Page 62 of Definitely Not a Thing

“I stepped away from the screen, but the yellow midi is the only real option,” Kae called out.

When I peeked at my own screen, sure enough, Claire’s face was visible, but Kae wasn’t.

“She’s wearing the yellow one,” Claire confirmed for Kae, giving me approving nod. “Calvin is going to choke on his tongue when he sees you – in a good way.”

I grinned, turning back to the mirror.

This was thesixthdress I’d pulled from my closet, from a section of dresses I’d never worn. Apparently I’d just been collecting them, waiting for a date night with Hunter that never came because he trended toward busy or wanting to do things I had zero interest in. I’d been determined not to buy anything new, even though Calvin had offered to cover it.

He’d actually offered to pay for anything I wanted – beauty services, shoes, jewelry, dress, whatever I needed to feel good for tonight.

Too bad all my maintenance appointments had been a few days before.

And again – I had a closet full of things I’d nevergottento wear, so it was more fun for me tonotspend the money.

Though… the ease with which he’d offered was endearing.

But hell… whatwasn’tendearing about Calvin at this point?

“Not you looking like a nervous teenager headed out for a first date,” Kae laughed. When I looked back, she’d returned to the screen, with a facial treatment mask on now.

I sucked my teeth. “Not y’all insisting on seeing me off like proud parents.”

“Oh I’m definitely proud, personally,” Claire spoke up. “A chance to meet Sierra Ward on a first date, a month after a breakup? This is the way.”

“It’s not a date,” I corrected. “I’m doing Calvin a favor, because he did me a favor.”

“That doesn’t make it not a date.” Kae grinned. “And that dress makes itabsolutelya date.”

I smirked at myself in the mirror.

The square neckline toed the line of too much cleavage, and the fit wasrighton the border of slutty. My back was fully covered though, and the “midi” length brought it past my knees – classy. A simple, tasteful strappy heel, no jewelry to distract from my pretty ass skin, natural mane pulled into a little updo with a few curls hanging down…

Yeah.

Yeah.

I looked good.

“So how far are y’all taking thefavor,” Kae asked. “Do y’all have a story planned for how y’all met?”

“Oooh,” Claire chimed in. “Cause you know people are going to be nosy.”

“We decided some honesty is the best policy,” I explained, moving over to my dresser for perfume. “With me coming offthe breakup with Hunter, we can’t lie that we’ve “been together” longer than we have.”

“Good point – if this goes around social media, you’d get labeled and cheater,” Kae agreed.

“Trollop.”

“Whore.”

“Jezebel.”

“I get it,” I laughed, stopping their back and forth. “And, yeah, exactly. So we’re going to lean into it being… like a new discovery, you know?”

“Oh so you’re just telling the truth,” Claire quipped.

I sucked my teeth. “No, because thetruthis that we’re friends, and that’s all.”