Chapter Fourteen
“Y ou look good, Jills.”
I felt good. I swiveled back and forth, checking myself out in the full-length mirror. Perry was bouncing up and down on my bed.
“Like really good,” she said. “You’re owning it, Jills. That dress is your bitch.”
Yeah… I had to agree with her. I was kicking some ass right now. Even my boobs looked stronger. How a couple yards of fabric could give me superpowers, I didn’t know, but I was feeling invincible.
“The dress is magical,” I said. There was no other way to explain it. Some fairy godmother created it out of pixie dust and happy angel tears, and it somehow ended up in a little indie dress shop on the east side of Milwaukee.
Stranger things had happened. Consenting to a dinner out with Chase tonight was an example.
“It’s not the dress, it’s you.” I fiddled with my hair, trying to figure out a style that would be in the same league as the rest of me. “You’re… I don’t know, glowing or something.”
“It’s the magic; I’m telling you.” When was the last time I was this gaga over a simple piece of clothing? Sadly, not even my wedding dress.
“There might be some magic going on, but I don’t think it has anything to do with what you’re wearing.” I shook my head. No, she was wrong. I felt beautiful, and it had everything to do with the dress. “And keep your hair down. It suits you better.”
I tousled the strands a bit and peered closely into the mirror, making sure my eyeshadow wasn’t creasing up on me. Wow, even my lids looked higher. That’s it—I was declaring this dress my official outfit from now until forever.
“I love seeing you like this, Jills.”
“Like what?” I clipped the front part of my hair up, just to see how it’d look.
“All butterfly-y, in a good way. Excited to go on your da… uh, dinner.”
I glanced at her reflection. She was leaning back on her forearms, legs dangling over the side. “Perry, if there’s any excitement going on inside me it’s because of what’ll happen later back here. I couldn’t care less about the dinner part. In fact, I’m almost dreading it.”
She held her fist up to her mouth and coughed out, “Bullshit.”
“Hey, whose side are you on?”
“Yours. That’s why I love seeing you like this.” She leaped off and went to my closet. “And I know Stephen will come around eventually.”
“There’s no reason for him to. All his points are valid, and I agree with him.”
“His points are stupid. He’s five years older than me, yet he has a problem because you’re older than Chase? Sounds a little sexist, if you ask me.”
“Five years is different than fifteen, and it’s not the age difference; it’s the age of the guy I’m sleeping with. Which Stephen doesn’t even know I’m doing, and if he did know I was going out with him tonight, he’d have every right to give me a hard time.” Perry had her back to me, tossing around my shoes, but I could sense her eyes rolling. “Stop rolling your eyes. I shouldn’t even be sleeping with him at all, even casually. I’m not using my best judgment, and I should know better.”
Yet, I’d decided to do it anyway. I was currently letting my body call the shots, but it was only on a temporary basis. It’d all be over once either my glands stopped functioning like a teenage boy’s or Chase ran off in search of younger pastures. Whichever came first.
Until then, I might as well get my fill.
“The sex is that awesome, huh?”
She handed me a pair of nude strappy sandals with a two-inch heel. Perfect. “You could say that.”
Even though we’d only had it twice, once with me sober and once not, I still knew how incredible it was from the feelings it generated. There didn’t have to be actual penetration going on; a single look or the lightest touch could rev me up like nothing else. If sex could be considered in those terms, then we’d fucked a hundred times already.
“He’s a keeper, Jills. If anyone deserves more than a lick and stick, it’s you.”
I froze, one leg bent up as I slipped on a shoe. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you know.” She stood up and slid my closet door closed. “The guy who says, ‘ooh, baby, you’re so wet’ and you’re like, ‘of course I am, dickwad. You just spit all over your fingers and stuck them up my twat because you couldn’t be bothered to take the time to turn me on first, and by the way, you better have a clean mouth, asshole. I don’t want a yeast infection just because you ate a giant can of peaches in heavy syrup right before you filled me with your drool.’”
“Uh, yeah. I can’t say I’ve ever had that conversation before.”
“Well, you’re lucky. Good thing those days are behind me. I hit it big when I met your brother, I tell ya. He makes me wetter than… Remember that weekend a couple summers ago when there were tornado warnings, and we all hung out in your basement and then your entire backyard flooded and—”
“Yes, Perry. I get it. You guys are compatible.”
A love-struck puppy expression glazed over her face, and she smiled. “Yes, we are.”
Perry took off when I was down to my last fifteen minutes. As I was waiting for Chase to arrive, I took out the tub of DermaIce and dabbed some more of the clear cream on my face. Michelle had given it to me the other day—‘ It takes off ten years and lasts four hours’ —but the results took at least thirty minutes to kick in. I’d tried it the other day, and it felt nice on my face, but I couldn’t tell a difference. When I’d asked her, she said I just didn’t use enough.
I tapped a generous amount around my eyes and between my brows; it blended in nicely with my makeup. All I needed was for it to freeze up my lines during the time we were out. If I could just get myself to pass down to my twenties, then I wouldn’t have to worry about cradle-robbing jokes and snickers behind my back.
When I was good to go, I paced around the living room, nervous jitters playing Tag inside my body. Just when one part of me settled down, another would take up the slack. The sound of tires rolling into the driveway caused my chest to go bonkers. You’re it.
I peeked out my blinds and saw him getting out of the car in a frickin’ suit. My stomach fluttered, ping-ponging up to my throat and then back down again. Chase was turning me into some alien life form I didn’t recognize. I was not supposed to be having these reactions. I was Jillian Hudson, controlled and fully-equipped with a working brain. I may be far from being over the hill, but I was way too old for this shit.
I stepped away from the window; I didn’t want him to catch me watching him. That would look way too eager. When my doorbell rang, I had to scrape myself off the ceiling. Calm the fuck down, Jillian.
Opening the door caused me to wobble just a bit, but I kept it together. He looked… drop-dead amazing. My favorite look for him was naked, but I might have to make an exception tonight.
Within my grasp stood a perfect specimen in a lightweight gray fitted suit. Perfect for a summer night. Perfectly matched to my lavender dress. We both said a simultaneous, “Wow.” Although mine was in my head, and his was out loud.
“I’ll come up with a more original way of complimenting you later, but for now, let me just say you look beautiful, Jillian. That’s the only way I can describe it right now.” Hmm… That word again. He meant it, though; I could see it in the way his eyes softened when he looked me over. Before I could say a gracious, ‘Thank you,’ he held up a six-pack of Spotted Cow. “For you.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Beer?” I took it from him and into the kitchen. How had I not noticed it before then? Chase followed me in, allowing me another eyeful. Oh, yeah. That’s why.
“Well, I couldn’t show up empty-handed, and I wasn’t going to bring flowers. Since it’s not a date.” His lips curved, and I turned away, shoving the bottles into the fridge.
“Thank you,” I said. If it were up to me, I’d skip right to dessert. Pop off a cap and drip the entire contents over the hills and into the valleys of his body. Then I’d drag my tongue over every rock-hard muscle and suck it up.
He touched my shoulder, and I shivered. “You ready to go?” he asked.
I nodded. Yes, the sooner we left, the sooner… I rotated to face him and… Damn. He really did look exceptional. A bit older too. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. If I appeared younger and he didn’t, we might actually come across as a normal couple. If we were a couple, that is.
Chase took my hand in his and led me out. I could do this. No problem. He opened the car door for me, closed it, then rounded back to the driver’s side.
It’s showtime.