“And I’ll get Lexi to come and help too.”
She’s sipping her beer when she snorts with my words. After she coughs a few times, clearing her throat, in a husky voice she says, “I’m more worried about her influence on my children than I am Connor.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well I may need her as a reinforcement.”
Wendy nods. “Yes. You will.”
Tuesday seemed to fly by, but Wednesday rolled on, taking its sweet time. My finger taps my steering wheel idly as I drive home to get ready. I have no idea what to wear. I mean, Vick seems like a low-key kind of guy so I’m sure whatever I wear will be fine, but I do want to look nice. I can’t deny I’m excited. A date. I’m going on a date. It’s scary and enthralling all at once. When I get home, I rush inside and hurry upstairs to find Lexi laying outfits out on my bed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why do you always ask me that every time I show up here?”
“Because you are always showing up here.”
She purses her lips in annoyance. “I said I would come over and help you get ready, asshole.”
I forgot she said she was coming over. I guess I am an asshole because of my greeting, but now I’m not so sure I want her help because we’ll probably argue. “I think I can manage on my own, Lex.”
She walks into my closet and yells, “It’s been a while Demi. You’re out of practice.”
I flop down on my bed and resolve to let her help me since she doesn’t seem to be harboring any hurt feelings about my less than inviting welcome. But glancing at the outfits she’s laid out, I’m worried. Maybe it isn’t a good idea for her to help me. As she walks out of my closet holding a nude, skin-tight dress I wore many years ago, I warn her, “I’m not dressing like a ho tonight, Lexi.”
“What do you have all these cute dresses for if you’re never going to wear them?” she asks as she lays the dress with the others on my bed.
“Because I might wear them one day.”
“And why not today?” she counters.
“Because it’s a first date at a town bar, for starters. Secondly, I’m not trying to give him the idea I want to jump his bones on the first date.”
Her facial features brighten, and she perks up. “So you have thought about jumping his bones at some point then?”
I press my lips together, frustrated with myself for not wording myself better. “No. I mean, he’s attractive, but I haven’t thought about anything beyond having dinner with him.”
Lexi smiles and takes a deep breath. “I know this is a big deal for you. I’m proud of you for trying.”
I know she’s been worried about me. Wendy too. They’ve both feared I’d become the loneliest widow in Gotham City. I just haven’t been ready. But I think I am now. And I think even if things don’t pan out with Vick, at the very least he’ll be a great icebreaker for me.
“Come on,” I murmur, as I head to my closet. “Let’s find me something sexy, but appropriate to wear.”
Lexi and I battled over the definition of sexy. In the end, we met in the middle. I’m wearing a strapless black cotton dress with platform flip flops. She begged me to wear heels, but I refused. Middle ground was the platform on the flip flops.
Tillie’s is busy tonight; the happy hour crew is crowded around the bar, chugging two dollar drafts before seven. I’m standing in the foyer of the restaurant, searching the tables that line both sides, looking for Vick, when someone’s hand presses my lower back.
“I’ve thought about this moment every day since we met. What you’d look like. I have to say, my imagination needs some work.”