I just had to keep my head down.
It would get easier.
It had to.
CHAPTER 32
Istood in front of my bathroom mirror, applying the final touches to my makeup. I swiped a dark mauve-red lipstick across my lips and applied a sparkling gloss on top. I’d been using the same shade since high school, Crème Brûlée from NYX.
I’d chosen a little black dress, one of the only dresses I’d brought with me from home. It accentuated my figure and, paired with my four-inch black heels, was one of my favorite outfits. I completed the look with a dainty diamond necklace and earrings that my mother had given me when I graduated high school.
I touched the stones sparkling in the bathroom lighting, thinking about my mom for a moment and the relationship we’d had before everything happened with Dr. Pike and my father.
But my mother would never do anything to go against my father. If he encouraged dental school, she would too. If my father didn’t believe me about something, she wouldn’t either. For a long time, I mourned not only thefact that my father hadn’t stood up for me all those months ago when the incident with Pike occurred, but that my mother hadn’t either.
I sighed and pushed thoughts of my parents aside, not wanting to ruin my night. I’d spent extra time getting ready, curling my hair into loose waves that cascaded over my shoulders. I wasn’t going to ruin the vibe and all the hard work I’d put into my look with thoughts of my parents.
I stepped back to assess myself, feeling a mixture of emotions—a bit of excitement and nervousness. Tonight was my date with Tyler. I was going to watch him play at the local bar.
As I was putting on my heels, my phone buzzed with a text.
Tyler: I’m here.
My eyes widened as realization dawned. I’d forgotten to tell him to come through the garage.
“Oh no, no, no.” I grabbed my clutch and rushed down the stairs two at a time, praying I could intercept Jay before he opened the front door.
But I was too late. By the time I reached the bottom step, I could already hear two male voices drifting in from the entryway.
I rounded the corner and froze.
Tyler stood on the front porch in a crisp button-down and jeans, holding a small bouquet of flowers. Jay, meanwhile, was leaning up against the doorway, arms crossed, looking like a protective father sizing up his daughter’s prom date.
Which was wildly inappropriate, considering he wasnot my father.
“You’ll have her back by a decent hour, won’t you, Tyler?” Jay asked, his tone light enough to pass as teasing, but I was pretty sure he was actually deadly serious.
“Jay,” I warned, coming up beside him. I shot him a sharp look before turning to Tyler and taking the flowers from his hands. “These are beautiful. Wow, thank you, Ty.”
Tyler smiled, blissfully unaware of the tension filling the front entryway. “You look great, Hope. Nice dress. And don’t worry, Dr. Jay. I’ll take good care of her.”
Jay smiled back, still leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. He wore black sweatpants and a fitted long-sleeve shirt that clung to his form in a way that, in my opinion, was more revealing than my neckline.
“Alright,” I said quickly. “We should probably go. Don’t want to be late.”
Tyler nodded and started down the steps. I followed, but I was stopped when Jay’s hand closed gently around my wrist, tugging me back.
My breath caught as I felt him lean in, close enough that I felt the warmth of his breath brushing my ear and bare collarbone.
“Your date needs a dictionary,” he murmured. “You don’t just look great.” There was a brief pause. “You’re thoroughly breathtaking.”
I stilled, my heart pattering like April rain, helpless to stop the flutter in my stomach.
Unable to find words, I gave him one last backward glance, catching the playful gleam in his eye before he released my wrist.
It took the walk to Tyler’s car and the entire drive to the bar to catch my breath again.
And even then.
