Chapter Nineteen
Matty turned off the shower and pulled back the curtain. Water dripped off her body as she reached for the blue towel hanging on the wall. The room was full of steam, and she inhaled deeply to take it in.
The tension in her neck had subsided along with the hot water down the drain, but the instant she thought about tonight, the muscles clenched right back up.
Unlike their first study session, Matty couldn’t say this wasn’t a date. It was definitely a date. A date she was looking forward to, but was brimming with anxiety over. It had been ages since she was on a date. And this was a proper date. Had she ever had one of those? She couldn’t remember.
She dragged the towel over her body. The body that she had spent a good amount of time scrubbing. She’d even shaved her legs, which she thought was useless because there was no way this night would amount to Reese touching her legs. But just in case.
Even her poor hands were wrecked. She’d dropped her brush twice, and it took a full five minutes to button the royal blue dress shirt she had spent a shameful amount of time picking out what color to wear.
She paired it with khaki fitted slacks and brown oxfords.
The slacks hugged her ass perfectly. Hopefully, Reese would enjoy the view.
With her hair styled and fully dressed, she spritzed on some cologne and walked into the living room to Hester, who was waiting for her on the back of the couch.
It was the highest point she could get on, so she liked to survey the apartment from that point.
She wasn’t allowed on the counters or table. They had argued about that restriction.
“Well, what do you think?” Matty turned in a circle, her arms out. “Think Reese will like it?”
Hester yawned in response.
“You’re not making me feel very confident right now. Look, I know you don’t like the idea of another woman taking up my time, but you know you’ll always be my number one girl.”
The cat just turned a few times and lay down with her back to Matty.
“Okay, okay, you clearly need more time to process.”
She tucked her shirt into her pants, then grabbed her wallet, house key, and phone before heading outside and upstairs to get the keys from Kerrie.
When she walked in, it was utter chaos.
Kenny was seated wide-eyed at the table while Bette, whose hair was in curlers, fussed over combing what was left of his hair. Zoe was bent over the sink washing her hair and Kerrie walked in wearing a wife-beater and boxers with dancing marshmallows on them.
Everyone paused at the sight of her.
“What in the hell is going on here?”
“I don’t know,” Kenny answered honestly. He went to rub his bald spot, but Bette pushed his hand away.
“We’re running a little behind,” Kerrie answered. “Has anyone seen my pants?”
“Upstairs on the bed. Kenny, baby, please try not to mess up your hair.”
“You know you’re all supposed to be at the venue in twenty minutes, right?”
Hard looks aimed her way. “Right, not helpful, huh? Um, Kerrie, can I get the keys to the truck?”
“Right behind you on the hook.”
She grabbed them from a line of hooks next to the door. “Thanks again for letting me borrow the truck. I’d feel like a bum asking her to drive me.”
The water turned off in the sink, and Zoe wrapped a towel around her head before standing up. She looked Matty over with a critical eye. “Unbutton the top two buttons.”
“You think? I don’t want to look slouchy.” She touched the buttons.
“I’m positive. You look like someone who’s been forced to dress up against her will. Unbutton them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She undid them. “Okay, well, we’ll see you guys there.”
“Please stall if we’re not there on time,” Bette asked with a strained voice.
“Don’t worry, we’ll hold things down.”
***
Driving over to Reese’s should not make her start sweating, but her underarms were beginning to make her wonder if she would wet through her undershirt.
“Oh God, pit stains on the first date,” she groaned, turning the AC on. She switched arms back and forth, steering with one and reaching up to the vent with the other. Why didn’t she roll her sleeves up?
As Reese’s home came into view, her belly did a few somersaults. It was like she was starting over for the first time. She was thirty-five and felt like a teenager.
As she pulled into the driveway behind Reese’s car, she took a deep breath. “Act cool, Matty. Act cool.”
She stepped out of the truck, shutting the door behind her.
She began walking up the sidewalk when Reese came out of the door and she lost all thought.
Unfortunately, that meant the idea of staying cool also was gone.
With her eyes firmly on Reese, she didn’t notice the patch of grass that was growing in a crack in the walkway.
The tip of her shoe caught it, sending her to the ground.
Her hands just barely caught her from face-planting.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Matty!” Reese’s panicked voice echoed loudly in the quiet neighborhood.
Her palms stung, but not nearly as much as her pride. Had she seriously just done that? Her face was on fire.
Smooth move, Crew.
Hands grabbed at her shoulders to help her sit up on her knees.
And along with those hands came a view of strappy high heels that led up to a gorgeous pair of legs.
Her eyes dragged farther to a full view down the top of Reese’s dress as she bent down to look at her.
Her eyes continued up to Reese’s face, where worry lines decorated her forehead and around her mouth. “Are you okay?”
Reese began to drop lower until Matty stopped her. “No, it’s okay. You’ll get dirty. I’m fine. My pride’s not, but I’m fine.”
She allowed Reese to help her stand. Her palms still stung. She inspected them. Some tiny rocks were embedded in them. Reese’s hands were on her once again, only this time brushing the pants off. The irony of her touching her legs was not lost on her.
When she stood up, they both just stared at each other, taking the other in.
Matty took in the powdery blue dress with its slight V dip showing off the line between soft-looking breasts down to the cinched waist that then flared out.
Reese’s curvy shape was even more mesmerizing than usual.
The bouncy curls of her hair sat on her shoulders, looking very inviting to brush back with Matty’s fingertips.
The dusty pink-painted lips called to be kissed and before she realized it, she grabbed Reese’s hand, lifting it to her lips, where she pressed a kiss on the back of it.
The flush that took over Reese was both hot and adorable, and Matty forgot completely about falling. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Reese’s eyes were wide, and her free hand went to her chest. “That’s so sweet.”
Matty ducked her head, reluctantly letting go of her hand. She missed the feel of it instantly. “Just the truth.”
“You look great as well. As much as I like the T-shirt and jeans, I have to admit you’re even better in a dress shirt.
And the pants.” Reese’s eyes lingered on her hips and thighs, making Matty wonder if she was trying to imagine the back view of her.
She smirked in triumph. Fitted pants for the win.
“Thank you. It feels a little weird wearing nice clothes.”
Reese’s eyes lit as she looked between their outfits. “Oh, look, we match well together. How fun is that?”
Matty honestly didn’t care about matching clothes, but she loved the excited look on Reese’s face. “That is cool. We’ll have to get a picture together. Um, we should get going. I think the brides are going to be late and asked us to stall.”
“Oh, that’s awful. I would be so panicked.”
“Yeah, I think that pretty much sums them up right now.”
She walked Reese around the truck to open the door for her. “Ladies first.”
“Thank you,” smiled Reese.
She made sure Reese was fully inside before gently closing the door.
“This is Kerrie’s truck, right?” Reese asked when she got in.
“Yes, but Kenny and Kerrie will both say it’s his truck. He just lets Kerrie use it.”
Reese laughed. “Noted. So, where is this taking place?”
Matty backed out of the driveway. “Have you heard of Claira’s Garden and Venue on the other side of the golf course?”
“No, I haven’t, but I haven’t been here too long, and I’ve been sort of self-isolated to the house and work.”
Matty could relate to that last part. “It’s a really pretty place.
The garden is just starting to bloom. They picked the outdoor site.
There’s a water fountain and a large shelter with a roof and a concrete floor, but it is open on all four sides.
We’ve spent most of the morning decorating.
There’s also a dance floor and a section for the food. ”
“That sounds pretty.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Reese’s hand resting on her thigh, and for a brief second she thought of taking it into her own but didn’t. She was still reeling from the fall and then being forward with kissing her hand. Where had that come from?
The drive across town went quickly. They made small talk that didn’t feel forced. They were very much in the getting-to-know-each-other phase, and Matty was thoroughly enjoying it.
The venue’s parking lot had a decent amount of cars already. She began to search for Bette’s SUV, worried they would not be there, but then she finally spotted it on the end of the lot.
“Looks like they made it,” she said, nodding her head in the vehicle’s direction.
“Oh, good.”
She pulled the truck into a parking spot and shut it off.
“Is it weird I’m a little nervous? I haven’t been out in a long time. I wonder if I’ll know anyone?”
“It’s been a long time for me, too. I think you’ll know some. I’m pretty sure Tyler will be here. You know Kerrie and me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t a few more at least from the rehab. I think I saw Elsie’s car.”
“That makes me feel a little better.”
“Ready to go?”
“Yeah, let’s.”
They unbuckled their seat belts. She was pulling the keys from the ignition when she noticed Reese struggling with hers. “Something wrong?”
“This seat belt won’t retract back. It’s like it’s stuck,” she explained, tugging on the old gray seat belt.
“Here, let me. This truck is old.” She flipped up the armrest and slid over, her thigh pressing into Reese’s.
Reese stilled, her eyes watching Matty as she grabbed the strap. She leaned more into Reese’s space as she fiddled with it. It wasn’t until her own chest accidentally brushed against Reese’s that she realized just how close they were.
She froze, her eyes meeting Reese’s. There was very little space between their faces. All it would take was leaning in a few inches, and she could know what it felt like to have those pretty pink lips against her own.
The moment was broken when the belt seemed to come to life, finally retracting. She gently guided it into the loop on the side of the cab. She was well aware of the heat forming between them. “Uh, got it fixed.” Her own voice betrayed her by having a hitch in it as she spoke.
“Looks like it,” Reese agreed, her own eyes dipping down to Matty’s lips.
She swallowed hard. They needed to part before she made a move they didn’t have time for. Matty slowly retreated to her side of the cab. It was getting really warm in there.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
Matty wondered if she was going to be able to handle the evening without making a fool out of herself.