Katie walked into her closet and retrieved the two dresses she’d been debating before Ridley arrived. “It’s a tie between this purple wrap dress and my standard little black dress. These are the only two dresses that still fit me.”
Ri pursed her lips. “The purple looks great against your skin. And I bet you have a pink lipstick that would look amazing with that.”
“I do, actually.” Katie didn’t usually wear a lot of makeup. Really, who had time for all that? But she’d always loved the simplicity of lipstick. You could slick it on in two seconds flat and suddenly feel completely glamorous.
She changed in the closet and when she walked into the room, Ridley whistled softly, making her blush.
Katie covered the wrap neck of the dress which revealed way more cleavage than she remembered.
“Wow. I know you said this isn’t a date but you might have to check Bennett’s pulse after he sees you in that. Girl, your tatas look amazing.”
“Oh my god. Ri, you are such a trip.” Katie looked down and had to admit that her friend was right. Ever since she’d had kids, her chest had gotten bigger. It looked like she was busting out of the top.
“Seriously though, if you want a chance with Bennett, you should take it. He’s a really nice guy and I must admit, I love the idea of you being my sister-in-law.”
Katie yanked the top of the dress closed and searched through her dresser for a safety pin to keep it closed. “Like that’s going to happen.”
“You know, it’s okay to like a guy. Even if he’s your boss. Maybe this was meant to be.”
“I don’t think I’m that lucky, Ri.”
“You never know. Sometimes the universe has a twisted sense of humor. I think you two would be great together.”
Katie looked at herself in the mirror and imagined Bennett’s face when he picked her up and saw this dress. Would he like it? Would he wonder what she looked like out of it? Or would he be eager to get this whole thing over with so he could go hit on Olivia?
“Maybe we would be great together. There’s just one problem.” At Ri’s blank look, she continued. “Bennett already likes someone else. That’s why we’re going on this practice date in the first place.”
Ri’s face fell slightly. “Oh, well that doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. He’s not engaged or married or even committed. He’s fair game as far as I’m concerned.”
“I don’t want another guy who considers me his second choice. I want to be first for once.”
Katie ignored Ri’s look of sympathy and walked back into the closet to find her heels. If she was going out wearing this clingy dress, she might as well go all the way and wear shoes that screamed sex, too.
She’d never liked to do things halfway.
?
A few hours later, Katie was just finishing up the last of her makeup when the doorbell rang. She took a deep breath and pressed her palm against the flock of birds that had just taken flight in her stomach. She’d taken a bubble bath to relax but her nerves suddenly returned full force. These feelings were so unexpected that it made her feel an uncharacteristic lightness. She wasn’t used to feeling this kind of anticipation for anything.
She loved her life and adored her children but there was definitely a sense of sameness to her everyday life. She worked hard, made dinner, played with her boys and then fell into bed exhausted at the end of each long day. Only to wake the next morning and do the exact same things all over again. For years, she’d been on a schedule of rinse, cycle, and repeat, and today it felt like she’d stepped completely out of her orbit.
When she opened the door, she got an even bigger shock to see not only Bennett but Hunter. Her son was staring up at Bennett with wide eyes.
“Mommy, he’s tall.”
Even though the boys had seen him several times, she could imagine his height seemed even greater when standing right next to him, especially from a child’s perspective. She found herself forgetting just how tall he was sometimes herself until he came over to show her something and she had to crane her neck.
Katie nodded. “Yes, he is. Hunter, did you say hello to Mr. Alexander?”
“Hi!” Hunter waved enthusiastically and then ran past Katie into the house.
Katie looked behind Bennett and saw Ridley standing on the sidewalk.
Her friend smiled smugly. “Hi, guys. Sorry, Hunter forgot his favorite pillow.”
“Right. Sure he did,” Katie teased.
“Uh, hello Ridley.” Bennett looked between them uncertainly, probably wondering why Katie looked annoyed and Ri looked gleeful. He had no idea just how devious his sister-in-law could be.