Page 20 of Romance Reset
Chapter 8
“You’re seeing him again?” Izzy said the following week, her voice muffled. “Awesome. See? I told you to give Lincoln some time and he’d come around.”
“You sound weird. What are you doing? Are you in a tunnel, and if so, why?” Izzy had done some crazy things in the years Amelia had known her, all for her art and the attention it would bring to the causes she held so dear.
Amelia pulled out yet another blouse from the rack and wished her friend was here to give her clothing advice again. Everything she saw in her closet sucked, and she wondered what had possessed her to purchase them.
“Um, is th-that better?”
Amelia paused and listened intently. WhatwasIzzy doing? “Yeah, but you still didn’t tell me what’s happening over there. Are you home? On the island?” Another long… Were those pants? Not the wearable kind but the kind that came when two people were… “Izzy? Is someone with you?”
“I really have to go, Amelia.”
Oh, really? “You can’t,” Amelia said, instilling all the desperation she could into her voice. “Izzy, I need help picking out an outfit, and since you got me into this, you have to help me. Don’t you dare hang up,” she ordered with a grin, wondering how long she could keep Izzy on the phone while her friend did whatever it was she was doing. Paybacks were, well,that, after all.
“Um.”
“No excuses. Youhaveto help me. I can’t do this without you,” Amelia added, struggling to keep the laughter out of her voice.
“Meli, you look great in everything.”
“That’s not what you said last—”
“Oh.”Gasp. “Ireallyhave to— Bye!”
Izzy’s goodbye emerged high-pitched and decidedly breathless, and Amelia’s eyes widened as the phone clicked in her ear. She tossed it atop the bed, laughing at her friend’s antics.
Well, well, well. Izzy could be doing something weird like crawling through a tunnel creating an art piece she didn’t want to discuss because she never wanted to “lose the magic of creation,” but she was also a fairly free spirit, which meant any number of other possibilities. Had Izzy met someone? And if she had, why hadn’t she shared this info?
Focus on you. Hello? Time is running out.
She glanced at her watch and groaned before flipping through her clothing at a faster rate.
Marsali’s instructions had been to dress casual. But how casual? It was a date, after all. And evening. A hot, muggy August evening in the south. She’d melt in the heat but get potentially cool in the muggy breezes. Decisions, decisions.
She inhaled and turned toward the opposite side, sliding through her clothes there. Examining, discarding, and wondering how one could own what she did and hate absolutely everything.
Stop letting your nerves get you. You wanted a second date and got it. That’s all that matters. One step at a time. He’s not going to care what you wear.
But how could she not let her nervousness impact her mood when she was so aware of the fact Lincoln had had no intention of seeing her again after their first date? She’d learned to trust her instincts over the years, and when Lincoln had left her at her car that night, she knew he had no intention of seeing her again.
What had changed his mind? Would he change it again? Was she getting her hopes up only to have them crushed later on? “Auuuugh!”
She closed her eyes and forced the what-ifs away. Tonight she had a date with a very handsome man whom she liked. End of story. No projecting what the future might or might not hold. Besides, she had a backup plan if things didn’t work out.
But the thought of having Lincoln’s baby?
“Stop, stop, stop,” she ordered, opening her eyes and grabbing the next piece of clothing that came to hand.
This. She’d wear this. Well, maybe not.
Unless… She eyed the sleeveless romper with a critical stare. It did showcase her long legs, and Lincoln hadalwaysliked her legs. But she was meeting him at the marina, which meant there was a boat involved. Regardless of whether it stayed docked or not, the breeze on the water could be cool.
She turned to survey the rest of her closet with desperate eyes and spotted a lightweight duster that might give her just enough protection from the wind. It paired well with the romper and would add a little dramatic effect. She scrambled to find shoes, another pair of wedges that added to her height, and once dressed, she took a look in the mirror.
Yeah. That worked.
A classic song came to mind and she smiled.She’s definitely got legs.
