“Okay, fine, but you never call me about outfit emergencies, so something major must be happening. Spill.”
I pause, a nervous flutter building in my belly. “Something happened today,” I admit, my voice quiet.
“Oh?” Her voice drips with intrigue. “Did he finally make a move?”
I swallow hard, and my cheeks swell with a pinkish-red color as I remember the feeling of his lips on mine. “We kissed,” I blurt out, not offering any build-up.
At first, there is complete silence, and then Wren’s eyes widen on the screen. “What?!Oh my God, Emma! Details. Now.”
My eyes dart to the time on my phone, knowing I don’t have much time to debrief. I also know that Wren won’t let up unless I tell her everything. I flop onto my bed, clutching a shirt in one hand like a lifeline.
“It wasn’t planned or anything. It just…happened. We were about to hike to scout out a location for his book, and then we started rehashing that tense moment at the library. One thing led to another, and I told him about my mom. And then there was a moment… A moment when he looked at me like he wanted to be my rock. Like I didn’t have to hold onto all this pain by myself. It felt like everything stopped, and then it felt like nothing else existed.”
“Wow, Emma,” Wren whispers. “You told him about your mom? That’s huge.”
“Not everything,” I backtrack. “I just felt like I owed him an explanation for being a jerk the other night.”
“I think it’s more than that. You felt like you could confidein him and that’s not easy for you to do. I should know,” she says with a lighthearted laugh. “So, what happened after that?”
I bite my lip, the memory flooding back and setting my heart racing all over again.
“He kissed me. At first, it was sweet, like I expected. But then it got deeper like he was telling me something he couldn’t say out loud. And for a second, I thought—” I pause, letting the weight of our moment settle over me. “No, I knew I could let him in.”
Wren’s expression eases on the screen, her usual teasing replaced with quiet support. “Em, that’s incredible. I’m so happy for you.”
I sigh, dropping the shirt I’m holding onto my bed. “But it’s not that simple. Afterward, we barely had time to process it before we found this stray, and then we ended up at his dad’s house. Oh. And then we almost talked about it, but his brother interrupted,” I say, recalling the events of the last few hours. It has been a long day.
“Long story short, I don’t know what it means.”
“Yeah, that is tough,” she replies, her own voice trailing off. “But if you ask me, it seems like he’s into you.”
“Even if he is, I’m not sure what I would do. Milo comes first, always. And Henry has his own stuff going on. And there’s the fact that he’s going back to his job at the end of the summer. It still feels too complicated.”
“Easier doesn’t mean better,” Wren corrects me. “You’ve been carrying so much on your own, Em. Maybe it’s time to let someone help you, even if it’s messy. You can’t keep everyone at arm’s length forever.”
Her words hit me where it hurts the most. “I know you’re right,” I mutter, picking at a loose thread on the comforter. “But what if I open that door and he doesn’t want to stay? What if I let him in, and he changes his mind.”
“Or,” Wren counters, her voice steady and sincere, “whatif he doesn’t? What if this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for?”
“Yeah,” I respond quietly. The harsh reality of her statement pokes against my heart. “I’m just frustrated. Now we’re stuck in this weird limbo until we talk. We’re going to this trivia thing tonight like nothing happened.”
Wren smirks. “Oh, I wouldn’t say it’s like nothing happened. Trust me, Henry is going to be thinking about that kiss all night because you’re going to look hot.”
I can’t help but laugh, her infectious energy lifting some of the worry off my chest. “Sure,” I say, not convinced.
“Hell yes, you are,” she answers confidently. “Here’s what I’m thinking. Do you know that black sleeveless bodysuit with the scoop neckline? I think that shows off the perfect amount of cleavage without giving anyone a heart attack. Pair that with some light wash jeans and those high-heeled black boots I let you borrow a few months ago.”
I nod with a determined look and head toward my closet. I throw the doors open and peel away the front layer of clothes hanging in front of me. I find the bodysuit immediately and swallow hard when I notice the price tag is still attached.
I bought the top during my last shopping trip with Wren. She had to beg me to buy it, and I wasn’t surprised she wanted me to wear it tonight. It made my tits look incredible, but that wasn’t what made me insecure.
My body has never been the same after giving birth, and areas that used to be smooth and toned are soft and round. I was prone to covering up with flowy tops and jeans with waistlines that went all the way up to my belly button.Now I know why they call them mom jeans.
I take a deep breath and finally pluck the price tag off. I quickly throw on the outfit Wren recommended, and after a balancing act that could rival an acrobat, I squeeze my curves into the outfit and position myself in front of the mirror.
“You look hooottttt,” Wren screams from my phone.
She’s right. I do look hot. I take my hands and let them explore the curves that slope down like a roller coaster, starting at the bend of my breasts to the swells of my hips. The heels make my butt pop, and the jeans help to hold everything together like a pretty package I didn’t know I was capable of wrapping.
