Chapter 6
six
I step out of the shower, grabbing the white towel and bending my head to wrap my hair up in it before I grab another towel and wrap it around me.
The phone starts ringing from somewhere in the apartment.
I tiptoe rush out of the bathroom toward the sound of ringing.
Thinking I left my phone in the kitchen, but then I hear it coming from the front door and my workout bag.
I’m halfway to the phone when it stops ringing.
Unzipping the bag, I reach in and fish around for the phone.
My hands move my Pilates socks to the other side and then toss aside the granola bar I threw in there this morning on my way out for my workout class.
My wallet is right next to my phone, which starts ringing again.
The screen lights up the bag, letting me see exactly where it is.
I pull it out and see it’s Lexi calling me.
“Hello.” I put the phone to my ear, tossing the bag back down on the floor before walking back to the kitchen and grabbing a coffee cup.
“I’ve been calling you,” she sighs, “for the last twenty minutes.”
“Sorry,” I tell her, “I was in the shower.”
“I’ll be at your place in twenty minutes.” I look over at the time on top of the stove. “Will you be ready?”
“I can be dressed with my hair half-dried,” I tell her, “maybe some makeup.”
“What the hell have you been doing all morning long?”
“I did the eight o’clock Pilates class and then they had a spot open for the nine o’clock one and I was like, why not?
” I tell her as I put a pod in the machine and push the button before walking over to the stainless-steel fridge and pulling it open, grabbing my milk.
“I can tell you why not now,” I groan. “I’m surprised I was able to walk out of that fucking class.
My legs felt like they were going to buckle at any minute. ”
“And that’s what you get for trying to have a hot girl summer now, going into fall.”
I laugh as I pour the milk in the cup. “It’s your fault,” I point out, placing the milk back into the fridge, “and your family’s fault.”
“How?” she shrieks.
“We went on a two-week vacation where I drank like a fish every single day, and let’s not talk about all the food I consumed. I literally gained ten pounds in two weeks. It’s now been six weeks, and I’m still trying to feel human again.”
“I feel you,” she smiles, "but for what it's worth, you're looking hot as hell." I laugh, grabbing the cup and heading back to my bedroom, straight to the bathroom.
“Okay, I’ll get ready. Text me when you are downstairs so I can come down.”
“I will.” The excitement in her voice makes it rise even higher.
I put my cup of coffee down on the double sink counter.
“See you soon,” I say, putting down the phone beside the coffee cup.
I turn on my vibes music playlist before bending, pulling the towel out of my hair.
I grab my leave-in conditioner and spray it in.
I quickly blow-dry my hair halfway before walking into the walk-in closet.
This apartment came with two walk-in closets.
I decided to dedicate one to my clothes and the other one is a shoe and purse room.
Since no man is ever going to have his shit in my closet, it is the perfect thing for me.
If it were me, I would never have chosen this apartment, it’s honestly too big for me.
Kirby, however, had other plans; he is the one who bought it and then handed me the keys and the title.
Heading over to the five drawers I have set up in the corner, I pull open the underwear drawer, grabbing a white lace pair and then the matching bra.
I quickly move over to the jeans rack and pull off a pair of acid-washed blue jeans.
I slide them up and then jump twice to get them on.
My closet wasn’t always this abundant. I’m lying; it was.
My mother’s favorite pastime was shopping and spending money.
I was a professional online shopper when she was alive.
Then she passed away and I started to think I was poor, which is far from true.
I’m what Lexi likes to call Richie Rich rich, but it never even dawned on me.
Losing both parents, no matter how strained our relationships were, left me spiraling.
Then I don’t know how, but Kirby saw it and gave me his credit card and I used it occasionally.
Okay fine, more than occasionally, but he offered.
I grab a white tank top, sliding it over my head and then grab one of the long blue linen button-down shirts.
I leave it open before walking into the shoe closet and grabbing a pair of pink strappy heels.
Sliding one foot in and then tying it around my ankle, I then do the same with the other before heading over to grab my pink Chanel purse that is almost the same shade as the shoes.
I step over to the five little drawers that are in the corner of this room too, but these hold my jewelry.
I grab a couple of silver bracelets, before putting on the thick Tiffany chain necklace, the heart pendant falling on the white shirt.
I turn and head back to the bathroom, spraying my perfume that smells like clean linen.
My phone rings from the counter, interrupting the music.
“Hello.” I put it on speakerphone, grabbing it and heading to the front door.
“I’m downstairs,” Lexi says.
“On my way,” I tell her, “I’m switching out purses.” I disconnect, switching my things form one purse to the other, before checking my workout bag and grabbing my wallet and my keys. I rush out the door, shutting it and locking it behind me, and run to the elevator.
I tuck my hair behind my ear when I put on my sunglasses and head down to Lexi. She’s at the curb in the white SUV she bought herself when she left her husband. I pull open the passenger door. “Hello,” I say, getting in and leaning toward her to kiss her on the cheek. “How are you doing?”
“Twenty minutes and you look like that?” she questions, sounding annoyed. “Get out of my car.”
I laugh as I reach for my seat belt before buckling myself in.
“What can I say, I’m just a natural beauty.
” I side-eye her. “I can do my makeup in a full five minutes. I have it down pat. Cream, foundation, mascara, a touch of blush, and this is what you get.” I put both hands together under my chin, batting my eyes at her, making her laugh.
“Okay, so first stop is coffee,” she says, pulling out of the driveway.
“Then we are meeting Zoey and Ariella.” I gasp, clapping my hands.
Ever since I moved to the city, it’s been slow finding friends.
To be honest, I hadn’t really found any.
Lexi changed that. She and her family have taken me into their family, and I have never in my life felt so protected by a group of women before.
They are literally the definition of we ride at dawn, ask questions later.
“A true girls’ day.” I raise my hands in the air as she pulls into the drive-thru of the first coffee shop she sees.
“I’ll have a fresh orange juice,” I tell her, and she orders herself a latte and a fresh orange juice for me.
We drive fifteen minutes to the store, pulling open the door, and stepping in. My chest tightens. “This smells like it’s expensive.” I lean over and tell her. “Like, I feel like we should take off our shoes before we step on the cream carpet.”
“Would you shut up?” She looks over at me and the door opens behind us and we hear the squeals.
Zoey and Ariella both walk in, and we give each other hugs before the salesperson comes out dressed in a black shirt and blouse. “You must be the Richards appointment,” she says, looking at us. “I’m Monique and I’ll be taking care of you this afternoon.”
“I’m Zara’s daughter.” Zoey steps forward with a smile.
Her mother is the most sought-after stylist in the United States.
She started off as a personal shopper and then built her brand.
She now does monthly subscription boxes on her best finds.
Boxes that are sold out in seconds, with a waitlist that is three years deep.
She is also the reason my closet stays overcrowded.
I met her for the first time on the family vacation and by the time I got home, I had seven boxes of clothes she sent to me with a note that said, “This is you.” And she was not wrong.
Everything in the boxes was me and fit perfectly.
“We have the fitting rooms ready for you,” she says with a smile.
“If you will follow me.” She walks away and I am the last one to follow her, looking around at the racks and racks of clothes.
None of them touch the others so you can get a good glimpse of them without moving the hangers.
“She sent us a couple of inspiration boards for each of you.”
We walk to the back of the store where there are four massive dressing rooms with the same carpet as the front.
Each changing room has a satin curtain pushed to the side.
In the middle of the room is a pedestal for you to stand on that faces four blush chairs with mirrors all around the room, so you can see every angle. “Okay, who is going first?” Lexi asks.
“I’ll go first,” Ariella volunteers, “then I’ll sit on those”—she points to the chairs—“and drink champagne without a care in the world.”
I laugh as I head over to one of the chairs to sit down. Another woman comes out with a silver tray and four glasses of champagne on it. “It’s like she knew,” I say, grabbing a glass when she stands in front of me.
We try on dresses for what feels like eighty-five years. We also finish two bottles of champagne while laughing our asses off.
When we finish, we walk over to the Mexican restaurant right next door. Sitting down at a square table, Lexi says, “We will have a pitcher of margaritas and the tableside guacamole to start.”
“And queso,” Zoey adds, “double chips.” Then she turns to me. “So tell us…” I look at her, “how’s dating going?”
I laugh and then stop when the pitcher of margaritas arrives, taking a sip and hissing. “I hate tequila.” I about cough.
“Are you avoiding the whole dating question?” Zoey raises her eyebrows as she takes her own sip of her drink.
“There really isn’t much to say,” I admit. “I haven’t gotten laid in over a month. Sad panda face.”
“A month!” Lexi gasps out. “A month with who?”
“It was back in Arizona,” I mention then snap my fingers. “It was the guy I won at the auction.” I point at her, taking another gulp of the drink, this time the tequila tasting less intense than it did before, or maybe I’m just not tasting it.
“Darryl.” Her eyes look like they are going to bulge out of her head.
I slap the table with my hand. “That’s the one.” I chuckle. “I forgot his name.”
The whole table laughs at my confession. “What did you call him?” Ariella asks as she belly laughs.
“I kept calling him big boy,” I say, which makes them laugh even more. “Like, take that big boy out.” I smirk and take another sip. “He was below average, but he’s cute and his fingers got the job done.”
“Wait a second,” Lexi holds up her hand, “you kept calling him big boy all night?”
“Not all night,” I shake my head, “but when I needed to get his attention. Like afterward, I was like, ‘hey, big boy, you want a bottle of water?’”
“I can’t even with you.” Zoey shakes her head. “But seriously, have you been dating and not just banging?”
I shake my head. “No,” I say, “I don’t even know if I want to do that.
Have you guys been on dating apps? It’s like a mosh pit of everything.
I tried it once and the guy used filters because he did not look like he did in the pictures.
And even worse, he lied about having a job as a caretaker.
He lived with his parents and ran errands for them. ”
“We should make a list of what you are looking for,” Ariella states, “and then put it out into the universe.”
“Ohhh, that sounds like fun,” Lexi says. “Okay, so how tall?”
I lean back in the chair and my mind immediately goes to Knox, and for the life of me, I have no idea why.
He’s the complete opposite of what I would normally go for.
“Over six feet. Lean, brown eyes, and dark hair.” Which is nothing like the blond-haired, blue-eyed devil that Knox is.
“Also, no kids. Not that I don’t like kids, but no one has time for a baby momma who is going to make your life hell. ”
“You know who you should date?” Zoey remarks. “One of Kirby’s friends.”
“That’s not ever going to happen,” Lexi says. “I can say he has made sure that everyone knows you are off-limits.” I look at her, shocked.
“Everyone…” I shake my head. “Well, there goes my big dream of being a WAG,” I joke and pick up my drink.
“Well then, I guess it’s all on Nash’s shoulders.
” I look at Zoey. “Time for him to step up to the plate and bring me home a finance bro.” Even saying the words, I cringe.
“Honestly, guys, I’m just not there. Before I find someone, I need to figure out my own shit. ”
“You have to be the most put together person I know,” Ariella says.
I smile at her, then look at Lexi, knowing she knows my story, and that it’s all an illusion. I mean, I have come to terms with it, but I also know love comes with strings, or the love I’m used to comes with strings, and I don’t want that.
I’ve had strings my whole life, a puppet master making sure I did what I was told; did things to please him.
“It’s not as cut and dry as that,” I tell them, “but when I do start dipping my toe in the dating pool, you guys will be the first ones to know. Until then, I shall enjoy the single hookups here and there.” I take a sip.
“That’s the safest thing for me right now.
” I take a deep inhale. “Now, the real question is, who is going to be driving us home?” I change the subject, at the same time trying not to feel sad that I’m going to be going home alone.