Page 32 of The Seven Month Itch
I unmute. “Yeah. You know, you have some pretty good instincts for someone who hates relationships.” I take a bite of my strawberry cheesecake and let the flavors dance across my tongue.
“I’m not sure I’d know how to be in a relationship if I tried.” Her voice is quiet.
Um, what? That’s a first.
“Maybe we should switch places. I’ll try to be more comfortable dating, and you’ll settle down with someone.” Dead silence. Water sloshes when I sit up. “Em, you okay?” Seriously, what is going on with her?
“Never better,” she says dryly. “Are you ready to get out? I’m a prune, and it’s not a good look.”
We meet in the common area fifteen minutes later, both in robes with hot chocolate. It’s like we’re back in high school, only I’m not crying over Jared Franklin for asking Emily Johnson to the dance instead of me. This state of grief holding me captive to recycled thoughts is courtesy of my husband, a man I bet is en route to Madison’s room for a nightcap.
I shift on the couch to put my feet underneath me. “So, what’s on the agenda tomorrow?”
“Speed dating. Go figure, right?”
I snort. “I guess there’s no better way to deal with the reality of a divorce than with a bunch of single people.”
She reaches over to give my hand a squeeze. “Let’s skip it. We’ll stay in or go somewhere else. There’s no need to put yourself through that.”
I squeeze back and shake my head. “Nope,” I say with a sigh. “I’m not leaving this retreat early. I need to get used to Terrence with other women…even if one of them is Madison.” My eyes close to channel an inner strength that has yet to manifest. Am I okay right now? No, but I will be. I turn to Emma. “What do you say we stay up and watchGirlfriendsreruns? We can sleep in.”
She puts a manicured nail under her chin like she actually needs to think about it. “I say order the drinks, Joan.”
My smile widens. “Get the TV ready, Toni.”
Chapter 16
Justice
5:35 p.m.
Not a minute has passed since my third glance at the clock. Time is at a standstill. It’s now or never.
I take a deep breath and look at myself in the bathroom mirror.This is speed dating, Justice. Not an arranged marriage.Horror stories from Lifetime movies do laps in my mind. Call me foolish, but they don’t say “based on real events” for nothing. I don’t need a stalker, a man after money I don’t have, or a kidnapper tying me up in the woods.
The questions doing backflips in my mind won’t let up, but only one makes my palms sweat.What if the only person I match with is Terrence, and he wants Madison?I close my eyes to push down the thought. With a clutch in my hand, my determination wills me to the door…right before panic forces a detour to the kitchen for liquid courage.
“Oh no you don’t.” Emma swoops in to peel the bottle from my hands. Vodka wasn’t my first choice, but you work with what you have. “I need you alert, so you don’t end up with some guy with halitosis and enough body hair to start a forest fire.”
“You’re right. This is no big deal.” I hear the words come out of my mouth, but my heart still beats like I’m in cardiac arrest. This is my first time back on the dating scene since Terrence, and I’m scared.
My last first date was my freshman year in college, when he took me out for a movie and pizza at the mall. To get me to agree to go, he promised to pull out all the stops, and I couldn’t stop laughing when he handed me a ticket forThe Break-Up, of all films. Em just about died when she found out how cheap our first date was, but it was perfect. Terrence knew I was hesitant to be with a college football player, one three years older and with a colorful reputation at that. He kept our initial outings casual, so I would be comfortable, and he took the time to show how much he cared.
Now, I don’t know what the heck to expect.
“Justice, look at me.” Emma puts a hand on my shoulders. “I know this is out of your comfort zone, sweetheart, but it will be good for you. Just take a deep breath and try to have fun. That’s all that’s expected of you.”
My exhale is slow, to ease the air that constricts my lungs. She’s right. I need to loosen up. I can do that.
How come I’m not doing that?
You need to breathe first.
Right.
She grabs her purse and takes a final glance at herself in the mirror. Emma is stunning in her signature little black dress. It has a very noticeable piece of fabric missing from under the side of her right breast to the top of her belly. If looks could kill, whoever pissed her off yesterday is a dead man walking.
My look is business casual with a sexy twist. I have on a black blazer, but instead of a blouse, I opted for lacy black shapewear that looks like a bra. The peach of a backside I inherited from my mama is on full display in black ankle pants that lead to a strappy pair of heels. My hair is in an updo to accentuate my neck.
