Chapter 42
Jamie and I were going on our first date tonight. The bruises Craig had given me two weeks ago had mostly faded, and the cracks in my ribs were a lot less painful.
My dad was recovering too. And while Mom”s endless doting was driving him crazy, he didn”t complain. Being an overbearing mother hen was her way of coping, and we loved her for it.
Ashley had taken a few days off after she’d heard what happened and stayed with us. It was a godsend. Mom thought because she hadn’t been physically hurt everything would feel normal, but for the first few days after we got home she struggled being in the kitchen and kept looking at the door like she expected it to get kicked in any second.
Ashley’s presence provided a sense of normalcy none of us knew we needed. She’d kept us company in the kitchen, chatting as she helped cook or clean. And now she was back to help me get ready for my date, saying she wouldn’t miss it for the world. She was also slipping in, “I told you so,” as often as she could.
I shook my head to clear it when I heard Ashley say, “Earth to Emily.”
We had clothes spread out all over my bed as she attempted to help me find the perfect outfit. She was currently holding up a flowery summer dress. “What about this one?”
“Nah, too cute.” We were having trouble finding the perfect happy medium between cute and flirty, and sexy. I wanted to look good for Jamie tonight, but not like I was trying too hard.
I wondered if he was putting half as much thought into what he was wearing. “It’s so much easier for guys.”
“But not as much fun. They throw on a clean button-up shirt and pants and they’re good to go.” She rolled her eyes. “Bor-ring.” She picked up the sexy red dress she brought for me to borrow. “But we get to wear the fun stuff that makes their heads explode.” She held the dress to her body and shook it in time with her hips.
It was a gorgeous dress, but I didn’t think I could pull it off. Besides, it was a little too much for the casual date we had planned. I bet Ashley looks breathtaking when she wears it. She had the body and the personality to pull it off. Me, not so much. Not that my body was bad. I was in decent shape, but I lacked the no-fucks-given attitude to wear it without feeling self conscious.
“Maybe for your second date.” She winked at me.
I scanned the clothes strewn about the bed and saw it. The perfect dress. I picked up a long pale blue dress with spaghetti straps and a belted waist. It had small white flowers along the neck line and the hem. It was the perfect combination of fun and flirty with a hint of sexy.
“Perfect!!” Ashley beamed at me.
“I can’t believe I’m nervous. We’ve talked every day.” Seriously, it was stupid for me to be so nervous. Not only had we talked every day since that night in the hospital, but he’d visited me most days too. I had a sneaky feeling he came here instead of inviting me to his place so we’d feel safer, more comfortable.
I no longer doubted Jamie’s desire to see me. At least not most of the time. I only started to doubt it when I was alone and my demons would start talking. They always sounded like Craig.
But when Jamie was here, or I was talking to him, all I heard was his voice, reminding me of all the things I’d forgotten about myself.
I’d gone on the defensive a few times when he’d asked me what I was up to, but he wouldn’t let it go unchallenged. He’d make sure I knew he wasn’t checking up on me or judging me, often adding something like: I just want to make sure I’m not interrupting you.
“You’re nervous because you’re finally going out with your hot as fuck high school crush turned knight in shining armor.”
Mom said, “Ashley!” We hadn”t heard her come in my room.
“Sorry Mrs. Taylor.” Ashley winked at me as she apologized to my mom. They were almost as excited about my first date with Jamie as I was.
Almost.
The way things were going tonight, I half expected my father to give Jamie ‘the talk’ about respecting his little girl. Or for Chris to show up and threaten to punch him again if he did anything to hurt me. I laughed at how ridiculous they were. They’d known Jamie forever and he’d been nothing but polite, respectful, and caring the last two weeks, but dads were dads, and brothers were brothers, and mine were over-protective.
And I loved them for it.
The door bell interrupted my thoughts.