“Something tells me that’s an ass kicking I wouldn’t mind getting.” He chuckled, and shot me a wink before standing and heading toward the bunk room.
I pulled out my phone.
Me:Do you have plans next Saturday?
My phone buzzed less than a minute later.
Darcy:I don’t know, why?
Me:Want to go to a company party with me?
Darcy:Oooh, that’s tough. You see, I was planning on eating a whole thing of ice cream to the face while watchingHomeward Bound…
Me:What if we do that together after?
Darcy:Do I have to dress up?
Me:In theory, but if you want to wear sweatpants I’ll wear them too.
Darcy:You’d do that for me?
Me:Yes.
Darcy:Fine, but we’re getting two flavors of ice cream and I get to pick both.
Me:If we get three, do I get to pick out the third?
Darcy:No.
Darcy:Ice cream selection is firmly in my jurisdiction.
Me:Hahaha okay. Fair enough.
Me:So, you’ll go with me?
Darcy:It’s a date.
TWENTY FOUR
DARCY
Emerald green satin hugged my curves all the way down to where the hem dusted over my high-heeled toes, the delicate sleeves hanging loosely around my biceps. I stuck my right foot through the modest slit so that I could finish buckling it around my ankle. Wearing red to a firehouse New Year’s party seemed too cliché, and black was the next obvious choice, but I didn’t want to be obvious, so green it was. It also happened to be the only dress in my closet that still had enough stretch around the middle to accommodate the bump, and I desperately didn’t want to spend money on a maternity dress.
I quickly braided my hair, leaving a few strands down to frame my face, and spun the rest of it into a simple updo at the base of my neck. It was my go to hairstyle for formal events because it appeared complicated, but took ten minutes and six bobby pins.
For a solid five minutes, I debated going dramatic with my makeup and doing a smokey eye, or keeping it natural, but when I peeked at the time, the clock decided for me. Natural it was. I applied a light layer of gloss, rubbing it between my lips on my way to the car.
The drive to Archer’s was short, which didn’t give me a whole lot of time to attempt to settle the anxious excitement building within me before I got to his house. When he opened the door wearing a black shirt tucked into black suit pants, his tie hanging unfastened around his neck, I was glad I went with the natural look. Drool would’ve ruined a full face of makeup.
“Damn.” I’d apparently left my vocabulary back in the car. I cleared my throat and tried again. “You look very . . . spiffy.”
His eyes, which had been roaming my body, shot back up to mine, a teasing smirk curving his mouth. “Spiffy?”
I rolled my eyes. “Handsome. Sexy. Great. Delicious. Whatever. You get what I’m saying.”
“I do, but I’d love to hear more words you may have.” His hands moved to his neck, flipping the silky material of his tie around until he had it fastened perfectly without even looking, all while walking into his house.
Following, I closed the door behind me. “Annoying. Arrogant. Cocky.”
