Page 62 of Perfect Date
“I don’t know… isn’t it just a bit… sexy?”
That makes me smile, widely. “Yes. Perfect,” I nod knowing the form-fitting red dress does make me look good. It emphasizes both my great butt and chest. A win, win. I haven’t taken it out of my closet in far too long. I had once imagined wearing it on a date with Justin, but that didn’t work out.
Looking back at Kimberly to find her still frowning at me, I sigh, “Who are you and what have you done with the girl that was becoming my best friend?”
“Becoming? I am your best friend, and as your best friend I’m telling you that I know you really like him and I don’t want you to get hurt here. You just need to talk to him and deal with this.”
“I am dealing with this. My way,” I say then spin around and call over my shoulder, “I’ll be back, I need to get my shoes.”
“He called me.”
That stops me in my tracks and I spin around to face her again.
“What did you say?” I ask slowly over enunciating each word.
“He got my number from a friend, I mean, it’s no surprise, it’s a small town. Everyone has everyone’s number. I actually didn’t answer it the first time he called, and the second, because I didn’t recognize the number. Then I got mad when the number kept calling, so I finally answered it and-“
She’s speaking fast because she’s nervous so I interrupt her, “Kimberly!”
“What?” she stops talking immediately.
I stare at her, and she stares at me.
“Seriously?” I finally say. “He’s the reason you’ve had a change of heart?” I ask knowing I’m full-on glaring at her and now it’s me who has the hands on her hips.
“Well… he’s not the only reason,” she hedges.
“What does that mean?”
“It was time for me to get my hair done anyway, okay?”
“Your hair? What are you-“ but then it dawns on me. “The gossip mill. What did you do?”
She holds her hands up, “I didn’t do anything. It’s what they were already talking about.”
“Explain.”
“Apparently Sam was in there a couple days before me getting her hair done. She was talking about how upset she is because Justin ‘has it bad’ for someone else. She said she confronted him about how he feels, because she was holding out hope maybe they’d work things out some day, but he told her that what started out as fake dating for fun, because he was intrigued by you, turned into much more. He told Sam if it was going to be a problem, to find another job, because he’s all in when it comes to you.”
“He said that?”
“That’s the rumor, anyway. So, all I’m asking you to do Charlie, is just hear him out, okay?”
I want to tell her no, but she’s put doubt in my mind. “I don’t know,” I say instead then walk away to get my shoes from my bedroom.
Sliding my feet into my black stilettos, I grab the black clutch I already put a few items into, then go back out to the living room to find Kimberly wringing her hands.
“Just promise me something,” she says when I reappear.
“What?”
“You have to promise,” she insists.
“Not until I hear what it is. Do I look stupid to you?”
“No, you look great,” she sighs as if this is a big problem, “look how about this? If you get the opportunity to talk to Justin, will you just listen to what he has to say?”
“I don’t know.”
