23. River
Chapter Twenty-Three
RIVER
Next Saturday had turned into the one after that.
I felt horrible that the date I consented to was postponed because I was too nervous to go without others, but my sister had to work the first weekend I’d originally agreed to. Huntley assured me it was not a big deal and had managed to get time off by swapping schedules with someone else.
Sitting on my bed, I stared at the clothes scattered around the room. They lined the floor, my bed, the chair in the corner, and the dresser. Almost every square inch of my space was covered, and as I eyed it all, it was plain as day I had nothing to wear on a date.
Grabbing my phone, I dialed Lake. When she answered, I panic-yelled, “We have to cancel!”
“Whoa, take a deep breath and try again so I can understand what you are saying,” she told me.
Sucking in air, then letting it out, I tried to calm myself and then gave it another go. “We need to cancel right now; I have nothing to wear.”
Laughter burst through the phone and I pulled it away from my head to glare at it. She couldn’t see me but hopefully she could feel my heated gaze. Because this was so not funny.
“Why are you freaking laughing?” I asked her after putting the phone back to my ear.
After gaining her composure, she replied, “Everyone goes through this, you’re just nervous. I’m sure you have something perfectly great to wear. I’ll be right over.”
And then the line went dead.
True to her word, she was at my house in less than ten minutes. We went through every article of clothing and while she had thought many were fine choices, I turned them all down.
“I should have gone shopping. And I can’t do all this primping and shit,” I told Lake.
My sister laid her hand on my shoulder. “Huntley wouldn’t care if you were wearing a garbage bag, he likes you just the way you are.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath. “I just wanted to look…” I didn’t finish, I was being silly. “Who am I kidding, this dating thing isn’t for me.”
Lake gave my shoulder a little shake for emphasis. “Sure it is. I can see you care about him whenever you look at him. And the want in your eyes.”
“I don’t?—”
Lake threw her hand in the air, palm out toward me. “Don’t try and deny it.” She walked over to her purse she had sat on my dresser and pulled her phone out. “I know just what you need.”
Giving her a skeptical look, I asked, “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“Reinforcements.”
She made one call to Capri and before I knew it, most of the ladies had shown up at my house.
“Before we get down to business, I have something for you,” Capri said.
I looked down to see a silver heart-shaped necklace with small diamonds around the outer edge dangling from her fingertips. I cocked my head in confusion and looked back at her.
“That’s pretty, but you don’t have to let me borrow it,” I told her, assuming she was loaning it to me for my date.
Capri was a beautiful woman inside and out who’d come to me for counseling after going through a traumatic situation. I guess you could say we became friends; after all, she was the one who’d led me to the sister I’d never known about.
“Look again,” she said, nodding down to the piece of jewelry in her hand.
When I glanced down another time, it hit me. It hadn’t really clicked at first but all of a sudden I realized what was happening. My head snapped back up and I looked around the room at the women who’d come to help me prepare for the date.
Lake, Capri, Ruby, Summer, and Gemma stood watching me, the same exact necklace hanging from their necks.
“I told Lake I’d make sure you had one,” Capri said, snagging my attention again. “Not because we ever hope you need to be tracked, but because you’re one of us.”
Emotions swam through me faster than an Olympic swimmer shooting for the gold medal, the feeling of belonging almost overwhelming, but amazing at the same time.
Capri made twirling motions with the pointer finger on her free hand. “Turn around, let me put this on you.”
Tears clogged my throat, but I managed to get out a strangled, “Thank you,” before doing as she asked .
As the necklace settled against my bare skin and Capri clasped it closed, I stood just staring down at it. I knew it meant so much more to the group of women than just being something pretty to wear.
It was their men, as well as themselves wanting to keep each other safe, but also a symbol of their friendship.
It meant more to me than I could put into words.
My sister, knowing how much I struggled with this kind of thing, the touchy, feely moments, came to my aide. Slapping her palms together, she said, “Let’s see what clothes you all brought and get my sis ready for her first date.”
In seconds the room was bustling with women all thrown into action.
Ruby and Summer were fussing with my hair and makeup. My sister was literally painting my nails and toes. And Capri and Gemma were going through all the clothing they’d each brought with them to find the perfect outfit.
I had my own private salon going in my house, along with a group of personal assistants. How was this my life? I had wonderful kids, friends, and a boyfriend.
Wait, what? Boyfriend?
I was going on a date, but that didn’t mean Huntley was my boyfriend or would even consider himself to be. I’d never been down that road and hadn’t ever planned too either. But the thought of him even thinking of me in that sense did cause those little flutters in my belly that only he’d ever provoked.
“Holy smokes,” I heard, dragging my attention toward the doorway where my daughter stood, eyes bugging out comically. She looked like a cartoon character, and I laughed.
I’d just finished getting ready and hadn’t even gotten to take a look at myself in the mirror yet. I was almost scared to do it. Not because I thought the girls would do me wrong, but I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly and it would also mean it was almost time for the date.
Just as I was about to panic, Ruby gave one last swipe across my lips with the tube of lipstick in her hand, and said looking at Bre, “Your mom looks smokin’ hot, doesn’t she?”
“Don’t answer that and no more chick talk until I get out of the vicinity,” Lennon said, peeking over his sister's shoulder.
If I thought my daughter’s eyes were big, they had nothing on my son’s. “You look nice,” he grumbled before walking off.
All the women and Bre started laughing, as I stood to take a peek at myself.
Gemma waved her hand up and down my body as I moved off the chair where I sat and made my way toward the full-length mirror that stood propped in the corner of my room. “Nice isn’t how I would describe this look you got going right now, but I understand your son not saying more.” She gave a small whistle. “Ruby was definitely spot on with the ‘smokin’ hot’ observation.”
I gazed into the mirror and my jaw almost hit the floor.
I’m me, but a whole different version of myself. A sexier version I didn’t know existed. To be honest, it was probably something I worked hard to avoid. I always thought if I was less noticeable then I’d be safer.
I scanned myself from head to toe. A waterfall of perfectly spiraled, black curls cascaded over my shoulders and soft, smokey eyes stared back at me. My makeup was more than I’d ever worn, but not so dramatic that it wasn’t me. It screamed sensual and sexy in a subtle, beautiful way.
The women knew what they were doing, but I should have known. Ruby was a model but they all could make it a profession if they wanted to. They were all so gorgeous, including those who were not there for the makeover .
I ran my palms down my sides and took in my outfit. It was a black, V-neck, open shoulder, pleated jumpsuit. It pulled in around my middle, showcasing my small waist but also the curve of my hips. My new necklace dropped down between my breasts, emphasizing—in a modest way— the dose of cleavage I possessed. I wasn’t big in that vicinity, but I wasn’t flat as a pancake either.
My gaze moved south down my legs, the jumpsuit gathering snug around my ankles and my feet donned a pair of strappy, silver, mid-size heels where violet-colored toes peeked out. Lake had painted them, saying they had to match my eyes.
I certainly had been pampered like a princess.
“Don’t you do it,” my sister said, coming up behind me and looking over my shoulder. “If you cry you’re gonna mess up your makeup.”
She was right. I was fighting the tears shimmering at the edge of my eyes waiting to drop. I was an emotional mess. These women were gems. I still couldn’t believe they wanted to be my friends.
Blowing out a breath, I squared my shoulders, willing the damn tears to disappear just as the doorbell rang. At the sound, I almost jumped right out of the jumpsuit I was wearing.
Oh shit, he’s here.
“I’ll get it,” Bre said as she turned to head toward the door.
Lennon raced down the hall, yelling at her. “You can’t just open the door, let me check the camera first!”
Lake rested her hand on my shoulder and met my gaze in the mirror. “You look beautiful. Get your bearings, don’t forget to breathe, and I will go check on the kids.” She smiled. “And your hot date.”
“I can’t do this,” I mumbled when she was gone .
The rest of the gals gathered around me. “Sure you can,” Capri said. “And some of us will be right there with you.”
Summer flashed me an encouraging smile. “We’ve all been in your shoes, some of us literally,” she told me, making us laugh since they happened to be hers I was wearing. “It can be scary and nerve-racking, but it’s so worth it, you’ll see.”
All the ladies murmured their agreements.
Then, Bre came back into the room.
“Mom, come on. Huntley is waiting and I want to see his face when he sees you. Besides, Lennon was lecturing him like you guys are not grown adults.”
The women laughed and I groaned. He may have been letting his guard down around Huntley, but he wasn’t going to lose all of his protectiveness.
I took a deep breath and made my feet move. As I started walking, Gemma whispered encouragingly, “Go get him, girl.”
A nervous giggle broke free as I walked down the hall. I made my way into the front room as Huntley was saying something to Lennon, while Lake stood watching. When they heard me, everyone turned and my date stopped speaking.
I stopped in my tracks as Huntley’s gaze took me in from top to bottom, then his eyes came back to mine. He just stared at me without saying a word. My stomach swam with doubt and I fidgeted nervously. Did he not like what he saw?
Lake smacked him in the arm.
The ladies came up behind me, laughing and I wondered what they thought was so funny. Then I saw Huntley blink and noticed the heat, along with desire, in his gaze.
“Told ya she was smokin’ hot,” I heard Ruby say from behind me.
“Yup, the man is speechless,” Capri said.