Page 32 of Every Now and Then
“Yeah, and I told him I hate country music. I’ll look like a poser trying to impress him,” I huff. “Besides, I don’t even like my cowboy boots.”
“Then why do you keep them?” Laura asks, hands on her hips.
My voice drops as the words slip out, “Because Kyle gave them to me.” No matter how hard I work to put the past to rest, it still pops up, demanding my attention.
I have a serious love/hate relationship with the gifts Kyle gave me. Part of me wants to keep everything so I can remember the good times and pass on the important, sentimental items to the girls when they get older. But some gifts from Kyle cause me more pain than they’re worth.
Like the boots.
The night Kyle gave me the boots, we were headed to a work dinner for a new artist he’d signed. I was dressed and ready when he rushed in late, grinning, handing me a big gift box like he couldn’t wait to see my reaction. With their brown leather and delicate embroidery, the boots were beautiful, but not my style. I’m a city girl. I had no business owning, much less wearing, cowboy boots. And I was disappointed that my husband didn't know that about me.
Still, I thanked him and pretended to love them, telling myself it was the thought that counted. But when I hugged him, I caught a faint trace of a spicy and unfamiliar fragrance, so unlike my usual vanilla and cherry scented perfumes.
That was the first inkling I had that Kyle might be having an affair. But as unsettled as I felt, I denied the possibility. It seemedunfathomable that Kyle was capable of that level of deception. Little did I know.
But now, every time I see those damn boots in my closet, I’m reminded of that moment.
Why the hell did I bring the boots?Maybe it was my subconscious way of reminding myself what can happen when you let someone in and trust them implicitly. Perhaps it’s a fucked-up form of self-protection.
“Alright, you win. I’ll relent since you played the Kyle card,” Laura teases, lightening the mood. “You can wear your snakeskin heels instead of the boots, as long as you trade your jeans for high-waisted black trousers. They’ll look great with that cropped sweater.”
“Jeez, you can’t just let me win, can you?” But I don’t hate the idea of pairing the pants with the heels, so I agree. “Done.”
She grins, victorious. “Where are you meeting Josh again?”
“Some new bar I’ve never heard of, which means it’s too hip for me.” I frown at my reflection. “When did I turn into such a grandma?”
“You’re not a grandma, Anna. You just have more life experience than most other twenty-nine-year-olds.”
“That’s putting it nicely.” I fiddle with the gold bracelets on my wrist and meet Laura’s eyes in her bathroom mirror. When Laura set up my profile on the dating app, she included that I’m a single mom. Even though I’ve already met Josh in person, I’m more nervous about my date with him because he knows nothing about me. “How much should I tell Josh about my life? I don’t want to scare him off, but I don’t want to lie to him either.”
Laura smiles. “Play it by ear, babe. You don’t need to spill your life story on the first date.” Giving my shoulder a brief squeeze, she adds, “Don’t stress. Just enjoy your evening.”
Laura lines my lips before filling them in with bright red lipstick. She steps back to assess my makeup. She gives my cheekbones one more swipe of bronzer and then nods. “You look like a million bucks!”
Standing in the bathroom, I study my appearance, squaring my shoulders. I look good. And even better… I feel good. I'm a little anxious, but I feel ready.
When I arrive, I'm surprised by how swanky the bar is. The dark walls are illuminated by modern crystal chandeliers, their shimmer casting sparkling patterns that dance across the room. Mahogany wood, forest green velvet, and black marble add to the lush and sophisticated vibe. It seems like the kind of upscale place where a single bar tab probably costs more than my weekly grocery bill.
Josh rises when he spots me and greets me with a kiss on my cheek. He smells good. “It’s great to see you again, Anna.”
“Same,” I smile shyly, my nerves getting the best of me. “Thanks for inviting me out.”
Josh gestures to his cell phone lying atop the table. “I want to apologize in advance. I’m expecting an update about an ongoing business deal, and I can’t miss the call.”
“No problem. What kind of work do you do? Oh wait, you work at the Ryman, right?”
Squinting, Josh aims an inquisitive stare my way. “You really don’t like country music, do you?”
“What?” My nose crinkles in confusion. “No, not really, but we’ve already established that.”
“Ever heardof the band Outlaw?”
Who hasn’t heard of Outlaw?
Chuckling, I nod. “I work at K-Country, so yes, I’ve heard of Outlaw before, but I don’t know their music.”
“Hold up. You work at Nashville’s premiere country music radio station, but you don’t even like country music?” Josh’s mouth twitches in amusement. “Hot damn, this keeps getting better and better.”
