Page 20 of Reeling in Love

I plop down on the bed. “Are you? I mean, really? Don’t get me wrong. I know Alex is a great guy. But doesn’t it scare you, committing to be with him? To lose your freedom?”

She sits down beside me and holds me by the shoulder. “When you find the right person, committing is as easy as freestyle dancing or dancing in a closed room. There’s no fear. Only exhilaration and happiness and freedom.”

“I guess I’ll never understand that feeling. I think I’m happier the way I am. Find someone who is okay with my lifestyle of no commitments and be together till his thinking doesn’t change.”

“Time will tell,” she nods, then suddenly jumps up and pulls out a dress that I’ve stuffed inside the carton. “Wow! Why have I never seen this? I think you should wear it tonight. It’s sexy as hell, and I’m sure you’ll have all the men drooling over you.”

I laugh at her imitation of a dog, as she hangs out her tongue and holds the dress in her hands.

It’s a red dress. Too short, I think, and most likely too tight. “I don’t think I’ll fit into it anymore. It’s from my sophomore year in college and that’s why you’ve never seen me wear it.”

She holds it up, closes an eye, and examines me and the dress.

“I think it’ll still fit. At least give it a try. C’mon.”

She pushes me with the dress into the next room. I used to love this dress. It always got me the attention of the desired person. Always. Honestly, I’d forgotten about it. Since Rick, I’d never really sought anyone’s attention. There was no need for it. I like to dress well, but this. This might be a bit much for tonight.

But I still slip it on. I manage to fit inside but can’t get the zip up all the way myself. Lily is tapping on the door impatiently.

“C’mon girl. You done? I wanna see you. Don’t make me break the door now.”

I open the door. I turn my back to her and tell her to zip me up. She takes a while, but with a bit of tummy sucking in on my side, the dress still ‘fits’.

I turn around and as Lily beholds me; I see her eyes going wide as saucers. “Wow!” she says, looking at me from top to bottom. “Just wow!”

“It’s too slutty, right?”

“Girl, that’s the aim. You wanna get laid, remember? I think it’s the right amount of slutty. A good mix, I’d say, of elegance and sluttiness. You should definitely wear this tonight.”

I regard myself in the mirror and twirl around. Yeah, I still got it, even if it is with a little less oxygen to my body because of the tightness.

“Now for the hair. What’s the plan?”

“I’m thinking of leaving it open.”

“Good choice. Why don’t you get ready and I’ll pack the rest of your stuff.”

I agree. Wearing this dress has somehow made me fickle. I wanna look good. I wanna kill it tonight. Putting on some makeup is a breeze. Thankfully, most of my stuff is still here. I’m almost done when Lily gives a squeal.

“Oooh. These black stilettos. They’re lovely and they’ll go perfectly with this dress.”

One look at them and I know, as usual, Lily’s right. I take them from her and put them on. Then stand with one hand on my hip and a pout on my lips.

“How do I look?”

“Gorgeous!” she gushes, capturing it in a pic. “You make me wish I were a man or at least a bi. Maybe if you keep wearing such dresses, I will turn into a bi for you.” She sends some air kisses my way and I cannot help but smile.

I do a quick check around the apartment to see that I’ve packed all my stuff, which is not much, because most of the household things were Rick’s, from before I moved in. We’re about to leave when I hear a key turning in the lock.

“Shit!” I whisper.

Lily stands in front of me, her hands on her hips, head held high, ready to take on anything Rick might say.

Rick opens the door and sees us. His gaze lingers on me and then it slowly moves down my body.

“Hey, Nora,” he says. “Some party tonight?”

Before I can reply, Lily pips in. “You lost the right to know that when you kicked her out last night, Mr. Sugar.” She turns to me. “C’mon Nora, let’s leave this hellhole now that Satan has arrived.”

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