In my peripheral, I catch the mess of tangled strands. “I went for a run this morning and then spent the rest of the day at home.”
“Valid.” Nora takes a sip of her coffee, relaxing back on the couch. “Let’s go. Put me on the counter and give me a fashion show or something.”
I make a face, but do as requested, setting her up to view my closet. She waits while I start digging through the mess, my nerves already ramping before I even go on a date with Dom.
Ugh.I flip through some of the clothes on the hangers and pull out a white romper and a black casual short-sleeve dress. I hold them both up and turn to face Nora. “Thoughts?”
She purses her lips. “I don’t know. They’re kind of …basic.”
“Classy,” I correct her. “I’m trying to be classy. He’s an NBA player. I don’t want to dress like a bag of Skittles.”
She snorts, nearly spitting out some of her coffee. “Fine, fine. Try on the black dress first. I think that would look good with a pair of wedge sandals.”
“Deal.” I step out of view of the camera and start changing into it.
“Have you mentioned your apartment complex idea to Dad yet?”
“Not yet. He’s got his own stuff going on, and I doubt he’ll be too excited to go into business with me after my Glow Girl disaster.”
“Maybe you should consider reaching out to other investors?” Nora’s suggestion comes as I step in front of the camera again, the dress hitting just above my knees.
I smooth out the material. “I know it’s kind of plain, but I could put a nice necklace with it?”
Nora grins. “And brush your hair.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, that’s obviously a given.”
“Nothing is a given with you.”
“Touché.” I let out a sigh, brushing some of my hair out of my face as I slide into the wedge sandals I set aside. “And Ihavethought about other investors, but it just … I don’t know. I have a reputation for failing. I feel like Dad might be my only shot.” I lift my leg so she can see the shoes. “Thoughts?”
Nora smiles, her eyes softening. “Dom is a lucky guy.”
Cocoa comes running into my room—and somehow manages to knock over my laptop. I run my hands over my face as my sister bursts into laughter, and I try to take a deep breath.
Everything is going to be fine. Totally fine.
“Hey.” I swing my apartment door open within thirty seconds of Dom knocking, having already double checked my deep red lipstick.
“Whoa.” He blinks a few times, his gaze dropping slowly over me—lingering just long enough to make my pulse kick. “You lookincredible.”
Heat creeps up my neck, and I try to act like I didn’t spend three hours wrestling my hair and redoing my eyeliner. “Thanks. You look good, too.”Like, really good.I take in his dark jeans, Vans, and the fitted button-down stretched across his broad shoulders. “And you smell like heaven.” I breathe in his musky cologne.
“Shocking, I know.” He rolls his eyes, a crooked smile tugging at his mouth, then offers his arm. His attention flicks to Cocoa, already asleep on his bed. “How did you manage to get him tuckered out?”
“Four miles of running this morning.” I give him a sheepish smile. “It finally worked.”
“Look at you.” Dom chuckles as I step out of my apartment and close the door behind us, punching the lock button. “I think you’re getting the hang of the dog training.”
“I think I am! Plus, the Fur-Ever Homes Forum has tons of great advice.” I laugh, nervously looking up at him as he leads us to the elevator. I have no idea where we’re going, but Nora was on point with the outfit.
It’s like she just knows. It must be a big sister thing.
Dom punches the elevator button with his index finger, and I furrow my brow as I realize it’s theupbutton. Part of me wants to ask, but instead, I decide to just trust the process. Trusting him feels strangely natural.
We ride the elevator up to the penthouse level. When the doors glide open, he steps out, and I’m feeling more and more confused by the minute.
“I have no idea who owns this,” I say as he guides me down the hallway.
