Page 115 of I Love My Mistake

Chapter Fifty-Three

Saturday Evening

Mark’s more nervous that I am. It’s cute. He’s fidgety and keeps looking at me like he wants to force me to hurry up, but holds his tongue. It’s gotta be chewed up by now, poor guy. “You want me to run down and call a cab?” He’s so nervous in fact, that he’s making me feel calm to balance us out.

I throw up an eyebrow and a half-smile. “You’re losing your head, Mark. You know that, right?”

He laughs, caught. “Am I driving you nuts?”

I stroll over and kiss him, my hands resting on his chest. “I think it’s cute.”

He makes a happy sound as he kisses me again. “How are you so calm?”

“Xanax.”

His head cranes back. “Really?”

I lean up to give him a last little peck. “No.” Pushing off him, I throw a saucy look over my shoulder as I get back to dressing.

He chuckles and leans against the wall, crosses one ankle over the other and slides his hands into his pant’s pockets. He’s wearing a fitted black suit that is divine, with a white shirt opened to the second button, no tie. So hot.

I slide open the door to my closet. “I want to eat you, but I’ve got to get ready,”

He tosses back, “Yeah, that bra and panty set you’re rockin’ is killing me.”

Smiling, I thumb through my dresses, landing on one I’ve never worn because I didn’t have the occasion. Pulling it out, I hold it up to my body and show him. It’s a floor-length slender eggshell-white dress with straps a little wider than spaghetti. “What about this?”

He stares at me, unable to speak. He frowns and mutters, “You’re not real.”

That melted my heart! “So you like it then.”

He gives his hair a finger-combing and looks away like he has to in order to contain himself. “You could say that.” He sneaks a look at me as I step into the dress. “Wow. Okay, I’m going to go grab a cab because if I stay here I will tear that off you, and we really need to leave.”

Giggling, I watch him push off the wall, shaking his head. He pretends to hit his head on the bedroom doorframe a couple of times and walks out. Grabbing a pair of heels, I slide them on and take a look at myself in the mirror. The long white dress looks very elegant contrasted against my dark skin with my long straight black hair. I like it, but I want a little something extra since my paintings are so much more colorful. Walking fast to my jewelry box, I snatch out several boldly colored bangle bracelets and two really big rings – one for each hand. Perfect.

Snatching up a clutch bag and my long coat, I lock up and walk quickly to the elevator, shoving my keys in my bag as I press the button. Alone now, my heart has begun to race. My first show; a ton of people will be judging my paintings. They’ll be whispering like I’ve whispered when I’ve gone to other people’s receptions. I remember when Michael and I were at that sculptor’s reception – the night we met. Michael tore that guy to shreds. That’s what I’m up against tonight. Butterflies bat their wings on my insides as I feel true terror build.

I don’t have to go. Do I have to be there?

The door opens on the elevator and I pick up my dress and run outside, yelling, “Mark, I don’t want to go! Let’s go get dinner instead!” But I see Mark standing by a waiting cab, smiling, looking so handsome in his coat and suit, the door held open for me. I look to see the driver standing outside his door, and there is my friendly cabbie!

As I step toward them, I whisper, “There’s no way.”

“This nice man says he’s been here before – says he knows you.”

“Hello again!” my cabbie friend calls out, waving wide.

I touch Mark’s arm, say, “He does. He knows me,” then walk around the car and take my cabbie’s hands. “What is your name?”

He smiles, tooth still missing. “Randy.”

I give him a warm hug. “I’m Nicole.” Turning, I say, “And this is Mark.”

“Her boyfriend,” Mark proudly announces.

“My boyfriend,” I repeat, looking at him with a warm feeling taking over my heart, my fear forgotten. My momma is watching over me. I know it now. Walking back around to where Mark holds the door open, I climb in as Randy says over the hood, “Nice meeting you, Mr. Mark.”

As soon as we start moving, Randy asks where we’re going. Mark puts his arm around my shoulders and I adjust my dress and snuggle into his chest. “We’re going to JF Gallery in Greenwich. Know it?”

Randy nods and smiles through the rearview. “Yes! Is there a party?”

I sit upright, fast. “Oh my God! Randy! You have to come. It’s not just a party – it’s my first showing in an actual gallery. Remember all the art supplies you helped me carry up?”

Randy grins like a proud papa. “You did it.”

I laugh and snuggle back into Mark. “I did! I did it.” Mark kisses the top of my head. “Randy was here in the beginning. A lot has changed in a very short period of time.”

“Nice to have a witness.” Mark says, lightly caressing my shoulder with his thumb. I look up at him and nod. He kisses the tip of my nose.

I hope I’m not dreaming.

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