Well?
Bella typed out her reply, then hit send:The Eagle Has Landed, followed by a rocket ship and fireworks emojis.
YES!! Get it girl, so happy for you - I want details when you’re home!
Laughing, Bella put her phone down, so she could pack before it was time to check out. She’d be checking into the hotel near NASA for the rest of the weekend, the one she stayed at when in Houston. It was too early for sleepovers at Jack's when they didn’t know where this was going to end up, if anywhere, especially not when his daughters were home. If things continued on as they were, well, then they would address that when the time came.
Bella took an Uber to her hotel, and sent Jack a text to let him know she was there and checked in. He’d be coming by later to pick her up - they would pick up Sloane and Piper, who had each spent the night at a friend's house - then the plan was to catch a movie, followed by dinner. She kept herself busy answering emails, and texts from the girls - who both wanted to know how the dance went. She sent them a picture from last night of her in her dress and shoes, and got back a fire emoji, which made her laugh.
Well? Was the astronaut there?Angela texted.
Madeline replied with the eyes emoji, to indicate she was watching, waiting for Bella’s answer.
Yes, he was there. And I’m seeing him in a bit - going to the movies and having dinner with him and his daughters.
SLAY. Sending 1437!, Madeline texted.
??
It means ‘I love you forever,’replied Angela.
Oh - same, x
Oh wait - Mom?
Yes?
Can I have those Gucci shoes you were wearing last night?sent Madeline.
Bella texted back: #NO,followed by a crying laughing face emoji.
Bella took a quick shower, did her make up - minimal - lots of mascara and her favorite red lip, put some hot rollers in her hair to give a soft, loose curl, and then got dressed in her favorite low-rise boyfriend jeans, paired with a sapphire cashmere off the shoulder sweater and white Puma Speedcat shoes, along with a black leather jacket for just in case - temperatures were still mild in Houston but that could change in a minute. She added her Omega Speedmaster watch, her diamond stud earrings, a black YSL crossbody bag, and gave a quick spritz of her all - time favorite perfume - Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium - it had been her go - to scent since she was eighteen. She headed down to the lobby just as Jack was pulling in and hopped into the front seat - Piper wasn’t there so she automatically got shotgun - and smiled at Jack.
“Well, Captain, fancy meeting you here!” Jack leaned over to give her a kiss, which quickly became considerably longer than either of them had planned.
“Mmm, yes, I found myself in the neighborhood,” he grinned. “Shall we?”
Jack pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the first stop - picking up Sloane.
Pulling into the driveway fifteen minutes later, Jack got out of the car, walked to the front door, and knocked. A few minutes later the door opened to reveal a blonde woman giving Jack a smile that was, to Bella's eye, entirely too warm.Oh, that’s how this is.
Sloane came to the door with her bag, saw Bella in the front seat, and yelled out “Bella” then ran to the car. Bella stepped out of the car to give Sloane a hug and caught the exact moment the smile on the woman in the doorway died — followed by a long, cool look at Jack. Jack thanked the woman for having Sloane, then returned to the car to head to the next house to pick up Piper, where the scene was repeated, only this time the woman at the door was a redhead — and the smile was just as warm.
Driving towards the theater, the girls immediately demanded to see pictures of Bella's dress from the night before. They both declared she looked fabulous and needed to know about those shoes.
“Girls, did everything go okay last night? Did you both behave?”
“Of course, Dad, why do you ask?” said Piper.
“Well, neither Heather's nor Katie's mom looked particularly thrilled when I picked you up, so I wasn’t sure.”
Both girls laughed, with Sloane replying, “Dad. They are bothsodown bad for you and you just hit them with the 'nice to see you’ - RIP their dignity.”
“Huh?”
“Yes, Dad — both those moms have been dying for you to ask them out for, like, ages. Who knew you had so much rizz?”
“Oh. I didn’t know. Well, I’m not interested in either of them” he said.
