“Sure is…” Sara trailed off, audibly trying to contain her excitement. But I could practically hear her bouncing all giddy in her chair. “You know what this means right?”
“Yes. Maybe.” I breathed out, letting the reality sink in.
“It means you’re breaking the dry spell tonight. Probably around the 9PM mark,” Sara giggled. “You ready to finally have sex tonight, baby girl?”
I hailed a cab as I gave my confident answer. “Nope,” I said, climbing in to get home and get ready.
It had been ages since I’d taken time out to get all dressed up – probably because the last remotely cool or sexy event I’d attended was a bachelorette party two years ago, for Sara’s cousin. Since then, socializing was limited to a quick coffee in the afternoon or a single round of drinks at night. And of course there were Sundays – the official day of the week that Sara came over and drank wine all day while watching me make truffles, hawking the finished batches for the “ugly ones” that she was allowed to eat.
As far as time and money went, I couldn’t afford to have much more fun than that.
But tonight was different.
Tonight was practically a business investment because I needed this date to scratch an itch and clear out brain space. And in order to
go through with it, I needed to feel a hundred percent. So I bought a couple new things and let myself have a few hours to get ready, trying on a dozen old dresses before eventually settling on the one I’d borrowed from Sara for the bachelorette. Setting my wine down, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, looking at myself for once dressed up and giving myself a twirl.
“Good Lord, Sara…” I murmured to myself. Considering my best friend towered over me, I wasn’t sure how she ever fit into this dress. It must’ve been a Band-Aid on her because it was already short on me. Then again, it might’ve just felt that way because of the heels. They were four, maybe four-and-a-half-inch black stilettos. Combined with the plunging V of the little white dress I had on, I felt myself veering into vixen territory – definitely a road less traveled for me, which was intimidating, but that was what the second glass of wine was for.
SARA: Hi. Something tells me you’re forgetting lipstick. Also if you’re wearing a bra with that dress, lose it.
I snorted at the surprise text that happened to be completely right.
ME: Fine. Can I wear a nude lip or does it have to be red?
SARA: Nude lip is perfect do it up now
SARA: But chill with the wine. No need to get shitfaced before meeting him.
ME: Are you WATCHING me?
SARA: Nope just got the BFF ESP. You still nervous?
ME: You know it.
SARA: Don’t be. You’ll be fine
SARA: And if not you know who to call to save you. I can be there in 20 min with crazy eyes and pepper spray.
I giggled, sending a reply before tossing my phone aside and busting out the fancy makeup bag full of good stuff I never used. Admittedly, I went the safe route and blended lip liner instead of using full-blown lipstick but I did lose the bra, so in that department I made Sara proud. Of course, I probably canceled it out by chugging another glass of wine before throwing on my coat and waltzing out the door.
I was surprisingly calm upon running into Lukas on the stairs.
“Lia,” he breathed out in surprise. I smiled, halfway down the steps as he stood frozen at the foot of them, eyes wide and gazing up at me. There was something delightful about the stunned look on his face. It made him feel for once unguarded – stripped of the usual swagger. And that in turn made me feel powerful.
Either that, or I was drunk.
“Hi,” I said, slowing my step down the stairs. I held onto the rail as I watched his blue-green eyes lock tight on my ankles then travel up my bare legs, stopping at the hem of my skirt. When I held my coat shut to hide my dress, he looked back up at me and shook his head.
“What are you trying to do to me right now?”
“Get past you so I can leave.”
Lukas watched me come down the stairs, walking backward with me to the door. “Let me take you on this date,” he said.
“No.”
“Why not?”