“What about this?”Treasure asked as she brought a red lace bra set into Kalliopi’s view.The thing seemed like it wouldn’t even cover her nipples—let alone anything else!—and forget about support.They’d never hold her triple-D girls in.Not to mention, the thong underwear was basically dental floss.Of course, that set didn’t appear to be for anything but nightwear.
“Um, I don’t think…” Kalliopi’s voice trailed as she picked up the price tag before she continued.“I’m not spending $50 on panties that double as dental floss and $100 on a bra that leaves nothing to the imagination.”
Kalliopi walked over to the sale rack at Samantha’s Secret and eyed a cute cotton pajama set from the rack in her size.
“Now this is more my style.”Kalliopi plucked a PJ set that would cover her entire body with large pink flowers on a black satin background.She knew Treasure wouldn’t approve, as Treasure always opined that Kalliopi should dress sexier rather than for comfort.
Kalliopi envied Treasure’s youth.The woman was all about her sexual prowess in her early thirties, and Kalliopi was starting down that roller coaster of hot flashes, comfortable shoes, and very large, loose, and breathable clothing.Tent-style muu-muus and kaftans.She sighed.Sometimes she felt that she and her best friend were leading two very different lives.
“Perhaps wait to show him your comfort side?I’d seriously live a little while you are there.I miss the carefree Kallie.Sensible and serious Kal is great too, but for a split-second last week, when you were around Stan, I had my girlie back, and I really, really miss her.”
Kalliopi sucked in a breath.It had never occurred to her that she was becoming so serious as she aged.She hadn’t meant to always be thinking about adult things like bills, strategic battle plans, and whether she should go out on a date with the most gorgeous man she’d ever met.Yeah, she had to admit it now that she was in the panty section of a lingerie shop.There was no need to deny it anymore.She really liked Stan, and if things were different—as in, if they were on the same side of the ocean—well, maybe she would consider a long-term relationship with the guy.But that just wasn’t the case.She was going to British Columbia to do a job and have a little fun along the way.She couldn’t get attached.A little fun was all they could have.
“Okay, then if I’m going to do this, let’s at least look for something in black.It complements my skin better than red.”
Treasure beamed.
“Sounds like a plan.”
After finding something suitable to Kalliopi’s taste at Samantha’s Secret, they moved on to clothing.It wasn’t Kalliopi’s idea to get a whole new wardrobe for this trip, but she had to admit that she had little to pack beyond yoga pants and loose-fitting tees.Her life was basically her job, and since she reported to her job in her uniform, she lacked a need for fancy dresses, slacks, or blinged-out tops.
“After this, we need to get you some cute shoes and a designer handbag.My treat!”Treasure said with a smile.
“Okay, I get you think I need something fancier than yoga pants for this trip, but I draw the line on cute shoes.I will not, under any circumstances, wear shoes that are going to pinch and leave me with sore spots and swollen ankles from wearing them.”
“I was thinking kitten heels because you are pretty tall to begin with.No sense in towering over your date.”
“I’m definitely not wearing anything that’s going to lead to me breaking a hip.”She reached out to place a hand on her friend’s arm, stopping her from marching ahead to the fancy shoe store.“Treas, let’s not get carried away here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not trying to be something I’m not.Besides, it’s not like we’re really dating.I agreed to just two people going out to grab a beer and some burgers…that’s all.”She ignored the fact that she’d used the word “date” with Stan already.
“Grabbing a beer and burgers is a date, Kalliopi, especially to Stan.”
Busted.
“I just mean that I don’t want to think about it as dating.That implies there could be more, and I have no intention of making it anything other than something casual over the holidays.”
“Some of the best romances start over the holiday season, Kallie.”Treasure beamed while clasping her hands and holding them against her heart.“And we have this feeling about you and Stan.”
“Hey, I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, but— Wait.Just what exactly are you implying?That you, Richard, and probably Teo are trying to set me and Stan up?”Kallie groaned at the idea of her colleagues and their partners conspiring about her love life.“Well, it won’t work because we live an ocean apart from each other.Also?I think you have to like Christmas to be open to a holiday romance.”
Treasure placed her hands on Kalliopi’s shoulders.“I was against Stan and the rest of the gang trying to set me up with Teo.Harriet and Carol had doubts, too, and look at all of us!We wouldn’t be together if it weren’t for Stan, and?—”
“And all of you hope you can ship him and me together and that we’ll get a ‘happily ever after ending,’ like you all?Fat chance of that happening, Treas.Stan and I aren’t like any of you.First off, we are older, and we already had our ‘as good as it gets endings.’Also?Nothing good ever comes from a relationship that starts over the holidays.The one-who-shall-remain-nameless was a blind date for New Year’s.My neighbor set me up, and we all know how that ended.”
“There is always room for another love affair in your life, Kalliopi, even if it happens around Christmas.”
“Not at my age.At my age, we stick to moments because that’s all there is.And Christmas?Really?Do you still buy into Santa granting you your every wish?Well, I sure don’t.”Kalliopi shook her head and took a deep breath.She didn’t want to fight with her friend.She knew Treasure had good intentions, even if they were misguided.“Hey, can we just change the subject?I don’t want to think about how depressed I’m going to be when I get back here.Everything I hate about the holidays will wait for me come January, and I’m not looking forward to the grieving-fest.”
Treasure beamed again, which made Kalliopi a little uneasy.Anytime Treasure did that, it meant she was hatching a plan, and for a turtle shifter, that meant it was something big.
“So, you admit that you’re looking forward to having a little fun while you are there?”
“I won’t admit to anything right now, except that I’m maybe looking forward to not having time to eat gallons of ice cream while binge-watching superhero movies alone.”
“I remember that you and Karyme used to do that every Christmas Eve,” Treasure murmured as she rubbed Kalliopi’s shoulder.“Now, enough with the heavy.This trip is supposed to be fun, right?So, let’s find a great LBD for you.”
