’d gotten from all the
hours I’d spent running. With a few less pounds on my frame, I was thrilled at
the thought of meeting Jay’s eyes. Jay’s
eyes. I couldn’t wait to see
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