7. CHAPTER 7
Zuri
In my bedroom, I scrutinize my reflection in the full-length mirror. Adjusting the sleek lines of my dress, Olivia, ever the caretaker, fusses over my hair, her fingers deft and gentle, though it’s already impeccable. She clips a white flower pin to the side of my hair. “This is what it’s missing.”
She’s right. The white complements my dark dress.
I nod at my reflection. “Thanks.”
Meanwhile, Lexi, with her unbridled enthusiasm, debates the merits of various heels that could go well with my dress and leaves her choices scattered like colorful sprinkles around the room.
“I reckon I’m already set.” I tried on my shoes yesterday and made my choice.
My dress, a stunning off-shoulder navy-blue gown, flows to the floor with an elegance I rarely indulge in. It’s simple yet sophisticated, and the added elegance makes me feel ready to conquer this evening. I got it on a discount rack with the help of my friends. But deep inside, I was thinking of looking extra nice for Jeremy. As I smooth a hand down my slim waist, I can’t suppress the fluttery excitement of this being a date.
“You look amazing, Zuri.” Olivia’s eyes sparkle as she steps back to admire her handiwork on my hair.
“You look beautiful too, Liv.” I touch the shoulder of her olive-green formal dress, a lovely creation well suited to her. The ruched lines along the waist flaunt her full-figured curves while the high neckline remains modest. Beautiful is an understatement—my friend is stunning as usual. She’s styled her hair in loose waves that cascade down her shoulders, adding a touch of glamor to her look. “And, Lexi, I’m glad you walked away with that black dress.”
Lexi picks up her camera from my dresser. “I have no one to impress.” Her camera clicks away. “Jeremy won’t know what hit him when he sees you, though!”
“Exactly.” Olivia claps her hands, giddy.
“Stop it, you two.” A blush rises to my cheeks. “It’s just… we have an arrangement.” I feel unease admitting we’re just pretending because, when I’m with him, everything between us feels real.
“Pretend or not, you’re going to make an impression.” Lexi doesn’t ask for details when she winks before adjusting her camera lens.
“How did he rope you into this?” Olivia sits on my unlaid bed with its red duvet.
I slide into my wedge high-heels and move to stand by the corkboard I’ve packed with magazine cutouts of crepes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, soufflés… so many of the recipes I’ve daydreamed of perfecting. The heels add to my height without compromising my balance or crimping my toes, unlike pointy options might, and with them on, I no longer risk my dress sweeping across the floor. As I touch the maraschino cherry on the shortbread cookie cutout, I recount the story of taking him an apology meal, being asked to be his wedding date, making our dinner at the café, and finally, accepting his invitation to be his date at the awards ceremony.
Then I grip Olivia’s shoulder again to make sure she takes this secret seriously. She and Damien tell each other all sorts of secrets.
“We can’t tell Damien about the fake-dating part. He’s already on edge with me and Jeremy as it is.”
She blinks, clearly uneasy about keeping this from my brother. Her lips part, then close. “But don’t you think it would ease his mind?”
“Secrets… secrets.” Lexi shakes a finger, her brown curls shaking in perfect synchronization.
“I’ll tell Damien soon, but—”
I cut myself off, hearing the half tune and humming, commonly my brother’s best way to sing songs he doesn’t know the lyrics of. Approaching footsteps accompany the tune from down the hall. We all fall silent, heads turning to the door. Damien emerges and walks into my bedroom. Dressed in a black suit seemingly crafted just for him, he exudes polished sophistication.
“Wow, ladies.” He lets out a whistle as his bright-eyed gaze sweeps over each one of us. “My roommates clean up nice.”
“Your tie.” Olivia frowns at him, then leaps up from the bed, ever the caretaker, and adjusts his tie, her movements, both assured and tender, a silent dialogue of their bond.
“This shade of green emphasizes your hair nicely, Donovan.” My brother says to Olivia, who tells him he always looks sharp in a suit.
“You cleaned up pretty nice, bro.” Truly, the suit brings out a hidden sleek look. My brother is nice-looking when he’s not sulking.
“You’re going to take everyone’s breath away tonight,” he comments, a genuine warmth lighting up his face as he tilts his head, surveying me.
“What?” I ask, but he shrugs, leaving me no idea whether he wants to give me any last-minute warning words before I leave.
Last night, I implored him to see Jeremy through a lens not clouded by work-induced bias, but to trust my judgment. It was a plea for understanding, and his current warmth feels like his agreement.
Now, I shuffle my feet back and forth. Our separate departures, despite sharing the same roof and heading to the same place, seem awkward, a logistical quirk Damien dryly notes. “Seems ironic that you’re not driving with us. We live in the same house, yet we part ways like strangers.”
“You’re driving with everyone but me… not awkward at all…”
The doorbell chimes. My hands flutter before my face, but they can’t keep up with the flutter in my chest. “Jeremy’s here.”
Damien blows out an exasperated breath, then rolls his eyes.
“You know how this feels,” I remind him, drawing a parallel to his experiences with love, though mine with Jeremy is glazed in pretense.
“Not only has he been in love before but he also has a crush on Jessie in accounting.” Olivia pats Damien’s back, and he clenches his jaw, clearly affected by this turn of conversation.
“I’ll see you guys later.” I am poised to lead the way, but Lexi’s reminder about my clutch halts me. Olivia’s last-minute gesture, a spritz of floral scent, coats me in a layer of confidence.
“Thanks.” I blow kisses to my friends and brother before I step out of the room.
I might as well be heading to prom with the school heartthrob. Inhaling deeply, I smooth my dress to steady myself before leading the way downstairs, my companions forming a quiet procession behind me.
When I reach the front door, I hesitate, remembering how stubborn it can be. The last thing I need is to slam the door into Jeremy’s face again, especially when we have an event to get to.
I extend my hand toward its handle. My fingers curl around it. With a careful, measured movement, I apply just the right amount of pressure and coax it to yield without the usual protest. The door, responding to the softness of my touch, relents and swings open with quiet compliance.
I’m met with Jeremy’s cautious stance. Shared amusement flickers between us, and a chuckle escapes us both—a mutual recognition of the door’s unpredictable reputation.
“I thought I’d keep my distance this time.”
“I’m glad.” My gaze lingers on him a tad longer than it should. He’s the epitome of elegance in his charcoal suit, holding a bouquet of peach flowers with baby’s breath sprinkled in. And he’s looking at me with an admiration that steals my breath away.
“You’re… stunning.” The raw honesty in his words sends another flutter through my heart.
He then hands me the wavy vase, and a smile lifts my cheek as I accept the flowers. Warmth spreads through me at his thoughtful gesture. “They’re gorgeous, Jeremy. Thank you.”
I usher him back inside and put the flowers on the island where Damien and my friends have gathered.
“Hey, Kress,” Olivia greets and offers him water, but he declines.
“You look sharp, Blackwood.” Jeremy tells Damien, and it’s comforting when my brother responds cordially.
“You don’t look shabby yourself.” His tone isn’t as hesitant as it was at the party. “If you and Zuri wanna catch a ride with us—”
Jeremy holds up a hand. “We’re good thanks.”
“Zuri, can I get a quick photo of you and your date before you leave?” Lexi waggles her camera.
“You have a talent for photography.” Jeremy chuckles as I return to his side. I’m sure he’s complimenting the photo that affected Damien to ambush him at his office. Lexi printed like four copies, hoping I’d keep one, then Jeremy and Damien, while the fourth went into the album we keep around the house.
At her request, we stand by the fireplace. With Jeremy’s casual, yet deliberate arm around me, his subtle and intoxicating cologne envelops me.
“Look at you two, all fancy and ready to conquer the world.” Lexi winks, her lips twitching before she captures a couple of shots. “How about one where you’re looking at each other.”
I have no idea what she means.
But Jeremy turns to me, and his strong hands secure my waist. “Like this?” he says, looking at me.
“Zuri, your hands.” Lexi indicates I do the same.
Timidly, I slide one hand around Jeremy’s waist, and it’s shaking as I look into his piercing blue eyes.
“What about—”
“Take the picture already!” Damien’s voice booms, cutting off Lexi.
“Relax, Damien.” She snaps the shot.
“We gotta get going.” Damien smirks.
“Seriously?” Olivia rolls her eyes. “We’re never fifteen minutes early anywhere. We’re not going to change that tonight. Besides, we have to get our photos next.”
Once Jeremy and I finish with the photo, we say goodbye with a promise to see them at the party.
Damien claps Jeremy on the back. “I’ll be keeping my eyes on you two.” He’s probably only half joking.
“It won’t be necessary.” Jeremy rests his hand on the small of my back, and I get this dizzying longing.
Then, at the need to stand up for myself, I address my brother. “That’s if you want me to talk on your behalf to you-know-who,” I say, and he frowns, seeming to get the memo of my threat. “Lexi and Liv will show me who she is.”
“Don’t you dare.” He points at me with a somewhat serious glare, and I shrug, my heart expanding.
With Jeremy’s hand on my back as we walk out, I lose myself in the moment. Pretend or not, this evening’s the perfect recipe for memories. Boy, I’m so in trouble.