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“Bloomingdale’s, huh?” she asked curiously.
“Oh, yeah. I treated myself after work today.”
I could tell by her face she didn’t believe me. If I were living here, there was no way I was shopping at Bloomingdale’s.
“Is that right?” she asked, unconvinced.
“Yup, I better be going.”
“Before you go…there was a gentleman caller here last week. He looked very familiar. Very rich.”
“Oh? Weird. Maybe he was lost,” I said innocently.
I turned away and walked up the stairs to my apartment. Now, I only had an hour and twenty minutes to get ready.
Inside, I stripped off my clothes and turned the shower on. I tapped my foot impatiently waiting for the water to heat up. As I stood in front of the mirror, I studied my body. Really, the only thing that had changed was the size of my breasts. I wasn’t showing in my stomach area yet. I ran my hands over my bare belly and smiled.
The steam fogged up the mirror, signaling it was time to get in the shower. I took my time exfoliating, shaving, deep conditioning. The dress deserved that. At least, that was what I told myself when my mind wandered to what might happen tonight.
Once I was out of the shower, I towel-dried my hair before taking a blow dryer to it. I couldn’t remember the last time I had taken the time to style it. I usually just threw it in a bun or a ponytail, so it was out of my face. Now, I struggled with a round brush and my arms were tired.
After I was done, I grabbed my makeup bag and sat on the floor in front of my full-length mirror. I looked inside the bag at my modest makeup collection and started brushing it on carefully. I added a little more blush than usual, an extra coat of mascara, and shakily drew a cat eye with liner. Lastly, I swiped on a coat of rosy lipstick.
Now it was time for the dress. The thing I was most nervous for. There was a chance it wouldn’t fit. I carefully removed the tag and stepped into the pool of satin at my feet, sliding it up my body and over my arms. I held my breath as I arched to reach the back zipper and slowly zipped it up. I let out a sigh of relief. It fit.
I rummaged through my closet to find the one pair of heels I owned. The same strappy black ones I had worn my first night with Daniel. I tied the straps and I looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t help but feel like an imposter.
My nerves started to kick in, so I picked up my phone and FaceTimed Monica.
“Hello!” she answered, holding a glass of wine.
“Please tell me I don’t look ridiculous,” I said, turning my phone to face the mirror.
“Holy shit, Heart!” she practically yelled.
“Shhhh.” I giggled.
“You look like you might get pregnant again.”
We both burst out laughing. I already felt better.
“You have to tell me everything tomorrow. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Go get him, girl.”
I ended the call and checked the time. It was seven on the dot. I slid the phone in my small black clutch and walked out into the hallway, locking up behind me. I slowly walked down the stairs, not wanting to trip. At the door, I took a deep breath, as if everything in my life was about to change.
I pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night. In front of me stood Daniel leaning against his town car with a single rose. For a moment, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. He wore a black suit, his hair pushed back just right, and a smile that melted me into a pool of liquid that I wanted him to dive into.
Chapter 20
Daniel
My hand clutching the red rose began to shake slightly as I watched Addison walk toward me. It was like she was moving in slow motion as my eyes drank her in. Her hair was down, hanging past her shoulders in dark, loose waves that I wanted to run my fingers through. I noticed she had more makeup on, but not in a caked-on way, but in a way that brought out her brown eyes and her plump lips. I didn’t want to tear my eyes away from hers, but I had to see the dress.
I had spent an hour in Bloomingdales on my lunch break trying to find the perfect dress for her. The saleswoman was patient with me as I looked through her rack of selections, pushing through them dismissively until I landed on this one. I thought it would be perfect. And it was.