As he leaned in for another kiss, she had to consider maybe she was crazy. Crazy about Blake.
“Okay, how do I look? Better than last time?”
Carli glanced at her roommate, hoping for an affirmative answer.
Mercedes grinned. “Smoking hot. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
“I’m not sure I want his hands all over me in a public place. He said we were going to a fancy restaurant on the top floor of some building in Boston.”
“Then, he’ll need to exert some epic control with you in that dress.”
It had killed her, but she’d spent a good chunk of her paycheck on this dress, hoping it would make her feel better about being out with Blake. It was what was expected of a girlfriend, she would assume, even though he’d never said it. Eating ramen noodles for a few months wouldn’t hurt her.
“Is it silly that it’s sleeveless in December?”
“Mine is sleeveless, too. I’m taking an Uber to my party and back. Not much walking outside.”
“Yeah, but you have that gorgeous tanned glowing skin. I’m all pasty white.” Holding out her arms, she frowned.
Mercedes shook her head, then smoothed down the sides of her clingy red dress. “Honey, Blake likes you the way you are. Pasty white skin and all. Besides, that color looks wonderful on you.”
“Thanks.” The emerald-green satin did bring out the color in her eyes. She planned to add a bit extra to her lids tonight, and she’d better get cracking if she wanted to be ready on time. He was supposed to pick her up in less than an hour.
She took her CIs, which were charging on her bureau, and got them on and adjusted. Her phone sat next to the charger, and the light blinked. Hopefully, Blake wasn’t showing up early. Picking up the device, she swiped the screen. A text from him.
—Carli, I’m so sorry. I have an emergency with one of my patients. Have to cancel tonight. I know it’s last minute, and I promise to make it up to you. I hate to do this by text, but I wasn’t sure how you did on the phone. Please, let me know that you got this message. I’m so sorry!—
Poo! She’d gotten this fabulous dress and everything.
The floor shook, and she looked over to where Mercedes had stomped her foot. “What’s wrong?”
“I just wasted a few hundred bucks.” She glanced down at her phone, knowing she needed to reply to him.
In less than a second, her friend stood in front of her, eyes concerned. “Tell me.”
Lifting her phone, she sniffed, not even realizing tears had come to her eyes. “Blake canceled.”
“What? Why?”
“Emergency with a patient.”
“Isn’t there supposed to be a doctor on call? The bum can’t cancel at the last minute like this.”
“That’s just Blake. He’s a good doctor who really cares about his patients. I’m not mad at him. It totally sucks, though. Now, I have nowhere to go looking as hot as I do.” She dredged up a smile from deep down, so she wouldn’t burst out crying.
“Sure, you do. You’ll come with me and my friends. You know most of them already.”
“You’re going to Anton’s, right? It’s right around the corner from the hospital. I’ll feel like I’m at work.”
“Since when do you go to a bar and grill during work? And in that slinky dress?”
Carli shrugged. “I don’t. I hate to be a fifth wheel, though.”
“Honey.” Mercedes reeled her in for a hug. “We’ve got a whole group going, guys and girls. You’ll simply be another of the gang. I promise you’ll have a great time. Maybe not as good as if you went with Blake but still fun.”
“I need to let him know I got his message. He texted me a half hour ago, but I must have been getting dressed.”
“You should send him a picture of you in that dress, so he’ll know what he’s missing out on.” Mercedes grinned and reached for her phone.
