I hugged her. "It is going to be okay. So do you want Riley? Or do you plan on walking away?"
Kate rubbed at her mascara stained eyes with a soggy tissue. "Do you think there is a chance? Do you think I could get him back?"
"Are you kidding me? You are Kate — breaker of hearts! In all of the time I have known you, I have never seen you not get what you wanted. If you want this guy, you should go after him. This is not the time to play nice. You do not want to wait around for the ex to come back in the picture or for someone else to grab him up. You tidy yourself up and you go over there to talk to him. Don't take no for an answer." I smiled at her encouragingly.
Kate sat up a little, her shoulders back, her head high. "Yes, I can do that. What is wrong with me? I don't understand how emotional I have been. Thank you for listening, I know you have travel plans. What time are you leaving?"
"In about an hour—I still have to pack." I confessed with a goofy look on my face.
"What!? Well, let's get packing. Come on, I will help you."
Before I could start snatching clothing out of my drawers and closet, the doorbell rang. I froze, "Oh no! I hope he's not early." I opened the door, surprised to find a delivery man standing there with two boxes. "Lilly Brightwood?" he read from his clipboard.
"Yes, that is me."
"These are for you. No need to sign anything." He pushed the boxes into my arms, smiled and left me standing agape in my apartment.
"Well, don't just stand there. Come on in here. Let's see what you have.” I slid the boxes on the table and opened them, surprised to find long stem roses and wine, and a silk nightgown and robe, in black no less, in the other. Kate looked at me wide-eyed and handed me a card. I did not even need to look I knew who they were from — Bullet. I took the card in my hand and I read the brief message. "Looking forward to our time together. Thought this might come in handy. B."
Kate slid the lingerie out of my hand. "Ooh... Just feel that." Kate examined the label, "Wow, he's got taste. See? That's Fox and Rose. Hmm..."
I couldn't help but smile but then I caught myself. Really, Lilly? This guy sends a few flowers and some lingerie and you're ready to forgive him? My phone tweeted and I tapped on the screen to see who emailed me. It was a copy of the travel plans — from Bullet. He included a note in his email that said. "Do you ever check your voicemail or are you ignoring me?" My breath caught in my throat and I stared at my phone noticing a bouncing number one that indicated I had a voicemail message. I tapped on the screen and stepped away from Kate to listen to my message in private. She went about her business, helping me pack. "Hi Lilly, I guess you know who this is. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to our weekend together. Oh, the things I want to do with you." He laughed a little. "I hope you had some time to think of a few things you would like to do with me. I will see you at 6 o'clock and I would love it if you left your panties at home."
"What is it? Did he cancel on you?" Kate folded clothes into the small, neat piles and laid them on my bed.
"No, not at all actually." I could feel my face turn pink. What was this man doing to me?
"What is it?" I handed her the phone and tapped the voicemail so she could hear it. Normally, this was not something I would do but I didn't dare repeat what he said. My heart raced and my pulse quickened and oh my God! I was looking forward to this weekend and I hated myself for it.
"Oh you are so lucky. He sounds like a wild man. You're going to have so much fun." She scooped up my silk panties and put them back in the drawer with the evil chuckle. "I guess you won't need these." I felt my face flush again.
"Kate, you don't think he's being a little, too...I don't know...maybe too..."
"Sexy? Hot? Intense? Pick any of those. You need to go on this trip—don't forget to forward me the itinerary and go! Have a good time, let your hair down—a few times. Now where's the suitcase? Is that what you are wearing? You've only got half an hour."
"Oh no! Suitcase is in the closet—I'm hopping in the shower. What am I going to wear? Find me something!" I stripped on my way into the restroom, turning on the shower taps to let it warm up. I didn't have time to wash my hair but it was clean and still smelled fresh. I was in such a rush that I had didn't have time to worry over anything. It was going to be me and Bullet—well, and two of his friends. This was crazy—this was crazy! Why was I taking advice from Kate? How can I get out of this?
"Hey, I laid out a few outfits on the bed and I packed your bag. Uh-oh, I can tell by the look on your face that you are having second thoughts. Stop that, Lilly. For goodness sake, it has been too long since you did something exciting. It's time to leave Evan in the past and move on. I'm not saying you have to marry this guy but at least have some fun."
"Okay, you know me too well. I'm going but I am texting or calling you every day. You better answer and tell me what happens with Riley."
"I will, I'm going now and leaving you to it. See you later." With a hug and kiss on my cheek, my dark-haired friend left, probably ready to work on her plan to get Riley back. Maybe that was the real reason for her freak out—maybe she just created that dramatic moment in the restaurant so she could win him back. More challenging that way. I had no doubt that Riley would succumb to her charms. Kate was pretty determined when she set her mind on something.
I didn't have time to sort through my bag but I did stuff a few pairs of panties in it. For our flight this evening, I opted for a sheath dress and stylish but low-heeled pumps. I touched up my makeup and packed it away and gave my neck a spritz of perfume, which I also brought with me. I slid the lingerie into the front pocket of my suitcase; it was stuffed too tight to get it in the main section.
I grabbed my purse and filled it with a few other things like my tablet and my favorite lipstick. My phone rang—it was Bullet. He was downstairs waiting in the limousine, which would take us to the airport.
Are you ready to go?
On the way now.
I turned around and looked at my cozy apartment, my sanctuary. Was I ready? I paused before opening the door. Wait, I had to do one more thing.
I reached under my dress and slid down my panties. I tossed them on the table, leaving them behind.
Now I was ready.
Chapter Six