I could tell when I broke the news that it took everything in that tiny little body of hers, not to drag my ass back to Indiana and beat some sense into me. Now, I wish she would have. It would have saved me a whole lot of wasted time and heartbreak.
So, my best friend meeting anyone I dated was important to me. My judgment obviously wasn’t great, so her opinion would really affect any relationship I had in the future, whether it was with Nick or someone I had yet to meet.
I had no clue when I would really be ready for something like that again. Maybe it would be a few years from now. Maybe it would be a few months. Either way, I would have to trust my heart, and Leah, to make sure I didn’t screw up again.
Chapter 11
Ally
“Do you think it really looks okay?” I played with the hem of the white sundress I had on, and checked the mirror in the bathroom that was attached to my bedroom, again. “It’s not too short, is it?”
Leah eyed me with wide eyes from my bed where she lay on her stomach watching me get ready.
“It is, isn’t it? I think I’ll change into something with a little more coverage. I really don’t want to look like a—”
“Ah.” Leah jumped up, and grabbed my shoulders from behind. “Don’t you even say the word, Ally James. You look gorgeous, and that dress covers all of the goods perfectly. You picked the absolute right thing to wear, just like always.” I smiled at her in the mirror, and she flicked my arm before flopping back onto my bed. “I didn’t think I would ever see the day.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked as I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail and then slipped on a pair of pink wedges.
“The day that you were actually nervous about something. You must really like this guy, because after all of the years I’ve known you, you’ve never been nervous. Not once. When do I get to meet him?”
She handed me my makeup bag, and looked at me expectantly in the mirror.
After the three of them arrived, we decided that Ben would stay here, and Leah and Chase left to check into their hotel. Leah came back by herself within an hour, leaving Chase asleep in their room, and dragged me out of the apartment, forcing me to spill on every little detail that happened since I had arrived.
I had talked to Nick while she was gone, and had gotten my afternoon shift taken care of so I could spend a little more time with everyone since they were only here for a long weekend.
I could hear the disappointment in his voice, or at least that’s what it sounded like to me, when he knew I wouldn’t be coming in. Seeing him almost every day was one of the best parts of my job.
“Well, wouldn’t you be nervous, too?” I shrugged as I tinted my lips with a little bit of pink gloss, and pulled out my eyeliner. “I mean, we aren’t really even dating, and I’m meeting his parents? They’ll probably think it’s weird. I have no idea how I let him talk me into this. I should probably just stay here. I want to spend as much time as possible with you guys before you have to leave again.”
“No way.” She gave a quick shake of her dark curls. “No offense, but I get no alone time with that husband of mine, so we’re gonna have a nice, quiet…well, somewhat quiet night out.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me in the mirror, and I stuck my tongue out at her.
“At least someone’s getting some action, way to rub it in."
She bumped her shoulder into mine as I spritzed my body with the wildflower spray I knew Nick loved. He hadn’t said anything, but I caught him inhaling deeply when in close proximity on more than one occasion.
“Sorry. And Ben and Remy seem to be getting along pretty well. Maybe they’ll get lucky after their dinner tonight, too.”
“Ew, gross. That’s my brother.” I covered my ears quickly, but she swatted my hands down.
“Oh, stop it, I think it’s cute. I can’t believe you never thought to set Remy and Ben up before. They’re perfect, and I thought you were Miss Matchmaker or something?”
“I wish I could take credit for that one.”
Since I showed up on her doorstep and she took me in, Remy hadn’t been the same Remy that I knew her to be. The perky red head that I quickly became friends with through Leah had seemed to disappear a bit, and a more reserved, quiet version replaced her.
After spending some much-needed time catching up with her, and just being her roommate, I think I had a lot of the reasoning behind that figured out. Yeah, I mean with age people change and mature, but I think the root of it started when her relationship with Mark ended.