Chapter 24
Rory
Steam billows around me as I step out of the shower. The jitters have died down, the reality of seeing so many of my former classmates no longer quite as intimidating after a great ride and what was probably my most extensive pampering session in months, if not years.
Face mask? Check.
Hair mask? Check.
Shaved legs, armpits, and bikini line? Check.
I peer down at my handiwork as I wrap a towel around myself, wondering if I should take it a step further.
I chew on my lip, thinking of the reaction I may get from Nate. Yep, that makes the decision easier. I take a large sip of white wine from the glass on the countertop and dip back into the shower.
Ten minutes later, I let the towel hang open while I look in the mirror. All that’s left is a small landing strip. It feels strange, but…good strange. And the thought of what Nate will think? That idea has my fingers dancing over my stomach as they head toward the freshly bare area between my legs.
My phone chimes with a text, and I jump.
I wrap the towel around me and reach for the phone. What was I thinking, taking care of myself in the bathroom? I’m not sure if Nate is home, but if he is, the last thing I want is for him to hear me. I’m feeling pretty darn confident in myself right now, but not quite that confident.
A text from Allie is splashed across my screen, and I suddenly miss my bestie like crazy.
Allie
Getting ready for the reunion? You have to let me know all the gossip we’ve missed since leaving HiLo!
She knows the gossip I know so far, of course, that our former bullies have been trying to get with Nate for years and that Stacey is a sweetheart and everything that Marge and Mandy have passed on.
You know most of what I do but can I call you? Dying to chat!
Of course! Video call so I can see how you look.
I open up a FaceTime call and wait for it to connect. As Allie’s beaming face comes into view, close enough for me to count the freckles scattered over her nose, the stress starts to ease even further, the way it always does when I see my best friend.
“Hey!” she sing-songs. “Tell me everything. What are you wearing? How are you going to do your hair?”
I roll my eyes, but I carry the phone into the bedroom and point the camera at the dress that’s laid out across the bed. “This is the dress. It’s kind of a midnight blue, not sure if you can tell through the phone. And nude heels.”
She whistles. “Love it. And hair?”
I flip the camera back to focus on me. “I’m thinking down and curled, if I can pull it off. If not, up in a bun.”
She taps her nose thoughtfully. “You’re doing your makeup, right? Like more than your usual look? This might be a time for full-on glam. Do you need tips?”
“I watched a YouTube video, but you know I’m always up for tips. Not sure on the whole eyeliner thing, though.”
“I’d do just a little liner, but definitely mascara. Tons. You’ve got the lashes, but you can play them up more. Happy birthday, by the way.”
Tomorrow is my birthday. I’d almost forgotten.
Twenty-eight.
I lift my wineglass in a mock toast to myself. “Thanks. I feel old.”
“No, use the other one,” Allie says to someone off camera, before looking back at me. “Sorry, I’m at work. Show me the makeup you brought.”
I pan over the selection of products, most of them barely used. I like to wear some concealer and a little blush most days, but as Allie pointed out, I’ve got great lashes even without makeup, so I don’t usually bother doing my eyes.
Allie nods approvingly. “Ooh, that mascara will make your eyes pop. And maybe with a green or purple shadow if you’re feeling dramatic? Nate will love it.”
I try to laugh it off, but if I’m being honest, that’s exactly what I’m going for. “Maybe.”
“It sounds like things are going well with you two so far. I need more details than you’re giving me, though.”
She’s right because I’ve done my best to not put too many scandalous details into text messaging. You never know where those things will end up.
“Hang on.” I tiptoe to the window and pull the curtain back to see if Nate’s truck is in the driveway.
No sign of it, but I hold my breath and listen to make sure.
Spam takes this opportunity to run into the bedroom and then to follow at my heels as I head back into the bathroom.
“Where’d you go?” Allie asks when my face comes back into view on the screen.
“Checking to make sure Nate isn’t here. But”—I take a breath as I pause dramatically—“we’ve been sleeping together for a week. And holy shit, Allie.”
Her eyes widen slightly, her lips lifting at the corners. She knows we had sex that first night, but I didn’t want to jinx it by telling people, even Allie.
I take a deep breath and let it out, remembering every time he sank into me and we melded together like nothing had ever come between us. “It was fucking mind blowing. It was nothing like when we were fumbling on my bed in my parents’ house.”
I bring my wineglass to my lips. There’s something so indulgent about having a long-stemmed glass to sip from while you’re pampering yourself, and Nate is going to drive us the mile to the high school tonight, so I’m letting myself relax.
Allie’s eyebrows are so high they’re out of the frame as she leans in so close I can see up her nose. “Details! I need more details. I’m in an epic dry spell over here. Actually, let me put my earbuds in first.”
My face flushes at the thought that her work colleagues have been listening to this entire conversation, but it’s not like I know any of them. But I wait until she sticks the headphones in her ears to continue.
“So he… Let’s just say he knows what he’s doing.” I move my hand in a circle, hoping she gets my drift. My freshly shaved center tingles at the memory. “About a zillion times better than in high school, Allie. I mean, obviously. But he got taller. And…bigger, I think.”
“I love a big dick,” she says wistfully.
“Allie!” I can’t stop from snickering, though.
“What?” She blinks innocently.
“You’re at work. Stop talking about big dicks.”
“What? They don’t care. They all like big dicks, too.” She holds the phone up to show several coworkers nodding.
“Jesus. Anyway, his, um, size aside, he brought up this thing from back then. When we broke up.”
Allie winces. “Kind of the elephant in the room, isn’t it? Did you think you wouldn’t have to talk about how you broke his heart?”
I hoped, but she’s right. “We talked about all of it, but there was a part I didn’t tell you from back then. I never thought it was real for him, even.”
She moves her hand in a circle, indicating that I should keep going.
I take a deep breath, bracing my hands on either side of the sink. “We made a pact back then. If we were both still single when we were twenty-eight, we’d get back together and give it another chance.”
“Like a marriage pact?” Allie squeals, clapping her hands. She’s been watching too many Lifetime movies again.
“No, just…back together. Give it another try.” I pick up the foundation, dot it on my face, then blend it in.
“Oh.” Allie looks almost disappointed. “Well, you get credit for those three years back in high school. So it’s not like you’re starting a new relationship and have to wait a year or whatever to get engaged.”
I’m not sure where she finds these relationship rules.
“We’re not getting engaged,” I say, reaching for the concealer. “We’re…talking. And having sex.”
“So talking about the relationship?”
I shrug as I blend concealer under my eyes and along my cheekbones. “I mean…we’ve talked some. But not about like the future or anything.”
“That’s a start. Now just…take it a step further.” She blows out a breath and looks upward. “At least, that’s what I hear. It’s been a while since I had an actual relationship.”
“That’s because you’re married to your job.”
Allie is gorgeous, her golden hair naturally wavy and her coloring the perfect sun-kissed shade all year round. It’s a stark comparison to how she looked in high school, and I’m surprised she’s still single. Looking at her, you’d think guys would be lining up to date her.
“Kind of true. But my dedication pales in comparison to Lexi’s.” Allie’s twin sister is a physical therapist who managed to nab her dream job working for Denver’s professional baseball team.
I laugh as I set down the makeup sponge and look for the blush. “I guess if my job involved seeing hot guys shirtless all day, I’d be that dedicated, too. Is she coming up for the reunion?”
Allie shakes her head. “No. The team is on the road in Atlanta or something. I can’t imagine traveling constantly like that, but she loves it.”
We chat as I apply eye shadow, liner, and mascara—two coats—and holy cow, the YouTube tutorial was right. My eyes look amazing.
“Holy shit,” I breathe.
“Hold me up to see better.”
I pick the phone up from the counter and hold it at arm’s length.
Allie whistles. “Yeah, holy shit is right. He’s going to come in his pants when he sees you.”
“I want him to come inside me.”
“Oh, he will,” she promises. “Or in a condom, which seems like a better choice. You’re so goddamn hot right now it makes me want you. He’s going to love it.”
He will, won’t he? I turn my head back and forth, admiring my look from multiple angles. “I’m going to let you go so I can do my hair. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck! Let me know how everything goes. Living through you right now, babe.” Allie blows me a kiss then ends the call.
Applying two different hair products, then drying and curling my hair, seems like it takes forever, but when I finish and look at myself in the mirror, it’s worth it.
My hair cascades over my shoulders in perfect curls, the streak of pink even more visible with this hairstyle. It was an impulse decision, but I’m kind of in love with it. Maybe I’ll add another streak one of these days.
My makeup is on point, too. My eyes look huge, and my skin is glowing.
Holding the towel around me, I tiptoe into the bedroom and hold the dress up while I peer in the mirror. The silky material is cut low in the front and will show off my cleavage perfectly.
This is one of those moments in one of Allie’s Lifetime movies where the heroine would pull on a matching bra-and-panty set that’s black and lacy or whatever.
But while I managed to already own a dress that looks good on me, I didn’t think about what was going underneath.
I’m not a matching lingerie type of girl, although now that this night is here, I wonder if I should have ordered some matching sets or something.
I have a black bra, but that’s as fancy as it gets. Nate will just have to deal with the cotton boy-cut underwear because that’s all I have with me.
I smirk to myself. He hasn’t seemed to mind it before.
I slip the dress over my head and check myself out in the mirror over the dresser. The cleavage is definitely on point, but when I turn and inspect my backside, the lines from my boy shorts are a little more prominent than I expected.
I mean, everyone knows women wear underwear. It’s not exactly a secret. But this is a little more obvious than I want it to be.
“Rory?”
I jump at Nate’s voice, which seems to be coming from right outside my door.
I sneak a glance at my phone to check the time. A jolt of adrenaline passes through me when I realize we need to leave any minute now. Shoot. My options are limited at this point.
I look at my backside in the mirror again. Is it really that bad?
“Rory?” Nate calls again.
Shoot. We’re down to the wire, and I’m out of options.
I shimmy the underwear down under my skirt and kick it under the bed just as Nate knocks on my bedroom door.
“Rory? We should get going.”
Butterflies swirl in my stomach. It’s now or never, right?
All those people I haven’t seen since high school. It’s like walking into a lion’s den.
And not only do I not have a shield, but I don’t even have any goddamn underwear.