23. Chapter 23
Chapter 23
The morning after my date with Ian, Ellie texted me bright and early asking for a run down of how things went, which is how I found myself sitting out on a terrace recounting my date with Ian to Lacey and Ellie. We decided to leave the pool to JJ and the boys and make our way into the city for the afternoon, and so, of course, we had to stop for tacos before we did any shopping.
“We went bowling. I can’t remember the last time I went bowling. It was probably as a preteen for a friend’s birthday, but never as an adult. And clearly Ian hasn’t been bowling in a long time either, judging by the look of our score sheet,” I tell Ellie and Lacey, before taking a bite of my taco.
“He brought you bowling?” Lacey asks with her mouth half full.
“Yeah, after we had supper at a cute little family-owned Italian restaurant. He also got me some daisies. He remembered my favorite flowers. They’re the prettiest shade of light blue. I didn’t even know daisies could be that color.” How he remembered my favorite flower and color within weeks of knowing me, is mind- boggling to me. They really are the most gorgeous flowers I have ever seen.
“That actually sounds like a super fun date,” Ellie interjects.
“It was. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in my life.”
“Honestly, it’s not what I was expecting from him,” Lacey adds as Ellie makes a noise of agreement since her mouth is stuffed. “But I can’t say I’m not pleasantly surprised. That’s a great first date.”
“It was. It’s not what I was expecting either,” I agree with Lacey. “But it was hands down the best first date I’ve ever been on,” I say honestly. “Even if neither of us are very good at bowling, to say the least! I swear my first two turns only one of my balls made it all the way down the lane to hit a pin. But then he did the one thing I swear every girl wants a man to do at least once in their lifetime! He came up behind me and showed me how bowling was done,” I explain, making the girls giggle. I can still feel his body pressed up against me, and his breath fanning along my neck. No man has ever made me shiver the way he did last night.
“Oh my God! I love that for you!” Ellie says. “Maybe I should get JJ to bring me bowling so he can show me how it’s done.”
“I highly recommend!” I encourage.
It really was the perfect date. It started off fairly serious with talk about his ex and Lucas, but once the main dishes made it to our table they were forgotten, and we were deep in talk about Hagrid’s habits, Sadie’s dreams, and my book. It’s clear he’s a momma’s boy who would do anything for his sister. It’s endearing. After our meal, we spent the night laughing, to the point where my abs are still a little sore this morning, since neither of us were very good at bowling. He finally folded and told me that Sadie had helped him plan the date; that he wasn’t sure what to plan as a first date, so she had stepped in and provided a perfect solution for him.
“Is there going to be a second date?” Ellie asks.
“We didn’t make plans for a second per se, but we do text everyday.” Speaking of texting, my phone vibrates beside my hand with an incoming text. Looking down, I see Ian’s name flash across the screen. Grabbing my phone, I open the text to see:
Ian:
What are you up to this evening?
Me:
Not much. Levi said he was going out so I thought I’d take advantage of having the house to myself.
Ian:
What would it take to have you come over to mine? Cat cuddle? Harry Potter 3? Homemade supper?
Me:
I could be convinced with a homemade supper.
Ian:
Perfect—anything you don’t eat?
Me:
No, I’m pretty easy.
I instantly blush hearing how that sounds. Although, there is some truth in the innuendo. Everything is easy with Ian . . . Yes, even me. The usual shyness and lack of confidence I have towards sex isn’t there with him. It’s the way he seems to always be looking at me. With just a quick glance my way he sets my skin ablaze. When I have his attention, I can feel myself be consumed by him, like he doesn’t ever want to look away.
Pulled away from my thoughts, I see Ellie wave a hand in front of me as Lacey says, “And we’ve lost her.” With a knowing smirk on her face, she teases, “What’s gotten you so distracted? Who were you texting?”
“I bet it was Ian,” Ellie answered.
“Ian,” I confirm, inhaling the last bite of my taco. “He asked me if I wanted to come over tonight. That he would make me supper,” I say, taking a sip of margarita, turning all my attention to Lacey. “I agreed. Levi said he was busy tonight, conveniently, just like you Lacey.”
Lacey quickly turns red. “We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you. Don’t try to change the subject.” I raise a brow over my glass as she downs hers.
“We will get back to that blush, Lacey, don’t think we’re gonna forget, but since we’re more likely to get details out of Hannah, we’ll go to the topic of her hot night with Ian.” Ellie saves the day for Lacey at least. “Is tonight the night you’re taking it all the way with him?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t really planned sex since I lost my virginity,” I answer Ellie in a blunt voice.
“Fair enough,” she agrees with a laugh. “But seriously, would you let it happen tonight?”
“I don’t know,” I say with complete honesty. “I feel like everything is moving fast. I got divorced last year, I met this guy barely a month ago and I don’t know what I want from him anymore. I don’t want more than a summer thing, but I’m not delusional enough to think I’ll be able to let him go once the summer is over. Sex will just complicate everything.”
“Or sex could just make everything clearer,” Lacey counters.
“I slept with JJ within a week of knowing him; everyone has their own timeline when it comes to being intimate with someone. I say go with the flow.” Ellie tags on. “I rarely do this on the topic of relationships, but I agree with Lacey. Sex might be the answer to all your worries. If it’s awkward you move on, if it’s life changing you cross another item off your list.”
“And if it’s neither awkward or life changing?” I ask. “Then what?”
“Then you have fun for the summer. Orgasms are orgasms, and we all know he can give you the O’s,” Lacey answers matter-of-factly.
“My money is on life changing,” Ellie says, finishing her drink as she waves over the waitress for the bills. “Either way, I know what our next stop is this afternoon.”
A short walk later, Ellie stops at the door to a sad looking store with blacked-out windows.
“Ellie, I love you, we love you, but you can’t possibly think we’re gonna go in there . . .” Lacey states for the both of us, and I can’t say I disagree with her.
“This is my—Lacey, block your ears for this second part—and JJ’s favorite store.” Turning to look at me, she says, “And Ian’s gonna love it.” Then turning to Lacey, she says, “And Levi is gonna love it too.”
Before Lacey can deny anything going on with her and Levi, Ellie opens the door. The smell of lavender and sage makes Lacey and I give each other a skeptical look. Stepping in, I take in the soft blush-pink walls and the thick cream curtains over every window. From the ceiling hangs beautiful chandeliers casting a soft glow around the room, which is filled with vintage, mix-and-matched, cream-colored tables scattered everywhere holding every type and color of lace possible.
The second we walk in, we’re greeted by a woman who looks to be around twenty-five wearing all black from the glasses that grace her nose to the tip of her pointy toe heel. “Ellie! You’re back so soon! And you brought friends, I see.” Turning to me and Lacey she extends a hand. “My name is Maya, and welcome to Blush.” Sweeping an arm to the right, she says, “To the right you’ll find your more basic, reserved pieces, and the more you move to the left, you’ll find more and more risque, tempting pieces of lingerie. And all the way in the back, on your way to the fitting rooms, you’ll find a small selection of bathing suits and toys. Let me know if any of you ladies need a hand with anything.”
Once she’s out of ear shot, both Lacey and I turn towards Ellie, and as I go to ask her why she brought us here, Lacey cuts me off and asks, “I can see why JJ— gag —and Ian would like this place, but why would Levi?”
“Oh sweetie, none of us are blind,” Ellie says, making her way to a table on the left side of the room as I try to hide my laugh in a cough.
I follow Lacey as she makes her way to the same table as Ellie, “What do you mean you’re not blind?”
“Lacey, are you seriously gonna stand there and tell us that you and Levi have not slept together? If not, fine, but you can’t stand there and tell me you don’t want to sleep with the guy.”
“She’s right, Lace. You guys both give off relationship-y vibes. If Levi isn’t at home or with the boys then he’s with you.”
Looking anywhere but at us, Lacey asks in a small voice, “Do you think he knows?”
“Does he know what?” I ask, faking confusion.
“Does Levi know I have a thing for him?”
“So you guys aren’t sneaking around? I thought for sure there was something going on there. I don’t think so. I think he would have made a move or asked you out if he did suspect something. The guy is halfway in love with you, trust me. He looks at you how JJ looks at Ellie,” I answer her.
“Or how Ian looks at Hannah, when he thinks no one is watching,” Ellie tags on.
“Damn, Ian looks at her like he wants to eat her up,” Lacey adds on.
“No he doesn’t, does he?” I ask, holding up a cute, white, see-through bra.
“He does, how does that make you feel?” Ellie inquires.
“If I’m being completely honest, he can eat me up whenever he wants. But don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Lacey. You should make a move on Levi. I guarantee you it won’t be for nothing.”
“Maybe when we’re in Florida.”
“Perfect idea!” Ellie says, making her way to a table filled with dark red lace that would go perfect with her skin tone and hair. “We’ll each go out with our respective man. Now, do you think JJ would prefer these?” she asks, holding up a deep red thong. “Or these?” as she holds up a bikini-cut pair in the same color.
“No, no, no, no!” Lacey says, making us laugh, before crossing into the right side of the store, leaving Ellie and I in the more risque section of the store.
Turning back to Ellie, I say, “Personally, I’m more of a thong person, but I think JJ would like either or, so you might as well get both.”
“I might as well get two new sets then,” she says with a wink, moving to something else that’s caught her eye and leaving me alone still holding on to the white lace bra I grabbed earlier.
Making my way back to the table where I grab the bra and the matching thong, excitement builds within me. There’s just something about wearing something sexy under the most mundane of clothing. I also can’t lie, part of my building excitement is from thinking of Ian as I pick out some sexy sets.
With Ian on my mind, I make my way towards a table covered in blue, our favorite color. Plus, he seems to like the color on me; when we went bowling he mentioned more than once how pretty the color was against my hair. And it’s gonna look great against my tanned skin.
A light blue, almost white, matching set catches my eye. It’s almost the same color as the flowers he brought me last night. Holding up the light blue piece of lace, I start to blush, with its strategically placed sheer pieces it leaves little to the imagination. The lace is buttery soft, I can already tell it’ll feel like a cloud on. It has a wide lace band at the bottom that would finish a few inches below my breast with a deep V that dipped half way through the band. The thin delicate straps are made out of a lovely scalloped lace.
Grabbing the matching underwear, I hold them up to see that they’re a high waisted thong made out of the same buttery lace as the bralet. Even if I didn’t have anyone to wear these for, not that I necessarily do, I would still get both sets. I’ve never been one to splurge on lingerie, even though I’ve always loved the thought of wearing something sexy under regular clothes, but I do have a few sexy pieces that I picked up from the sales rack at Victoria Secret. I’ve never been to a store like this one, tailored to make you feel sexy from the minute you walk in. It’s making me almost giddy. Moving on to the other tables, I end up with four matching sets and an extra handful of underwear.
At the fitting room, the attendant leads me to the fitting room in the back. Getting undressed, I get caught on the way I look in the mirror. For the first time in a long time, I like what I see. I have a great tan going on, and I can see some results from going to yoga on a regular basis and from Levi’s healthy cooking. Smiling at my reflection, I shimmy into the red set I picked out. I feel my smile widen as I take in the cleavage the push bra creates, turning around I blush as I catch how well the bikini-cut red lace with peek-a-boo cutouts sits against my skin. Oh yeah, Ian is gonna love this.
Keeping the giddy feeling, I try on the other three sets and handful of underwear I grabbed. Once I’m done, I make my way to the checkout counter where I meet Lacey and Ellie who are also paying. Once we’re outside, Ellie swings a light pink bag from the tips of her fingers and proclaims, “Well looks like I have plans tonight!”
“I did not need to know that!” Lacey says, with a full body shiver and look of disgust on her face.
“If it makes you feel better . . . Levi will have the house alone tonight if I have it my way,” I answer, linking my arm through Ellie’s, swinging my bag from the tips of my fingers making Ellie giggle.
I can’t believe how much I’ve been missing out on over the years by not having any real girl friends.