Page 50 of Perfect Imperfections

“But you said I couldn’t wear animal puns.”

“It’s animal print, not a pun. And you look amazing in it. The blue and green hues complement your eyes. Really makes them pop.”

She had no idea why people said that. She’d never noticed anyone’s eyes pop because of a certain color they were wearing. Wasn’t eye popping a bad thing? Something you should see an optometrist about?

“Okay, so the peacock dress. Do I have to wear heels?”

“Doll-face, you don’t have to wear anything you don’t want. You called me for advice and I’m just giving it. Take it or leave it.”

That was certainly thoughtful considering Cam nearly shouted her head off five seconds ago when she suggested just wearing what she had on at work that day.

“Then I’ll wear my black ballet flats.”

“The ones with the bow on the toe? Those are adorable.”

Perfect. Just what she wanted to be on her date with the most attractive man she’d ever kissed. Adorable. Ugh! For once in her life, her desire to be seen as sexy might override her love of comfort.

“I also have those silver heels from my cousin’s wedding two years ago.”

She’d worn them once, gotten the worst blisters ever, and shoved them as far back in her closet as she could, vowing to never again let them see the light of day.

“Oooo, those are hot. Are you sure you can walk in them?”

“I thought you wanted me to be sexy.”

“I want you to be yourself. If he doesn’t like you the way you are, then he’s not worth it.”

She opened her tiny closet door, getting down on her hands and knees to shove piles of old schoolwork and worn-out textbooks out of the way. Geeze, she really needed to throw a lot of this stuff out. She graduated years ago.

“A date is a chance to put your best foot forward,” Cam continued as Ellie carefully dug through years of crap to find those damn shoes. “But you don’t want to give a false impression of yourself. That’s why an animal print dress is perfect for you. And if you want to wear the heels, then I say go for it, but if they’re going to make you feel uncomfortable all night, flats are great too. He’ll like you for who are you, not what you wear. Trust me.”

She wished she had her friend’s confidence.

Cam had a good point. Besides the one time at speed dating, Sullivan had only ever seen her in her everyday wear and a sopping wet, smelly zoo uniform. He kissed the ever-living daylights out of her when she was wearing her elephant pun shirt. Heels or flats, she didn’t think he’d care. Not like she could find the torture shoes anyway.

Falling back on her butt, she huffed out a breath of frustration.

“I just really, really, want tonight to go well. I like this guy, Cam. A lot.”

“I know, and he likes you.”

She laughed. “How do you know that?”

“He better,” her best friend’s voice came out stern over the phone line. “Or I’ll hunt him down and smack him upside the head for not realizing he could have had the best woman in the entire world.”

Damn, she really loved her best friend.

“Now stop talking to me and go get ready. Isn’t he going to be there soon?”

No. She still had—

Shit!

A quick glance at the screen of her phone revealed she’d been talking to Cam for twenty minutes. Which meant she only had fifteen to get ready.

“Crap! I gotta go. Thanks for listening and all the advice.”

“Anytime. You have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

---