“I’ll stay in touch. I promise.”
“And keep praying for our guys. They still have a long time ahead of them.”
I swallow hard and nod. “I will.”
fourteen
Kiss at Midnight
Istudy my reflection in the mirror. The outfit Michael gave me looks like something that Laini, Jacob’s snobby ex-girlfriend would have worn. Except it’s not all white. I’m not sure I can forgive Michael for that. He guessed my size pretty closely, or maybe Mom helped him. It couldn’t have been Matthew, he’s clueless about women’s clothes.
My hair is up so I can see Jacob’s earrings sparkle when I turn my head. I can’t get rid of the stab of guilt in my chest. I picked up the phone to call Michael and tell him I'd changed my mind, or I was sick, or I had to work late, but I couldn't do it.
I hear a knock, then Michael’s voice comes from the living room.
“Jess, your date is here,” my roommate, Nichole, says. To Michael, she says. "It's about time someone got her to leave the apartment."
The word ‘date’ makes me cringe. It’s not a date; it’s a favor.
“You look stunning,” Michael says when I walk in the room.
“Thanks.” I’m suddenly self-conscious. “And thank you for the outfit. You have great taste.”
Michael makes a face. “I know. It’s a curse.”
I laugh. “What’s wrong with that?’
“I have three older sisters. They taught me more about clothes and fashion than any guy needs to know.”
I laugh again. “Maybe I should get you to go shopping with me. Nichole is convinced I don’t know how to dress myself.”
“I hope I didn’t offend you with the gift. Matt told me that you weren’t sure what to wear. I know that’s a big deal for women. I didn’t want you to worry about being underdressed.” Michael sounds sincere, but as he helps me with my coat, my thoughts go back to my ex-boyfriend, Brad. He always had an opinion about what I should wear.
Michael’s parent’s house is just off campus. It looks like the college buildings around it—red brick exterior, wide front porch, and white balcony over the front door, but it stands out, a notch above everything around it, bigger, somehow more elegant. The lights around the pillars and in the trees, and the decorations and wreath adorning the door all look like they were done by a professional decorator. They probably were.
“You've never lived in this house?” I ask as Michael helps me out of the car.
“No, I grew up in Colorado. Dad took this job after I left for the Army. It’s kind of a compromise. Mom is from Washington, theBellevue area. She wanted Dad to retire here, but he’s not quite ready to stop working. She was hoping for UW, but that didn't pan out. She didn’t want him to take the job at WSU. She thinks it’s cow college, no offense.”
“None taken. Actually, that’s what I like about it. It still kind of has that small college town feel.”
Michael holds my arm as we go up the long sidewalk, past the fountain, and toward the ornate front door. “Did you order this?” I indicate the snow. There’s a couple of inches of snow on the ground, and a few feathery snowflakes are falling against the lights.
“Oh no, that order came from a much higher power than me.”
“And who would that be?”
“My mother, I’m sure God himself would have to answer to her if something wasn’t perfect at this party.” He rolls his eyes. “Silvia has got entertaining down to a science.”
“Silvia is your mom then.” I realize how little I know about Michael and his family.
“Yes, and Ronald is my dad.”
“And you have three sisters, but no brothers, right?”
“Yep. Karen, Kelsey and Kandice are my sisters.”
“Shouldn’t you be named Kory or Kevin or something like that then?”
