Chapter 13 #2
After hooking the little belt at my waist, I peer at my reflection one more time and decide that I don’t look so bad.
My boobs are a bit obvious, but not in a trashy sort of way.
I hope not anyway. Since I’m not sure, I send a selfie to Lily and ask her if it’s okay.
I’d talked with Lily earlier about my date tonight.
She’s excited for me. She writes back with two thumbs up emojis, which I take as a good sign.
I finish up by flat ironing my hair. It looks shiny and sleek.
I add a little pink eyeshadow, brown eyeliner, and mascara.
Then I dab on some pink lip gloss. I don’t want to wear flip-flops and definitely don’t want to try heels, so I pull out some silver, practically new flats from the back of my closet.
When a knock sounds at the door, I gasp.
“He’s here.” I reach for my small clutch person, throw in my ID card, my debit card, and a small brush, just in case.
Oh jeez, I’m so nervous. I shouldn’t be, but I am.
When I walk out into the lounge area to answer the door, I spot Brooke standing in her bedroom doorway.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Brooke mocks. “Where are you going all dressed up?”
“Out.” I don’t have time or energy for her snark. Just a few more weeks and I’ll be free of her.
“Are you sure you want to wear that ugly dress? Can it be any tighter?”
Ignore her, ignore her, ignore her. Just then there’s another knock on the door.
Brooke moves so fast I don’t have a chance to get to the door first. She pulls it open, revealing the hottest man in the universe.
He’s wearing snug, dark denim jeans, a blue button-down shirt, and a gray sport jacket––no tie.
I kind of wish he had a tie. Just then, I see the tie in his hand.
I wonder if he’s trying to decide whether to wear it or not.
His hair looks wavy tonight and maybe a bit too long, but I like it.
He’s clean-shaven, and I just bet he smells like heaven.
He has such a beautiful face with his clear blue eyes, strong jaw, and nose.
But his mouth is the best part. His lips are full, and the top lip has that sweet cupid's bow. I realize I’m staring, so I look at Brooke who’s standing with her arms crossed and her hips jutting to the side like she’s ready to say something evil.
Her outfit is especially small tonight as well––only teeny tiny shorts and an equally tiny tank top.
She practically purrs, “Hiiiii, Alex!”
Alex doesn’t even see her. His eyes find mine, and he smiles. His gaze travels from my eyes, pauses on my mouth, and then continues downward. When they reach my breasts, his eyes get huge and his smile turns to something else. Shock? Or does he just hate my dress?
“Jesus, Pixie. What are you wearing?”
Oh, he hates it. Maybe the Evil One is right.
“It’s super tight, isn’t it?” Brooke announces. “I told her she’d better go change. It looks ridiculous.”
Once again Alex ignores Brooke and strides toward me.
He stops directly in front of me and places his hands on my hips.
My eyes tingle, tears beginning to find their way to the surface.
I close them tight, fighting for control.
My dress is too tight. Which means it’s not appropriate for my date, and Alex doesn’t like it.
“Pixie, baby, you look beautiful. I’m speechless. You look like a wet dream,” he whispers in my ear.
“A wet dream?” I whisper back.
Just then I hear Brooke scoff. God, I’m so sick of her.
“I think we need to skip dinner and head back to my place so I can really get a look at you,” he says, smiling.
I smile back. He likes it. “Alex.”
“I know, I know, later. Let’s get going.”
Alex takes my hand and leads the way out the door. Before I shut the door, I turn to see the look on Brooke’s face. It’s the same ugly look I get every day. I shrug and smile at her. That’s all I can do.
When we reach an enormous black pickup in the lot adjacent to our dorm, I exclaim, “Wow. That’s a big truck!”
“I’m a big guy. I need room to spread out in there. Plus, I love trucks. They make me feel tough,” he says, laughing.
“You don’t need a truck for that.”
Instead of responding, he leans down and kisses my lips softly; then he runs his finger over the top of my chest––it’s bulging out of my dress.
“Thank you,” he says.
“Thank you for what?”
“Thank you for the compliment and thank you, thank you, thank you for wearing that dress. I’m going to remember you in this dress for the rest of my life,” he says, still running his fingertip over the top of my breasts.
His touch makes my breathing speed up. How can this one little action turn me into a shivering mess? Those shivers reach all the way down to lady land again.
“Shall we go?” I ask.
“Sure. But first, can you help me with my tie? I can never tie these things.”
My dad taught me how to do this years ago. I was always fascinated with all of the flips and folds that he did when he was getting ready for work.
“You’re going to have to bend down or something.”
Alex bends down so I can wrap the silk around his neck. There is something so intimate about tying a man’s tie. I’m standing close enough to feel his breath on my face. His scent is all around me. When my fingers touch his neck, I’ve got the urge to pull him closer.
Instead, I flip the tie around, and it first hits my face then his.
He laughs, and I giggle. Giving me the sweetest smile, Alex watches me closely.
It’s then that I decide to be a little flirty.
I pull the tie ends toward me to bring him closer.
I’d like to say that he was looking in my eyes at the time, but I can’t.
His eyes are staring right at my chest. I use my finger to lift his chin.
“My eyes are up here,” I say, laughing. I lean in and kiss him softly on the lips. It feels perfect.
“I can’t help it, Stella. Jesus, your tits are amazing in that dress.”
I choke, surprised at his use of the word “tits.”
“Sorry, that was a little vulgar. I’ll watch my mouth.”
I don’t mind, really. I probably should, but he said it in such a genuine way––like he was in awe of them or something.
When I’m finished with his tie, Alex stands at his full height. “You look so handsome, Alex.” And he does.
“Let me get your door, princess.” He pulls his keys fob from his pocket and presses the unlock button.
As he opens my door, I turn to get into the truck, but the seat is at about eye level for me.
I look down to see if there are some steps to lead me up but no such luck.
Just then I feel big hands on my waist lifting me up, up, up.
I climb into the truck and slide into the seat.
He’s next to me before I get the chance to reach for my seat belt.
His face is in my cleavage. Coincidence? I think not. I start to laugh.
“Pix, I can’t help it. I’m only human, for God’s sake. All I want to do is bury my face in there for the rest of my life.”
Oh goodness!
He shuts my door and runs around to the driver’s side, hopping into the truck easily. When the engine rumbles, he slides the shifter into drive and off we go.
“I thought I’d take you to a new steak place out in Oak Park. One of the guys said it was excellent and there are a lot of choices on the menu, so you don’t have to eat steak if you don’t want to. Is that okay?”
“Sure. That sounds good.” Steak sounds great.
As we drive, Alex tells me a little bit about the team meeting and the big game against the University of Iowa next weekend. He tells me my tickets will be at the Will Call window at the stadium under my name. It’s also the moment he warns me, “You’ll be sitting with my parents.”
“Y-Your parents?” I stutter.
“Yep, they have my other two tickets. Each team member gets four.”
“What about your sister? Doesn’t she want to see you play?”
“Nah. She’s too busy with her high school stuff to want to watch her big brother play football. Besides, I want my girl to have my tickets.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Positive. Plus, your dad will get a kick out of the seats. They’re pretty good.”
“Oh, he will. He’s really excited. Thanks for doing all of that, by the way. You didn’t have to talk to him about, err, us.”
“I wanted to, Stella. It’s not right that they didn’t believe you.”
“I know.” It’s all I can say before we pull into the restaurant parking lot. He finds a parking spot in the back of the lot with space enough for his huge truck.
I reach for my door handle but hear him say, “Don’t even think about it.”
“What?”
“I’m coming around to help you out. Sit tight.”
I sit tight as he jogs around the truck, opens my door, and steps up again to unbuckle me.
“I am capable of unbuckling myself, you know?” He ignores this little outburst as he slowly releases the belt, watching it slide back over my chest. Seriously? I’m starting to think he’s kind of a pervert which for some reason, makes me laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.”
He leans up and kisses my lips. It’s a gentle kiss, but I want more, and yet I want to linger here too. His lips brush against mine, his breath heating me from the inside out. Why are we bothering with dinner again?
“I’m glad you’re here with me, Stella.”
“Me too.”
He slides his arms around me and lifts me out of the truck until my feet touch the ground. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
When we enter, we’re seated immediately even though there’s a long line to get into the place.
They must have recognized his name on the reservation.
The hostess seems to be lingering a little too long after seating us as well, batting her eyelashes at Alex and giggling like a fangirl.
Hello, I’m right here, I want to say. What is it with women today?
The girl blinks like twenty times. Her eyes move from Alex to me then back to Alex.
Then she has the nerve to point and ask, “That’s your girlfriend?”