Page 33 of Unexpected Adventures

“Next is lunch and shopping. I’m starving! Did you have anything to eat before we left?My omelet didn’t last long.”

I chuckle. “No, I didn’t, and yes, I’m hungry too.”

“We’ll eat, then pick up a new outfit, then get our hair done.” When I look almost distressed, she adds, “Yep, I’m running you through the gamut today, missy.”

“I may not have enough energy for my date with Shaun tonight,” I half-heartedly complain.

“Sure you will. I’ll have you so jazzed about it, you’ll hardly contain yourself.”

“Uh, huh.”

So off we go…into the wild, blue yonder…kidding. We set out in search of food and clothes. The basic necessities.

After some great noodles, we head out to pick the perfect outfit, and I walk away with new clothes, right down to the intimate apparel. I’m wearing denim shorts—which are a little too short for me—but Denise said they show off my stunning legs. Who am I to argue with that kind of logic? I have on a heather grey tank under a plaid shirt of bright blues and pinks. And under all that is a new set of satin underwear and bra—she insisted on another push-up one. More maximizing of my assets. And although a new pair of Asics is enticing, I don’t really need them, so I continue to wear the pair of sneakers I borrowed from Sherri’s.

So, I guess I’m ready for my adventure with Shaun.

Lord, help me. Better yet, maybe I should be saying, Lord helphim, because I sure want it to be a great evening and not make a fool of myself and I don’t want it to end with him resorting to taking another cold shower, but I still don’t know if I’m ready to go all the way with him.

“Abby!Come up for air,” Denise says.

“Oh my God, did I just say all that out loud? Denise, I don’t know if I can do this.”

She takes ahold of my shoulders and looks me squarely in the eye. Because you can’t focus on both eyes at once, so you pretty much go back and forth from one to another, which seems kind of weird, but what else can you do?

“You have got to get ahold of yourself.”

“But you have ahold of me.”

“Just stop. Stop with the comic relief. Stop with the blithering rambling.”

“I’m not…”

“Yes, you are. You have so much more confidence than this. You’re twenty-eight, for God’s sake!”

“All right, enough with the age factor. Just because I’m older…”

“Doesn’t make you wiser,” she finishes saucily. “Obviously.” As she watches me pout, she gives me a gentle squeeze. “Abby, stop freaking out. Quite frankly, it’s annoying and I’m so over it.” She drops her hands and crosses her arms under her breasts while cocking one hip out.

“Fine.” I try to mimic her stance but while she makes it look sexy, I just look like a petulant child.

“Fine. Now, you’re going to gather your inner strength and get ready to take the plunge.”

“Fine.” I stand up straight, close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I hear her encouraging words to keep going. So I take a few more breaths, slowly exhaling, trying to release doubt and fear. A calmness settles over me, and as I open my eyes, all I see is my sister’s beautiful face filled with hope for me.

“Thank you, Denise.” I embrace her, letting her know how much I love her.

“I love you, too. Time to go. One more stop and then we’ll head back to Sherri’s.”

She takes me to her stylist who has a field day with my hair. After placing golden highlights in my brown hair—creamy chocolate, he says—he thins it out and snips, and doesn’t allow me to see a thing until he’s done. When he turns me around to the mirror, I barely recognize the girl in the reflection. After drying and adding a little wave with an iron, my hair frames my face beautifully, if I do say so myself. Where it once fell below my shoulder blades, he trimmed it up so that it falls just past my shoulders. Layers give it more lift, and a slice of bangs slant across my forehead.

“I can see she’s stunned,” Franco, the stylist, says.

“Abby, you look amazing,” Denise says, almost reverently.

“I really do.” I laugh. “Franco,youare amazing.”

“I know, darling. Thank you.” He gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “It helps to have a remarkable canvas to start with. Whatever you’re doing tonight, whomever you’re doing it with, he’s going to be under your spell. You really are quite stunning.”

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