“I know why you did. I think you’re a bit afraid of love.”
I almost choked. “What? Why would you say that?”
“Just a mother’s observation. Maybe seeing me during that rough time scared you. Made you think
that truly loving someone gave them power over your happiness, which is true in some respects. But I will say one thing: if given the chance, I would make the same exact choices. Marry your dad, support his decision to enlist. That it was tough doesn’t mean we weren’t happy, and as a mother, I can only hope you will find that sort of love one day. Actually, not only find it but hold on to it. Fight for it.”
I was speechless for a few seconds, before finally saying, “I missed our talks when I was away.”
“So did I.”
“You have three other kids.”
Mom winked. “Only one Paige.”
We chatted about our plans for the evening until my sisters arrived. Then we unleashed ourselves on the mall.
We started to bicker almost immediately because, as usual, we couldn’t agree on a single thing. This, too, I had missed.
“Wow, it’s weird being out shopping without my kid,” Miranda said. “It’s like I can do everything ten times faster.”
While we stormed the stores, I replayed the conversation with Mom in my mind. Was I afraid to love? I’d never thought about it like that. I’d always had an active dating life and even two longer relationships. I hadn’t been head over heels in love with either of those boyfriends, but I’d supposed that was because they were simply not meant to be for the long term. But Mom gave me food for thought.
“So, give us the dirty details on Will,” Miranda said when Mom disappeared into the first changing room. We were at a respectable distance, but I whispered it all anyway. I couldn’t stop bragging about my hunky detective and his delectable ways. He managed to cheer me up even though my project’s funding wasn’t progressing as well as I’d hoped, which caused me to start every working day with a heavy heart.
I wasn’t sure how he felt, though. He wasn’t a man of many words, and part of me wondered if Will was even doing it consciously, or he simply didn’t know how to open up, let me closer.
Fifteen clothing shops and five shoe shops later, Mom had an outfit. We’d totally knocked it out of the park: a dark green dress that was tailored on her slim torso and flowed in an A-line to her ankles. Golden sandals with thin straps and a tiny matching purse complemented the outfit.
“Anyone up for buying lingerie?” Elsa asked as we left the shoe store.
To my astonishment, Mom blushed and said, “Umm... I’d... I’d like to see what they have. Maybe try something different... for the occasion.”
We all grabbed another smoothie, relaxing our feet for a few minutes before heading into the lingerie shop. It boasted a large selection, even stocking a few items that were on the raunchy end of the spectrum.
“What is that for?” Mom sputtered. “It doesn’t even have a crotch.”
Miranda threw me a panicked glance. Oh, boy. If this conversation continued, I’d need to slip some wine into my smoothie. Or vodka.
We led Mom into the section of the store where every piece of lingerie had a crotch.
Being surrounded by all that lace got me thinking. I’d already spotted a few items that were screaming “Open your wallet. Right now.” I imagined Will’s expression when he saw me in some of them. I wanted something classy, but sexy. I was going to buy something to knock off Will’s socks. Or boxers.
Chapter Nineteen
Paige
I looked at myself in the mirror critically for the millionth time. The lingerie set looked even sexier than it had in the store, and that was saying something. I was definitely going to knock off Will’s socks. It was the first time I’d gotten to wear it since buying it ten days ago. I wanted to impress Will—again.
He’d surprised me by buying tickets to a blockbuster movie I was excited about, and when I asked him how he knew I wanted to see it, he said, “Paige... you talk. A lot. And I have a habit of memorizing every detail.”
Which was why I was working hard to impress him tonight.
To that end, I’d bought a home-spa kit that had cost almost as much as the lingerie, but the model on the package looked so yummy that it practically begged for my credit card.
While I read the instructions, Will rang.
“Hey,” I answered, a little panicked that he might want to meet earlier. I was nowhere near ready.