Adrenaline

“Wow. I was happy if I just got a happy birthday!” I said as we headed upstairs.

Autumn sighed. “I know. It’s terrible how spoiled she is, but damn it’s fun!”

Three hours later I was putting the last bobby pin in my brown hair. I decided to put it up in a French twist with a few curls hanging down to frame my face. Leaning in closer to the mirror, I took in my features. My green eyes were filled with something I’d never seen before.

Hope.

At almost twenty-six years old, I never paid attention to what my eyes said. Elizabeth always said your eyes were the window to your soul. For so many years I saw nothing in my eyes, so eventually I stopped looking.

The knock on my bedroom door caused me to jump before making my way over to it. When I opened it, I glanced down to see bright blue eyes staring up at me with a gaped open mouth.

“You’re so pretty,” Sophie whispered in awe.

I bent down and placed my hands on her shoulders. “Not as pretty as you, though.” My finger curled around her black curl. Every time I looked at Sophie I imagined what Malcolm’s little girl would look like. Would it be too much of a dream to imagine children together?

Tears threatened as I pushed the thought away.

“Thank you, Paislie. I’m in charge of bringing you your party dress for the ball!”

The thrill of tonight’s adventures was heard in her sweet little voice. “Would you like to help me put it on?”

“Oh yes!” Sophie said skipping into my room and jumping up on the bed.

I hung up the red Versace gown and took a step back. The dress was gorgeous. I’d never worn anything so beautiful . . . or expensive. The dress hugged my figure with the tight bodice, but the flowing dress added a soft touch. The open back was just the right touch of sexy, but not too much. I thought it was too much, but Autumn reminded me the ball was more for the grownups so I went with it.

Opening my robe, I pushed it off my shoulders and heard Sophie gasp. Peeking over my shoulder, I winked. I totally forgot she was there.

Shit.

“Paislie! Where are your panties and what is that?”

Sophie pointed to the new garter belt I had bought the other day. Oh dear. It looked like I was about to give Sophie her first lesson in lingerie.

“Well, that is called a garter belt. It’s used to hold up my stockings.”

Her eyes roamed over my body and I felt slightly awkward. “Does your mommy not get dressed in front of you?”

The mesmerized face stared at me as she whispered a faint, “No, ma’am.”

“How come your panties are not all there?”

Shit. How did I explain that one?

“They are. They are more of a big girl’s panties.”

“I’m a big girl. When I can wear them?”

Hmm . . . what would Autumn say?

Chewing on my cheek, I said, “When you turn twenty-one.”

Sophie jumped. “Yay!!!”

Clearly she couldn’t understand how far off that was.

“What’s that called?”

She pointed to the black bra I was wearing. “It’s called a bra. It’s not a normal bra, it’s made special for dresses and shirts with no backs on them.”