Page 82 of Vacation Friends

Underneath the photo were the printed words, Stop acting DAZED AND CONFUSED.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

THEN

Cecilia was in love. She had no doubt about it.

She twirled in the middle of her living room floor, overjoyed at this new development in her life.

Garrick would be here at any minute to pick her up for another date tonight. They hadn’t seen each other in a few days, and she missed him. She couldn’t wait to catch up. To feel his arms around her. To smell his expensive cologne.

She and Garrick had been seeing each other for a month now.

Ever since the fundraiser, they’d been inseparable. Well, inseparable other than when they had to work, which was often, especially for Garrick.

The fundraiser had gone well except for one slight snafu.

One of Garrick’s colleagues had mentioned getting a tennis bracelet for his wife. And Cecilia had muttered, “Oh, does she enjoy playing tennis?”

Everyone around her had laughed.

Her cheeks had reddened when she realized she must have said something stupid.

When she asked Garrick about it later, he explained the term and assured her that she shouldn’t be embarrassed. In fact, the term came about from a tennis player.

Cecilia hadn’t grown up in a well-to-do family, but she should have known what a tennis bracelet was.

She’d feared what Garrick’s friends must think about her.

But just last week, Garrick had told her he loved her, so he must not be too embarrassed.

Another grin tugged at her lips.

Her life was going to change. She could feel it in her bones.

If things between the two of them continued to progress, then there would be no more living in the slums for her. No more surviving from paycheck to paycheck. No more worries about paying rent or having enough money for food.

She’d met her real-life prince charming.

Squealing, she turned in another circle.

She could pinch herself she was so happy.

She let out another sigh and glanced at the time.

Garrick was supposed to be here, but he was three minutes late. Which was unusual. He was always so punctual.

Cecilia walked to her window and looked outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he walked up to her apartment.

She’d dressed in a red sweater and some tight blue jeans. She’d specifically picked this outfit because Garrick had told her that red was his favorite color. She wanted to see his eyes light up when he saw her. She wanted him not to be able to keep his hands off her.

For a while, she’d wondered if coming to the city had been a mistake. But now she knew it wasn’t.

In fact, it was the best decision she’d ever made. No other man had made her feel as special as Garrick.

She watched out the window several more minutes before frowning and glancing at her watch again.

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