Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
C harlie stared at her closet filled to the brim with black, black, and more black. Each ensemble darker than the next. Even her jeans were dark wash. The most colorful thing she had in here was a forest green blouse she’d worn to her college graduation years ago. She didn’t even think the thing would fit anymore.
Cursing the goth fashion gods she usually worshiped, she did the only thing she could think of; pulled out her cell and called her best friend. Cassie answered on the second ring.
“Hey sexy lady, what’s up?”
“I have nothing to wear!” Normally a thing like this wouldn’t bother her. She liked her clothes. She liked her fashion sense. Dark clothes went with everything, didn’t show stains, and usually portrayed her mood. If a guy didn’t like what she wore, then screw them. Or more accurately, she wouldn’t. Take her or leave her. That was Charlie’s motto.
But this was Luc.
He’d seen her in her dark clothes, he’d seen her naked. He’d seen her angry, happy, sad. The man had been privy to more of Charlie than just the surface and she was still coming to terms with that. Not many people got past her heavily erected barricades. Luc had. And because of that she wanted something…new tonight. She didn’t want to hide behind sarcasm and darkness. For once she wanted to try opening up a little, being lighter.
But she didn’t have the damn clothes for that!
“Did you forget to do laundry again?” Her best friend chuckled. “I’m not doing it for you. Last time I threw your clothes in with mine you freaked out when I accidentally left some boxers in your basket.”
“Because they belonged to my brother!”
“So? Didn’t you guys throw in all your laundry as kids?”
“Yeah, but that’s different.”
“How?”
“When we were kids, it was just our laundry. Now his laundry and your laundry are…spinning together and I don’t want my laundry to be anywhere near that.”
“It’s just washing clothes, Charlie. Not like we’re doing it on the machine as the washer runs.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she groaned. “Please, stop. I don’t need that mental image.”
“We do it on the dryer. Much better vibrations.”
“I’m going to hang up and go throw up now.”
“Wait, stop!” Cassie laughed. “I’m sorry, I was just teasing.”
Possibly, but now she had to wonder if her best friend and little brother did enjoy a little extra fluff with their laundry days. It was weird to be happy for and disgusted by someone all at the same time.
“So you don’t need me to do your laundry?”
“No. Never again, thank you very much.”
“Okay, okay. Then what do you mean you have nothing to wear?”
She bit her lip, questioning her rash decision to call her best friend. She hadn’t shared the news of her and Luc with anyone yet and though she suspected Cassie knew, saying it out loud made it all real.
You’re going out with the guy in an hour. How much realer can it get?
Here went nothing.
“Um, so I kind of have a date with Luc tonight.”
There was a slight pause before Cassie’s voice came over the line again. “Luc Woolf? Doctor Hottie, aka your anger management teacher?”
“ Former teacher. Class ended yesterday and he’s not a doctor, but yes. Him.”
“Ha! I knew it! Kelley owes me twenty bucks.”
“So glad I could earn you money with my love life, now if you will please address my current crisis like a good best friend?”
“Where’s he taking you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know what to wear?”
She sighed, pushing aside a short black dress with lace sleeves she’d gotten at the thrift shop five years ago. “It’s a date, Cassie. We’ll probably go eat somewhere, talk for a bit and if luck is with me, go back to one of our places and screw like bunnies.”
“Have you guys—”
“No questions,” she cut the curious woman off. “I promise to tell you everything later, but he’ll be here in less than an hour. Everything I own is darker than Kismet at two in the morning. Help me!”
“But, you like dark clothing. Why not wear that flirty LBD with the halter top and pockets?”
Oooo, she did love that dress. Mostly because it contained the one thing every woman in the world wanted and every fashion designer was too stupid to accommodate. Pockets! Women’s fashion was all a big conspiracy. The clothing designers had an in with the purse designers, she just knew it. Why else would all female pockets be minuscule, fake, or nonexistent?
“I do like that one, but…” But she didn’t want to be her old self tonight. Lately she’d been feeling…different. Lighter. Happier. Maybe it was the stupid classes, maybe it was Luc. She had no idea, but tonight she wanted her outfit to match her mood, and it wasn’t midnight during a new moon. “I want to wear something brighter tonight.”
Emptiness filled the line.
“Cassie? You there?” After a few moments of silence, she pulled the phone away from her ear to see if the call dropped. It happened the farther you got from the city. Kismet’s cell reception was pretty good, but it had its moments. “Cassie?”
“I’m here. I just can’t believe what I’m hearing. Charlie Jackson, changing her look for a guy.”
“I’m not changing my look for him.” Like she’d ever do that for any man. “I just….agh, I don’t know. I don’t feel dark tonight. I want something bright and pretty.”
“Okay, but I reserve best friend rights to use this moment as fodder for years to come.”
“Tell me what to wear first, then you can do whatever the hell you want.”
Cassie chuckled. “Noted. Now go to the back of your closet, behind the hideous maroon gown from our high school graduation and tell me what you see.”
“How do you know what’s in my closet?” she asked as she did exactly what she was told.
“Because in addition to washing and folding your laundry, I have also put it away on many occasions lest it fall victim to the hazards of your bedroom floor.”
Fine, so she could be a bit of a slob. More proof Luc might be right with his ADHD suspicions. She should check in on those offices she emailed last week about scheduling an evaluation. Later. Right now, she had more pressing matters at hand.
“Are you there yet?”
“Yes. Now what am I looking for?” She pushed aside the old graduation robe and gasped at what she revealed. “Oh.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Cassie, when did you put this here?”
Her fingers reached out, touching the soft material of the teal dress. The lace overlay rubbed against the pads of her fingertips, soft, but with a bit of texture. She recognized the dress from the bridal shop where they’d gotten Cassie’s wedding gown and the bridesmaid dresses. She’d loved it the moment she saw it. The tea style fit and flare skirt hit her just above her knees and the three-quarter lace sleeves gave the outfit just a hint of sexy while being appropriate for any event. Sadly, her friend’s wedding colors had not included teal and since the dress had only come in that color, they’d gone with another.
“I put it in there three weeks ago. I’ve been waiting for you to find it, but you never put away your clothes.”
Damn. From this moment forward she would be a strict clothes putter-awayer. “But, how? Why?”
“It took a while to get it shipped because when I went back to the shop they were out of your size. I had to wait a few months for new stock to come in. I saw how much you loved it, and I knew you would never buy it for yourself.”
True. She rarely bought dresses, especially ones with such hefty price tags. “Cassie, I can’t accept this.”
“Yes, you can.” Her best friend voice lost some of its humor. “You listen to me, Charlie Jackson. You are an amazing, wonderful friend who has stood by me through thick and thin. You’re a great sister, a loving daughter, a caring girlfriend who’s never had a man who deserved her, and just an all-around wonderful human being.”
Wow. She knew her bestie loved her, but she didn’t think they were going to get all sappy on each other over the phone.
“I know you think you’re some great stone wall, impenetrable to human emotion, but you’re not. You’re softer and sweeter than you let people think, but I see it because I know you and I love you.”
She sniffed, chest tightening with each word of praise she didn’t deserve. “I love you too.”
“Good. Then accept this gift, knock Luc’s socks off and for once allow yourself to be happy and enjoy a good thing coming your way. I assume Luc is a good thing?”
A smile pulled at the corner of her lips. “He is.”
“Good. He better stay that way, or I’ll kick his ass. Best friend rights.”
She laughed. “You got it. Thanks, Cassie.”
“You’re welcome. Now go have fun and call me tomorrow with all the juicy details.”
“Hey, remember you’re married. To my brother.”
Cassie let out a small huff of laughter. “Married not dead. And if you want a tit for tat, I can tell you about last night when Del bent me—”
“Ah! No! I’ll call you later, thanks for the dress, love you, bye!” She quickly hung up before Cassie could mentally scar her further.
Pulling the hanger off the rack, she hugged the dress to her chest. Cassie really was the best and this dress was perfect. The color was light enough for this new emotion in her, yet dark enough to still be Charlie. She quickly stripped off her shirt and jeans, slipping the dress on over her head. It fit to perfection. The silk of the inner slip caressed her skin, the sensation almost as delightful as Luc’s hands, but not quite.
Hopefully she’d be feeling those later tonight.
With a wide smile fixed to her face, she set about twisting her hair up into a classic chignon and applying the perfect cat eye. Less than an hour later she was ready. As she stepped into a pair of black sling backs, a firm knock sounded on her door.
Her heart raced, pounding in her chest. Stupid. This wasn’t anything new. She and Luc had been seeing each other for weeks now. Only, it was new. What they had been doing—fantastic as it had been—had all been done under the cover of night. Hidden. A secret. A naughty and fun one, no doubt, but this, this thing they were doing tonight was different. Everything would be out in the open for all to see.
It was real.
Making her way to the door, she opened it, and her breath left her.