Page 30 of The Engagement
Momentous.
To my surprise, I find I’m actually… nervous.
“How about a late night swim?” I suggest, hoping for a delay. We packed our swimwear so we could swim in the pool or the lake.
I’ve seen the Olympic sized swimming pool down on the lower level. It’s a veritable playground down there, with the pool, movie theatre, and workout facilities. And Beth told me Shane recently added a playroom that includes an arcade, a trampoline room, and an indoor bike path—mostly geared toward entertaining the kids when they can’t play outside.
Mack glances at the wall clock. “Honey, it’s after ten. Isn’t it a bit late for swimming? We could swim tomorrow after breakfast. Or maybe ride horses? I’m sure Elly would be willing to take us horseback riding.”
“Okay.” My voice cracks.
“Erin?” Mack’s brow furrows. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Nothing’s wrong.” I sit up. “I guess I should get ready for bed then.”
He offers me his hand as I step down onto the stool and then onto the rug. “Hey,” he says. And when I turn to face him, he adds, “Is something bothering you?”
“No.” I laugh lightly, brushing off his question, as I head for the dresser to get the pajamas I packed for tonight. Well,pajamasisn’t exactly an accurate description of what I brought. I did something really stupid, and now I regret it.
While Mack gets undressed, I sneak into the bathroom. I lock the door behind me because I don’t want him walking in on me.
I brush my hair and teeth first, like always. Then I strip off my clothes, down to my panties and bra and stare at my reflection in the huge mirror above the vanity.
Normally, I sleep in one of Mack’s T-shirts, which are huge on me. They practically hang down to my knees. I didn’t want that for my honeymoon, though. I wanted somethingspecial, something really pretty that would make him thinkwow.
A couple of weeks ago, Beth and Sam and I went shopping during a lunch break at work. We ended up in a nearby upscale shopping mall to pick out somethingnicefor my honeymoon. I was feeling a little bit giddy at the time, drunk with excitement, and I let Beth talk me into buying lingerie. It’s a cornflower blue, two-piece set made of satin and lace. Beth assured me the color made my eyes pop.
I lay the set out on the granite bathroom counter—the camisole top and the matching panties. The top is skimpy, and the panties are—well, they’re a cross between bikini underwear and a thong. In other words, there’s not much there. Certainly not enough to cover all of me.
At the time, I thought it was a great idea, but now,oh my God, no. I can’t possibly walk out there wearing this. I can’t face Mack without feeling utterly mortified. But the problem is,I didn’t bring anything else to sleep in. It’s this or ask Mack to hand me one of his T-shirts—and that’ssonot sexyor romantic enough for our first night together as husband and wife.
For a second, I contemplate texting Elly and asking her if she can lend me a nightgown, but immediately I dismiss that idea. That’s just TMI. I can’t tell her I have nothing suitable to wear to bed on my honeymoon.
So, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. It’s my honeymoon night, my brand-new husband is waiting in the bedroom for me, and I have absolutely nothing to wear.
I stand frozen, simply staring at the frilly, see-through garment.
How in the world did I let Beth talk me into this?
I don’t have the confidence she has. Maybe she feels comfortable wearing something like this in front of her husband, but I don’t!
I hear a quiet knock on the bathroom door. “Erin? Is everything all right? Do you need anything?”
Yes, I need pajamas!
Another quiet knock. “Honey?”
I can’t stand here all night waffling. If I don’t answer him, he’s going to pick the lock and come in. “I’ll be right there, Mack! Just a minute.”
I pick up the top of the lingerie and hold it against my body, with my bra still on. Of course you can see the bra through the sheer fabric. It looks stupid. Same with the matching panties. I’d look stupid if I put them on over the top of my regular underwear.
“Erin, please. If something’s wrong, tell me. Let me help.”
I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been hiding in here, but given the growing concern in Mack’s voice, I’m thinking it’s been a while.
My stomach knots, and I feel like I’ve swallowed a bowling ball. “I don’t have anything to wear to bed!”
There’s deafening silence on the other side of the door. Eventually, he says, “Erin,” in that stupid sexy tone of his. The one that says,honey-I-love-you-but-you’re-being-silly.My name is followed by another silent pause. “Just sleep in one of my T-shirts like you always do.”
