Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
ADDIE
“Are you sure I look okay?” I eye my sister, Vivi, and Hope in the mirror. Before they can reply, I snag a hair tie from my bureau, the instinct to put my hair up overwhelming.
“No,” Winnie yells from my bed. “Your hair looks great the way it is.”
“It really does,” Hope agrees.
“God, what I’d do to have hair like yours” Vivi mumbles.
The three of them are snuggled up in my bed, already in pajamas, while I’m dressed up and about to go out on my first date. Ever.
I spin, unable to look at myself any longer. “Please, people would kill for your hair,” I say.
Vivi’s got naturally bouncy curls that women spend thousands to replicate. It’s wild, really, that she and Aunt Millie have the same gorgeous curls since she isn’t her biological daughter.
“You wouldn’t say that if you had to take care of them.” She tugs on a curl and sighs. “But you look gorgeous. Don’t touch a thing.”
Chin tucked, I take in the skin-tight black leather pants Josie picked up while thrifting and the low-cut shirt Vivi lent me.
She’s like a miniature doll in comparison to me, so it’s nearly a crop top.
Still, it’s all black, which is not exactly my style.
Then again my style is workout clothes and sports bras. Not exactly date appropriate.
“You sure I don’t look like I’m going to a funeral?”
Winnie snorts. “I can see your boobs.”
“What she’s saying is you look hot.” Hope gives me an encouraging smile.
I tug at the shirt. I barely have boobs. “And the shoes? I’m too tall for heels. What if this guy is shorter than me? I’m like six foot in these things.”
I couldn’t borrow shoes from any of them because my feet are so damn big. Tall girl problems. But Aunt Sienna gifted me these Louboutins a few Christmases ago. This is the first time I’ve pulled them out of the closet, because where in god’s name would I wear them?
“Savannah knows how tall you are,” Winnie says, breaking out the older-sister tone. “She’s not going to set you up with a man you aren’t comfortable with.”
But what if I’m uncomfortable with all men? What if I’m awkward and I’ve never gone on a date because men don’t find me attractive? What then?
What if the only man who’s ever shown the slightest interest in me is the one man I can’t be with? The one who’s hurt me the most.
“You’re going to be late.” Vivi clambers off the bed and pushes me toward the door. “Come on, I already ordered you an Uber.”
I pull up short. “Why can’t I drive?”
She sighs like I’m exhausting. “Because if things are going well, then you have an excuse to let him drive you home. Or, you know, to go to his place.”
My stomach rolls. “You think he’s expecting that? Is that what people do after dates? They sleep together?” I whisper hiss.
Winnie snorts. “Oh my god. As your big sister, I clearly failed at my duties. You can’t even say sex?”
Hope swats her arm. “Be nice.”
Head dropped back, I groan. “I’m so nervous. What if he hates me? What if he’s only doing this because of the magazine? What if—”
“What if you just take a deep breath and have fun?” Hope prods softly.
Like a ray of sunshine, she practically glows as she grasps my arms and smiles.
“He doesn’t have to be the one. Even if he’s a total dud, tonight will be a success because you put yourself out there.
” She releases me and takes a step back. “Have fun, Addie. You deserve this.”
I blow out a breath and nod. “Yeah, okay.” Without my permission, my attention darts to JJ’s door. I haven’t seen him since he stormed out this morning, mumbling something about the gym.
The girls and I were in the kitchen making breakfast. I have no idea what got his panties in a wad, but I can’t keep worrying about him.
“He’s not here,” Hope says.
“Hmm?” I hum, my chest pinching when I realize they’re all looking at me.
Hope’s tongue goes to her cheek as she stares at his door too. “I think he might have a date tonight.”
My stomach drops.
“So his marriage is really over?” Vivi asks, oblivious to my reaction.
“I think it’s been over for a while, but her disappearing on Avery was the last nail in the coffin.” Hope shrugs. “But he left with a smile on his face, dressed like he was going out on a date. So maybe he’s moving on.”
I snort. So fucking typical. Here I am spinning out over a goddamn pinky brush, and he’s already dating.
Well, fuck him. I’m going to do it better. I’m going to date the fuck out of this date.
Okay, yeah, that sounded ridiculous, but still…
I straighten and lift my chin. “All right, I’m going.”
“Yay.” Hope claps, bouncing on her toes.
Winnie smiles proudly. “Have the best time.”
“Hope we don’t see you tonight,” Vivi sings.
I huff out a laugh. “You definitely will.” My focus roams to JJ’s door again. Judging by the way he used to date, I doubt we’ll see him before tomorrow, though.
I wish that thought didn’t make me want to throw up.
Scott is not short. He’s also surprisingly funny. And hot.
I should have trusted my friends. If there’s one thing Savannah likes, it’s to start with a bang. She literally did that the night she met Camden, so starting with one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen, who has a personality to boot, tracks.
His green eyes are strikingly bright, especially against his jet-black hair. He’s got a deep voice and large hands that look very capable of enjoyable things. He also towers over me.
We’re at the bar having a drink. The area is crowded, but that’s not the reason I move closer to Scott. I’m genuinely comfortable. I think I might like him.
“Can I be honest?” he asks, his tone dropping even farther, if that’s possible.
I give him a little nod, then nibble on my straw, studying his face.
I ordered a vodka soda because it felt cool. Don’t ask me why. All my aunts drink gross dirty martinis. I never could stomach them, even if holding one automatically makes a person seem infinitely more sophisticated. “As opposed to lie?”
Chuckling, he presses a little closer, like he’s being forced into me from behind, one of those large hands grazing my hip. When I don’t pull back, he gets a bit more daring, gripping my waist gently. “I wasn’t sure how tonight would go. So I suggested a drink first in case it got awkward.”
An amused huff escapes me. “Let me guess. You told one of your friends to call you in thirty minutes with a fake emergency just in case?”
“That what you did?”
I pick up my drink again. “My friends don’t need to be told.” I slip my phone from my clutch and show him the three calls I’ve ignored so far. Josie. Savannah. Josie. Every ten minutes like clockwork. “My guess is they’ll give it a rest for an hour, then check again.”
He throws his head back, his laughter booming. The sound sends a shot of adrenaline through me. “Those are some good friends.”
I nod. “Truly.”
“So when they call again, are you going to answer, then dip out on me with some fake emergency, or are you ready to agree that we’ll be honest tonight? No excuses.” His eyes hold mine in challenge.
I can’t stop the giddy smile from hitting my lips. “I’m game if you are.”
He pulls out his phone and types out a quick message, then turns the device to show me.
No saving needed tonight. She’s gorgeous AND funny.
My heart trips over itself. Even if I wanted to hide my smile, it would be impossible.
I navigate to the text thread that includes both Savannah and Josie and type out a message of my own.
Me: You can call off the guard dogs, Savvy. I think you picked a good one.
He smirks. “Think?”
Lips twitching, I shrug. “We’ll see how the rest of the night goes.”
He chuckles, scanning our surroundings. “So are there really guard dogs?”
I make a sweep of the bar, playing along, but my stomach plummets when I spot JJ across the room. I can’t see who he’s sitting with because of the crowd, but I’d know his profile anywhere.
Scott follows my gaze, frowning. “Wait, did they really send guards?”
I huff out a laugh, trying for casual. “No. I just—” I shake my head. “I—” Eyes closed, I give myself a second to just breathe. “Can I be honest?”
His brows lift. “Thought we already agreed to that?”
“Right. Well, I’ve never been on a date before. So I might be awkward.”
He jolts back, his mouth dropping open. “Like never?”
I press my lips together, my cheeks heating, and shake my head. “Nope.”
I’m not sure how I expected Scott to act, but it didn’t involve a warm smile. “Then I guess I really do have to make a good first impression, huh? Let’s grab a table, Addie.”
I nod and pick up my drink. I just hope the table is nowhere near JJ and his date.