Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
C ece frowned at her closet. Her clothing options were awful. Looking at the selections she’d thought would be perfect for her new, minimalist life depressed her. Had she never imagined she was ever going to have fun again?
Maybe not after all that she’d been through, but why was there so much navy, tan, and black? When she’d been a reporter, those colors had served her well for travel and chasing down stories. They didn’t show the wear and tear of that kind of life.
But she wasn’t chasing down stories anymore, was she? This was Florida, not some hustling, bustling city. There ought to be a few splashes of color.
She sighed as Peanut strolled in. “Even you’re more colorful than my wardrobe. Maybe I should throw you over my shoulder and call it a day.”
Peanut jumped up onto the bed, flopped down, and stretched.
“Show off,” Cece muttered. “Just because you aren’t going out doesn’t mean you have to rub it in.”
What was she going to wear and why did it matter? Jonas wasn’t someone she was interested in. She didn’t care about making an impression. She was only going out with him because he’d texted to confirm and she’d lost her nerve to back out.
Also, he’d given her that shell, which honestly meant nothing, but it had been a sweet gesture and something about it stuck with her.
“Okay, focus. Peanut, what’s a good bowling outfit?”
Peanut was now chewing on the toes of her back foot with serious intent and no longer available for comment.
Cece grabbed a pair of faded denim capris. That was a start. What on top? Again, she stared into the abyss of her closet, seeing nothing that looked appropriate. Should she go with a T-shirt or was that too casual? If not a T-shirt, then a blouse? That felt too dressy for bowling.
Why was this so hard?
If only she had someone to ask. Which was a dumb thing to think, because she did have someone. Her neighbor and new book club friend, Blaise. Who better to put together a perfect non-date bowling outfit?
Cece didn’t imagine Blaise had ever been bowling, but she would still probably be able to cobble something together out of this assortment of clothes.
She texted Blaise. Are you around? I need help and you’re the only one I can think of to ask.
Blaise answered pretty quickly. I’m home. What do you need?
Some fashion advice. Can you come over?
Blaise sent a smiley face, then, On my way.
A few minutes later, Cece was letting her in.
“What’s going on?”
“I had a little too much wine last night, went for a walk on the beach, and ended up agreeing to go bowling with a guy I just met.”
For a moment, Blaise just stared, then she burst into laughter. “I love everything about that. It sounds like the beginning of a great romcom. If Hollywood still made those.”
Cece begrudgingly smiled. “I’m glad you’re amused. I have nothing to wear and I don’t know the first thing about bowling.”
“Oh, it’s not that hard. The best advice I can give you is use the lines on the floor in front of the lane as your guide.”
Cece blinked. “You’ve been bowling?”
“More times than I can count. There was a bowling alley a lot of the models went to. It was fun and we pretty much got left alone there. Bowlmor, I think, it was called.” She smiled. “I haven’t thought about that in ages.”
She rubbed her hands together. “All right, let’s see what your options are.”
“Not much, I can promise you that.” Cece led her to the closet and presented it like she was one of Barker’s Beauties. “That’s it.”
Blaise took it in. “What were you thinking about wearing?”
“I’d gotten as far as those capris on the bed. That’s it.”
Blaise turned. “You have a cat! Oh, she’s gorgeous. Or him.”
“You got it right, she’s a girl. That’s Peanut, my sweet but demanding roommate.”
“What a beauty, but I guess she had no sartorial suggestions for you.”
“Not a one. And I’m clueless. Be honest—is there anything in there worth wearing?”
“Well…” Blaise stepped closer. She glanced back at the capris on the bed, then back into the closet. “You like dark colors, huh?”
“No, not really, but it seems to be all I buy. I really need to work on that.”
“Okay, I have an idea. What’s your favorite white top? T-shirt, blouse, shirt, whatever.”
“Favorite?” Cece reached in and pulled out a white cotton blouse with cap sleeves and mother of pearl buttons. The last time she’d worn it she’d paired it with tan pants and a navy cardigan to meet with her banker. “Probably too formal for bowling, though, don’t you think?”
Blaise shook her head. “With jeans? And a pop of color? I think it’ll work.”
Cece almost laughed. “In what universe do you see a pop of color in that wardrobe?”
“Let me worry about that. You’ll have bowling shoes on, so your footwear won’t matter as much but don’t forget socks.”
“I need socks?” Cece rolled her eyes. “I never would have thought of that.”
“You put the jeans and top on, I’m going to run back to my place and gather a few accessories.”
“I can’t borrow anything from you.”
Blaise stopped in her tracks. “Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, you’re several sizes smaller than me. For another, I’ve seen how you dress. I have a feeling everything you own is designer.”
“Not everything,” Blaise corrected. “And it doesn’t matter. You called me because I know about fashion, right?”
“Yes, but?—”
“Then let me do my thing.” Blaise grinned.
Cece couldn’t argue. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll change.”
As Blaise left, Cece did just that, shedding her around-the-house leggings and T-shirt for the capri jeans and white blouse.
She left the blouse untucked, unsure of what she should do with it.
One thing wasn’t unsure. The combo looked utterly uninspired, and she was once again thinking about cancelling with Jonas when Blaise returned.
She had a large Louis Vuitton tote bag, which sort of proved Cece’s earlier point about all of her things being designer, but Cece kept quiet.
Blaise looked Cece over. “Do those pants have belt loops?”
Cece nodded. “You want me to tuck the shirt in?”
“Just a French tuck.”
“Which is what in English?”
Blaise smiled. “Just the front tucked in.”
“Just the front? Oh, wait—I think I’ve seen my daughter do that.” Cece did her best approximation.
Blaise came over and adjusted it. “There. Now for the accessories.” She pulled a blue and yellow scarf from her bag, like a magician flourishing a rabbit.
“Where’s that going?” Cece asked, genuinely bemused.
Blaise laid it on the bed, folded it a few times lengthwise, then started rolling. Even Peanut paid attention. “This is going to be your belt.”
“Belt?” Cece cringed. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I don’t have your flat stomach or your tiny waist.”
“This scarf is plenty long enough, and I don’t have a flat stomach either, I just dress like I do.”
“And apparently practice witchcraft.” Cece eyed Blaise’s midsection. It looked pretty darn flat to her.
Blaise chuckled. “O ye of little faith.” She had the scarf reduced to a thin tube and started working it through Cece’s belt loops, then she tied it in a jaunty knot.
Once that was done, Blaise produced more things from her tote: yellow, blue, and green hoop enamel earrings, three slim bracelets enameled in the same colors, and a woven straw clutch trimmed in blue leather.
She handed over the earrings and the bracelets. “Pop these on.”
Cece did as she was told, and held out her arms. “What do you think? Am I presentable?”
Blaise gave her a quick once-over, her gaze oddly lingering on Cece’s forehead. “Pretty close.”
“You want to do something with my hair, don’t you?”
“And your eyebrows. Are you game?”
“I’ve come this far.”
Blaise grinned. “I’m going to need tweezers.”
Ten minutes later, Cece’s brows had been plucked and filled in with a little bit of eyeshadow she’d forgotten she owned, and she was now wearing a thin yellow headband. At least she could feel the headband. She’d yet to see it.
Blaise had also applied mascara, a little eyeliner, some blush, and lipstick, all from Cece’s virtually untouched makeup collection, but Blaise hadn’t let her look in the mirror yet.
Blaise stepped back. “Okay. Go look.”
Cece ignored the bathroom mirror and went straight to the full-length one on her closet door. She faced herself. Her mouth came open. “I look… cute .” And somehow, a little younger.
Blaise nodded. “You look very cute. And bowling appropriate.”
Cece checked herself out from a few different angles.
Blaise was a miracle worker. “I look too good for bowling. But we are having dinner, too. Also at the bowling alley, but still.” She leaned closer to the mirror.
“I think the last time my brows were this presentable was at my daughter’s wedding. ”
She glanced at Blaise. “Can you teach me to do whatever you did to them myself?”
“Sure.” Blaise nodded. “It’s really easy.”
“Maybe for you. This is great. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Go have fun. You can return the stuff tomorrow. And don’t forget the clutch on the bed.”
“I won’t. Thank you again.” Jonas probably didn’t deserve this much effort, but looking like this, she had a good chance of wiping out her terrible first impression.
After Blaise left, Cece put her things in Blaise’s clutch, which was from a brand called Tory Burch, took one more look in the mirror, and headed out to meet Jonas.
But not before she took a selfie. She didn’t send it to anyone, because she’d then have to explain why she looked like this, but she wanted proof of it all the same.