I sigh, stopping my attempts to grab it. “Fine.” I thrust out my hand to grab the outfit from her, and shoo both her and Tiff from my room while I change. Once I finagle the buttons closed at the crotch and slide it up and over my hips and shoulders, I pull the shorts up, buttoning them over my belly button.
When I look at myself in the mirror, my first instinct is to start picking out the things I hate about the outfit. It’s too tight, you can see every roll in my stomach and back, my fupa is outlined in the shorts, you can see the cellulite on my thighs, but then I stop.
Instead, I try to do what I’ve been working on in therapy. I admire myself. I look great in purple, it brings out the blue in my eyes. The shorts fit me perfectly, and even make it look like I have a little bit of an ass, something that usually is flat. My cleavage looks great too, the scoop neck offering a hint more than normal, but I’m not mad about it.
I rest my hands on my hips and take a deep breath. Yes, I like this. Especially if I throw on my white high-top Chucks. It’s a basic outfit, nothing fancy, but it’s comfortable and cute, exactly what I need for tonight.
I open the door, and Julia and Tiff stand there waiting. They both smile when they see me, but Tiff is the first to speak. “Yeah, you’re wearing that.”
“Agreed,” Julia states.
I let out a sigh, and nod. “I like it.”
“Now, you just need a little mascara to make your lashes pop, and you’re perfect,” Tiff says, heading into the bathroom. “No need for more. We can’t hide your freckles.”
I smile, the good kind of butterflies flutteringin my stomach as I think about how Thomas has called me “freckles” more than once now.
“No, we can’t,” I agree. I’m still terrified for tonight, but a good outfit and having my sister and her wife being my hype women helps.
11
THOMAS
Fuck, I’m excited for tonight.
I roll the lint roller over my light blue cotton shirt and khaki shorts, silently cursing my dog for shedding as much as he does. I swear, I could brush him four times a day, and he’d still shed enough fur to make a whole other dog. I have on my favorite pair of Spider-Man underwear in preparation. Gotta have all the luck I can get tonight.
I look back to where Arson is lying in his dog bed, saying a quick goodbye before I’m out the door.
On the drive over, I think about tonight. Sure, it’s probably not a true first date even though I’d like it to be, but it’s a start. I can tell that Hannah is a bit skittish, but I want to show her that I’m nothing to be afraid of. I want to be there for her.
I send her a text letting her know that I’m on my way, even though it's a less than five-minute drive to my brother Jason's brewery, where the street dance is being hosted on Main Street.
When I find a parking spot and climb out, I’m greeted by the sight of Marley and Beau getting out of their vehicleas well. They cross the street toward me, holding hands. “Hey guys,” I say, leaning in to offer them each a half hug.
“Hey you,” Marley responds. “Excited for tonight?”
I don’t hold back the immediate grin that slides onto my face. “Yep. I think this could be good.”
Marley squeezes my arm. “I think so too. I’m excited to spend some time with her, get to know her. Though, we won’t impede on you getting to know her. That’s the priority.”
“Thanks, Mar.” Marley is the best little sister. I mean, she’s technically not my real sister per se, but before she and Beau finally became more than best friends and got pregnant with the twins, she grew up next door to us, and has always been around. Andrew, Jason and I have always called her our sister, but Beau never did. It makes sense why, though. He’s been in love with her since the start. Now, they get to have their happy ending.
“Jason and Fallon are coming, right?” I ask, pulling my phone out to check if I have any missed messages from them. “The grandparents are watching all the kids tonight?”
“Yep. When we dropped the twins off at your mom and dad’s, Presley and Lennie were already there, dressed in their princess gowns,” Marley says. “It was adorable. They had little tiaras ready for Ariel, and even grabbed one for Arlo when he wanted to join. The babies didn’t even care that we were leaving.”
“Well, that’s fucking adorable,” I say as we slowly approach the barricaded area on the street outside of the brewery where the band will be and the dance is held. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Jason and Fallon sitting with Josie and Andrew at one of the patio tables. Thankfully, it’s big enough for our group plus Hannah and her sisters when she arrives. Raising my hand to wave,I head that way while Marley and Beau get drinks from the bar.
My eyes scan the area as it becomes more crowded, searching for her face somewhere in the sea of people.
“Dude, sit down, you’re making me nervous,” Andrew remarks, gesturing to an empty seat beside me.
“I can’t,” I reply. “I want to see when she gets here.” I’m also antsy and feel like I need to move.
“I have never seen you like this before,” Josie says. “It’s cute. She was nervous today too.”
I jerk my eyes from the crowd to Josie, who is sitting with her feet in Andrew’s lap, rubbing her bump.
