Page 64 of Still Love You

"She's not going to do that. She thinks I have a girlfriend."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

"Why were you pretending to be my girlfriend?" A smug grin appears. "This is the second time this has happened."

"I just..." This is embarrassing. I'm usually not this outwardly jealous. I at least try to hide it, which is why I say, "I didn't think she was right for you."

"Why not?" He starts walking down the street.

"She had a nose ring." I catch up to him. "You don't date girls with nose rings."

"I never have, but that doesn't mean I never will. I liked the nose ring."

"You did?"

"I don't like it on every girl, but it looked good on Alex."

Now he's using her name, like they're good friends, soon to be more than that. Damn. Why did I pick that salon?

"What I like even better is a navel ring." He grins. "Those are sexy."

I hold his arm, stopping him. "I want one."

He laughs. "Yeah, you're funny."

"Why is that funny? I'm serious."

It's true. I've always wanted a navel ring but never told anyone that.

"Willow, you're not that type of girl."

"What type of girl?"

"The type who gets her navel pierced, or any part of your body pierced, except for your ears."

"You're wrong. I've always wanted my navel pierced. I was just too afraid to do it. It seems like it would hurt. But I'll do it if you go with me. There's a place just down the street that does them. That tattoo place next to the dry cleaners."

"Let's get something to eat." He takes my hand and continues walking. "Dinner wasn't enough. I'm still hungry."

"Silas, stop." I yank my hand back. "I'm not kidding. I want a navel ring."

He looks at me like he still doesn't believe me. "You've never once said you wanted one. And now you suddenly do?"

"I've wanted one for years. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think I'd ever get one."

"So why now?"

"Because you're here to keep me from being afraid. You'll go in there with me, right? Maybe let me squeeze your hand when they put the piercing in?"

"Willow, are you seriously going to do this?"

"Yes," I say emphatically.

"You won't get hired as a CEO if you have a navel ring."

I roll my eyes. "An employer is never going to see it. "I'm not going to wear a half-shirt to work."

"Don't you want to think about this some more?"

"I've already thought about it. I'm ready to do this."

He sighs. "Okay. Let's do it."

I smile and grab his hand and pull him reluctantly down the street. This is so unlike me to do this, especially on such short notice. But I love that I'm doing it. I feel this sense of exhilaration. Freedom from my usual cautious self. From the person I normally am.

And yet, oddly enough, doing this feels more like the real me than the me I'm used to living with every day.

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