I smooth my hands over my hair, which is straightened with the ends curled. I spent far too long on my hair and makeup, and now I’m stuck on my outfit. This always happens to me.
Maybe a sweater set would be best? Cute and comfortable? Havoc doesn’t seem like a black-tie kind of guy.
“Okay, what about this?” I ask. I picked a light pink off-the-shoulder sweater with matching wide-legged pants. “Is it too comfortable?” I ask, adding some jewelry to make the outfit fancier. Sliding my hair up into a carefully messy clip, I pull strands out to frame my face.
“How about now?” I repeat. I’m so in my head, I don’t even know if they answered me or not.
“If he’s your scent match, I’m sure he won’t care what you’re wearing; he’ll probably be more concerned with how to take it off you.” Ollie winks, and I turn back towards the mirror so she can’t see my hopeful smile. There’s nothing I can do about my scent perfuming the air, though.
I try not to take scent blockers outside the store, since they aren’t the safest to ingest at such high quantities. Given how much I consume from being in thestore day in and day out, I’m not sure my organs can take another hit.
“Girl, you need to play the game,” Luke says as he arches a brow.
“The game?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah, you need somethingwayskimpier. Warm, but skimpier. Something that screams ‘Baby, I’m cold. Come light my fire,” he hums, and Ollie swats him on the arm.
“Ignore him,” she says flatly. “Why don’t you go for ‘hot and cold’? Hot enough that everyone’s going to be panting over you, but cold enough that you can score a thick jacket for your nest?” Oh my goodness, that’s genius.
“How many scent mates do you have again?” I ask, laughing as I throw the sweater off and go back to my closet.
“Too many,” Ollie laughs as Luke rolls his eyes. Luke hasn’t found his Pack yet. If he even wanted one.
So now I’m back at square one. I look at the temperature on my phone. Going back and forth, I eye the mini skirt calling to me. I—it should be okay.
I’ll be fine. Tights and a miniskirt are always a win.
I throw on my warmest tights and the skirt despite Ollie’s raised eyebrows. “I feel it in my gut. I should wear this.”
But that’s as far as my gut takes me. Now I need a shirt. But what shirt?
My mind whirls with the possibilities. What if he doesn’t like my outfit?
“Luke, pick a shirt for me, please,” I say, trying to hide the panic in my voice with an attempted smile. He nods, trying to get up, but Ollie and I stop him. Both his legs are in casts, for goodness' sake.
“Let me grab all my shirts,” I say, turning to my closet and taking out every shirt that I own.
This isn’t the first, nor the last time, I will ask Luke to pick out my outfits.
He knows his stuff.
“Oh, I hope you’re ready for the door you just opened!” he cackles as he digs through the pile of every top I own.
I step back at the whirlwind of fabrics flying in my room. Watching as Luke chatters to himself.
Ollie glowers at her twin and puts her arm around my shoulder. “We’ll clear it all up when you’re gone. Promise.”
He pulls out a long-sleeve shirt. And throws it at me. I scramble it on, thankful I have him to help me.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
“Alright, girlfriend.” Ollie purrs as she and Luke stand side-by-side, giving me once-overs. “Go get your hunk of a mate and get that man a phone while you’re out tonight.” Ollie winks as she and Luke leave my house with good luck and hugs. Once the door shuts behind her, I tingle with nerves.
I smellhim before I see him. I’ve been waiting for the warm smell of white chocolate to reach my nose again.
His eyes meet mine, and I swear I melt a bit. “Hi,” I whisper as he gets closer.
“Noa, you look beautiful.” His words make me silently thank Ollie and Luke again as his eyes rake over me.
