Mia felt like a glass of wine and… dessert… with Jack was the perfect way to close out a Monday. She might even leave at five o’clock like a normal person. She grinned as she looked out her window at the Esperance River. Feeling like her life had taken a drastic turn over the last few weeks, she remembered how she used to have trouble adjusting to change. Now, her life was an unexpected whirlwind, and she couldn’t say she minded one bit.
* * *
Mia took her sweet time getting ready for her date with Jack. He only lived a ten-minute drive away, so she had a long, hot shower, before sliding lotion in soft circles over her body. She took extra care with her hair and make-up, letting her red curls hang loose and darkening her eyeshadow. She smiled to herself in the mirror. There was a loved-up glow on her cheeks, and her eyes were extra bright as well.
She’d packed a little overnight bag of clothes for the office tomorrow, just in case, but had already decided to leave it in the trunk of her car. She still hadn’t decided if staying the night was a good idea.
She went into the lounge room where Emilia was sitting, flipping through a magazine. Her mood had been off all day, but Mia hadn’t had time to take it up with her.
“How do I look?” She asked her cousin, who looked her up and down before nodding, obviously satisfied.
“You look amazing,” Emilia smiled slightly, but there was something hidden behind her eyes that Mia had only very rarely seen since they were children.
“You okay, Em?”
“Yeah, sure,” her voice was about an octave higher than usual. “Why do you ask?”
“Yeah, sure,” Mia copied her and sat down on the couch. “I can cancel if you want.”
“Fuck off, no way. You’re not cancelling on Hot Jack just cause I’m in a funk.”
“A funk?”
“You know I’m going to bounce back by tomorrow.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am.” Emilia reached over and kissed her warmly on the cheek. “Now go have hot sex.”
Mia laughed and got up, picking up her overnight bag and heading towards the car.