Kaitlyn sits cross legged on the edge of the bed with Gizmo in her lap, a wide smile on her face.
“Are you kidding?” she beams. “You look hot. But I am a little offended, I have to say.”
“How so?” I say, seeing a bantering glint in her eyes.
“How long have I been trying to get you to dress in something hot, huh? And the second Mr. Hunk comes along, you’re all over it. Maybe I should’ve gone to the gym and got myself some muscles, not to mention a nice big …”
“Kait,” I cry, causing Gizmo to perk up and look between us. “Don’t be so vulgar, not in front of Gizzie.”
Kait giggles and covers Gizmo’s furry ears with her hands. “Okay, so now where were we? Oh, that’s right, you were going to give me all the juicy details about you and Mr. Lover Man’s bedroom dalliances—”
“Nope,” I say. “I wasn’t. And I never will.”
She pouts. “No fair. Are you excited?”
I turn to look at myself in the full length mirror.
I’ve applied – with Kait’s help – a light smattering of makeup to my cheeks and a little liner around my eyes. Even that’s more than I’d normally wear.
But this evening is a special occasion.
I’m going to sleep with him tonight.
I haven’t said that out loud, but if he offers, I’m not going to live in a world of self-doubt and fear anymore.
I won’t be dictated by my catastrophizing mind.
“Nervous is more like it,” I murmur.
Kait stands up, carrying Gizmo over to me and lifting him so that we’re nose to nose, his wet nose tickling me. I giggle and take him into my arms, rocking him back and forth slightly, a shivering warm feeling moving over me when I think about doing this with mine and Tanner’s baby one day.
“See? How bad can life really be when you’ve got a dog in your arms?”
“You’re right,” I say. “Thanks for taking care of him tonight. It means a lot.”
“Oh, no worries,” Kait smiles. “I need the company. Lounging around the house is going to take some getting used to, I’ll tell you. It’s weird. I spent so many nights at the club wishing I could just GTFO. Now I’m like missing it. Or being busy, at least.”
“How long do you think he’ll hang around?” I mutter.
She shrugs. “I’ve got no idea. I’ll have to do something soon. A restraining order, skip town, I don’t know. Something.” She brightens, waving a hand. “But we don’t need to worry about that tonight. Go and have a great time.”
“I’m here for you, Kait,” I tell her. “I mean, normally I’m here for you … obviously tonight I’m going out, but—”
“I know what you mean, you silly beautiful girl,” Kait laughs, leaping at me and throwing her arms around both me and Gizmo, even as I laugh and tell her to back off, she’s going to ruin my outfit.The restaurant is bordered on all sides by flickering torches, the fire licking at the air, and causing it to shimmer. It’s a wide open room with elegant décor and waiters moving proficiently between the tables, which are glass, and designed just so that the light of the torches catches them and dances.
There’s a general atmosphere of well-to-do, as though you have to pass a certain income bracket before stepping foot on the premises. The women wear elegant gowns and pearls and wear them with an ease which implies they’re used to the finer things in life. The men all wear suits.
I feel like a movie star – and an imposter, a strange combination – as I hold onto Tanner’s arm. We walk across the restaurant floor, following the host, as heads turn to regard the odd couple.
I imagine the women whispering, What the hell is he doing with her?
I spot a few looks of recognition when people see Tanner, their eyebrows shooting up. One man mutters something about Tanner being a has-been. And before I can stop myself I’m turning, rage flaring on my tongue.
Tanner laughs easily and loops his arm around my waist.
“Thank you for defending my honor,” he whispers. “But I haven’t published a book in two years. Let them have their pathetic whispers. I’ve got you. So in the end, I win. And, anyway, if you get into it with some spoilt trust fund prick and he says the wrong thing about you, well…”
“I know,” I murmur, hugging close to him, my heart still pounding from the near confrontation.
I remember the easy way he crumpled Dirk, causing him to drop like a sack of nothing, like the most pathetic man in the world.
“I’m sorry,” I say, as Tanner slides out my polished chair out of me, catching the firelight just like the table and the cutlery, everything glittering, but not in a way that would overpower the atmosphere. “I honestly don’t know what’s gotten into me today. I’m normally not this super-confrontational person.”