Page 19 of Silas

Nova

Idon’t think that I should do this. Maybe I can fake being sick? Cough, cough. Surely, he wouldn’t force someone who is coming down with something to go back out into the cold? Ugh, I need my bestie.

Dialing Nellie, she answers before the first ring finishes. Sometimes I swear it’s like she knows when I am going to call.

“What’s going on with my beautiful bish?” She giggles into the phone.

“Do you think I can fake being sick and get out of this date with Silas?” I gush out in a puff of breath.

“I mean you could, but what will be your excuse next time he asks? Are you planning to have a never ending illness? Should we say you were diagnosed with like cancer? I mean, how else will you be sick for a long period of time?”

Scoffing, I say, “Don’t be ridiculous. We aren’t going to pretend that I have cancer.”

The phone is silent. I can tell she is giving me that look like I am the one being ridiculous, not her. “Don’t give me the silent treatment, woman.”

Giggles come through the phone, “I am just waiting for you to realize that I am not the one being ridiculous. You just asked to fake being sick, so you didn’t have to go out with the man that fate has literally thrown in your path repeatedly. I don’t even believe in that shit, but even I can say it might be true.”

Sighing, I pinch my pointer finger and thumb together at the bridge of my nose. “I know, I know, but he has been such an asshole to me. I just worry that I signed myself up for an entire dinner where he will have all the opportunities to be an asshole again. Why did I agree to this?”

“Nova, give him a chance. I think you are going to be surprised when you go out with him tonight. Call it intuition, or whatever. But there’s this feeling that everything is about to change foryou. I mean, well, more than it has already with the whole move to Jasper.”

“Fine, I will go, but if this goes awfully, I will be immediately calling you. So be ready for that phone call because it’s likely going to happen. Since I am going to go, what should I wear?”

“Ohhhh, you know your high wasted suede bodycon mini skirt? You should wear that with that black Cable Knit long sleeve sweater. Make sure to tuck it in! Then pair it with the black suede over the knee boots! You could add some gold hoop earrings and soft makeup. with a bold red lip. Boom!”

I pull my phone away from my ear and just look at it. Did she have this answer like primed and ready? That was very specific. “Did you have this answer prepared before I asked?” I giggle.

“Yeah, I pretty much figured that you would ask me at some point what you should wear. So, yes, I had the answer ready to go. Now go get dressed. Don’t forget to curl your hair too. It’s so pretty when you wear it down.”

“Fine, I am going. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Be prepared for a lot of bitching.”

“I doubt I will hear bitching, but I will await your phone call.”

“Alright, love yoouuus.”

“Love youuuss too.”

Hanging up with Nellie, I breathe out a deep breath. Well, let’s get this show on the road. I only have about an hour before he shows up. I will cut it close, but I got this.

An hour later, I am fluffing my hair and doing my final outfit checks. I realize I don’t need a fairy godmother when I have Nellie in my life. This outfit is hella cute and even if this dateis a disaster, at least I look hot as fuck. I hit my hot spots with my perfume oil, especially right behind the ears. I love that this perfume is subtle, with just enough of a scent to smell amazing, but not so much to make someone gag.

I am just touching up the bold red lip when my doorbell rings. It’s time. Blowing out my breath, I shake out my hands to try to release some of the nerves that are bubbling up. Listen, Silas is hot and I haven’t been on a date since I was an undergrad. Grad school doesn’t give a lot of free time for dating. It’s been a hot minute since I was on a date and, of course, the first date I am going on has to be with the hottest asshole in town.

Sliding the dead bolt out of the door frame, I turn the handle, pulling the beautiful cherry wood door open. As the door slides past my face, I am hit with the smell of sage, sea salt, and amber. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of it, feeling as though it calms me down somehow. When my eyes come open again, I find Silas standing there with a beautiful bouquet of red roses and sunflowers. Is that a fuzzy blanket? Why does he have Oreos? Clearing his throat, I bring my eyes lazily up from the bundle of goodies in his arms. His blue and orange plaid button-up shirt is open at the top three buttons. He trimmed his beard, and it glistens with beard oil. He even gelled his hair back. Color me shocked. Looking down, I notice he is also wearing a dark brown pair of khakis with a black belt and black loafers. Alright, how are we matching on our first date? That’s weird right?

He clears his throat again, and I pop my eyes to his. He has a smirk on his face, but his pupils are blown. “Good evening Nova. I brought you some, uh, gifts. May I come in to show them to you before we head to dinner?”

I’m just standing here staring at him because this completely surprised me. His smell, how well he looks, and the gifts. Ohdear, this is off to an interesting start. Don’t fuck him just because he bought you Oreos and a fuzzy blanket. Be strong. We got this.

He clears his throat once again and chuckles softly to himself. “Are you alright?”

Shaking my head slightly, “Yeah, sorry. I just wasn’t expecting gifts, so I am a little thrown off. But come in, let’s put those flowers in water before we head to dinner.” I open the door a little wider, taking a step back, and hold my arm out towards the interior of the house. He dips his head slightly and walks past me. As soon as he comes close to me, his smell wraps around me. Why does it feel as though it’s wrapping around me?

He steps in a little closer to me, “You smell so good I could eat you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

I feel a gush of wetness come out and I am pretty sure I am soaking my thong now. What is happening? I have never reacted to a single man the way my body is reacting to him right now. He leans in and brushes my hair off my shoulder. Before I can process what is happening, he inhales deeply right by the spot I put the perfume oil earlier. He tilts his head towards my ear and growls, “I can smell your arousal, Nova. Be patient, we will remedy that later tonight.” Planting a quick kiss on my cheek before stepping back with a big enough smirk on his face that his dimple pops.

He turns and heads toward my kitchen, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open. I am equally aroused and confused right now. He looks over his shoulder, seeing that I am still standing where he left me, chuckling when he says, “Come on Nova, our dinner reservation is in thirty minutes.” With that,he turns back and continues to my kitchen. I can hear him opening cabinets and then water running.

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