***
Maggie couldn’t believe how nervous she felt. It was just dinner. Just Reggie, whom she knew and liked. Considered a friend.
Emily had been so excited to sleep at Sherry’s, she hadn’t done more than talk about it all day long. When Maggie dropped her off, she apologized in advance to Dina.
“I hope you don’t mind her so excited. It’s not sugar-related; it’s Sherry-related.”
Dina laughed and waved her away. “I’ll drop her off at one tomorrow, if that’s okay.”
“Okay?I get to sleep in. I love you.”
Smiling, she left, feeling light and bouncy and full of energy.
Now, two hours later, she had the chicken warming in the oven. A side of sweet potato casserole that Doug called her best side dish, a salad, and some fresh green beans from the farmer’s market rounded out the meal. She’d also purchased a nice fresh bread and cooked up a strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
Heck, even if Reggie failed to show, she had a feast she couldn’t wait to eat.
She went back to the bathroom to check her reflection. Clean, conditioned, shiny hair. Check. Great makeup that didn’t look heavily applied. Check. Form-fitting red tank and white shorts—not too short but showing plenty of leg. Check. Toenails and fingernails red to match the shirt. And check.
After fiddling with the gold hoops in her ears that gave her confidence, she went back out and inspected her living room for the fifth time. Everything had been cleaned and freshened to death. She had nice little bouquet of carnations set on the coffee table next to a vanilla-scented candle.
All in all, her apartment looked dynamite. And, on the off chance they did make it back to her bedroom, she’d cleaned up in there as well, adding fresh sheets and a spring mix of daisies on her dresser.
Counting down the minutes to Reggie’s arrival, she paced, clutching her phone.
It beeped and startled her. Calming herself and trying to be less of an idiot, she looked down to see a text from Benny.He there yet?
She chuckled, not sure who was more excited about this date—her or the guys.
At least they hadn’t stuck around, out on their own date while she, hopefully, had hers.
Not yet. Go have fun.
He sent back a sighing emoji and a zombie.
Zombie?she texted.
B safe or this could hapn 2 u.
How lovely. A zombie to remind her to use protection. She rolled her eyes. Then sent him a rolling eye emoji.
The doorbell buzzed, and she jumped again and laughed at herself. A little hysterically. To say she was wound up for her date was understating it.
She sent Benny a quick text.He’s here!
Benny sent her a four-leaf clover and two zombies in love.
Amused, she put her phone in her back pocket and went to the peephole. She looked and saw Reggie standing there.
Here goes nothing.
She opened the door with a smile that widened as she looked him over, conscious of him doing the same.
Just…wow. Reggie wore a pair of khaki shorts that reached mid-thigh. And holy hotness, the man had killer legs. Muscular thighs and calves, his feet tucked into canvas slip-ons. The lime-green, short-sleeve polo he wore emphasized the breadth of his chest and width of his biceps.
She had to work to process normal functions and forced herself to blink. Remembering her manners, she stepped back and asked him to come in.
He did and handed her a bouquet of flowers she hadn’t noticed, too busy ogling the man.
