“It’s a start,” Gilda said.
“Carry a weapon,” Ingrid advised.
I hung up before they could keep firing away at me. Grabbing the tube of mascara, I spread some across my lashes. Next I applied a nude lipstick and went over it with a clear gloss. Reaching for a pair of royal blue earrings, I slid them on then stepped back to look at myself.
Mom was right, this dress definitely didn’t scream sexy. In fact, it didn’t really scream anything…except boring. But I was okay with boring, I reminded myself. I didn’t even want to go on the dang date.
I shoved my feet into a pair of sandals and strolled into the kitchen. I was about to pour a glass of wine when Jacob knocked on the French doors.
“You look nice,” he said.
I sighed. “I have that date tonight with Roger.” I took in his dress pants and blue button-up shirt with cuffs folded to just below his elbows. “What about you? Big plans tonight?”
He grinned. “You can say that.”
Of course he has plans! Just because he kissed you doesn’t mean anything!
“Well, whatever they are,” I said, “I hope you have a good time.”
“I’m sure I will.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I walked over and poured two glasses of wine and then took down two Aleve. I popped them in my mouth, swallowed them down with a big gulp of wine, and then handed him a glass.
He grinned. “Thanks. I see you’re hurting a little from the game this morning.”
“A little,” I said.
A lot!
We stood, sipping our wine, not really talking. Just taking each other in. I’d have given anything at that moment to be able to read his mind to know what he was thinking when he looked at me.
The doorbell rang, and I set my glass of wine down. “Show time.” Turning, I sauntered to the front door and peeked my head around the tall, narrow window next to my front door. Even though I couldn’t make Roger out, I had a sudden burning in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t want to do this.
The doorbell rang again.
“You gonna get that?” Jacob asked softly.
I stared at him and willed my stomach to stop jumping. It was humiliating to realize I wasn’t nervous because of the date…I was feeling jittery because I wanted to stay home and spend time with him. With a man ten years younger than me!
This time there was a knock on the door, and I turned around to answer. I had to stop this ridiculous behavior. Pretty soon he would pick up on my interest, and I didn’t think I could deal with the humiliation.
“Monica? You okay?”
I nodded.
“You don’t have to do this you know.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “No one but you can say when it’s time.”
And there it was…the simple truth smacking me in the face. I was ready. I was more than ready to start dating again. I just didn’t want to date the person standing on the other side of my door.
When I didn’t say anything, he peered around my shoulder to get a look at Roger from the side window. “This is the guy your mom and the girls picked?” He grinned down at me. “Are they mad at you? Secretly hate you?”
“Stop it,” I hissed.
He laughed. “He’s not what I would have picked for you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him who he’d pick for me, but I refused to go there. I straightened my dress and opened the door.
“Well, there you are. I was beginning to think no one was home.” Roger shoved a bouquet of flowers at me as he gawked at Jacob.
