Page 93 of Here and Now
Do I want to be sexy? No, because we’re going to have this one date, and then I need to figure out my life. I know my brother thinks I should live, and I want to, but my heart doesn’t have the ability to keep a part held back.
If I let myself date him, I’ll fall.
I’ve already fallen way farther than I ever intended to.
The way he looks at me, kisses me, makes my heart flutter—it’s a problem.
And here I am now, trying to find the perfect first-date outfit.
“Maybe I’ll wear sweats and a stained shirt,” I say, feeling like an idiot.
Her brows raise. “Considering he has feelings for you after seeingyou at work with coffee grinds all over and during the storm, I think your plan is flawed.”
I laugh. “Great.”
“Penny, he doesn’t care about any of this. He cares about you and wants to give you a fun date.”
“I care.”
She lifts one shoulder. “Okay, what did the text say?”
I grab my phone and read it again.
Miles
I’ll pick you up at six. We’re going to dinner and something after. Very casual and wear sneakers.
She purses her lips. “Okay, jeans for sure, and I think the crochet top or the off-the-shoulder will fit both.”
Kai comes running in my room. “Where are you going, Mom?”
“I’m going with Coach Miles for a little while. Hazel is going to hang here with you.”
“Can I come?” he asks, nearly bouncing up and down.
“No, buddy, it’ll just be me this time.”
He looks crestfallen. “But I want to go with Coach Miles.”
I smile and press my hand to his cheek. “Maybe another time.”
Hazel jumps in. “Hey! I’m a hoot. We’re going to have way more fun than they will.”
Kai doesn’t look like he buys it, but he smiles anyway. “If you say so.”
I burst out laughing, and so does Hazel. I spend the next twenty minutes getting ready. I curl the bottom of my hair, letting it fall in ribbons down my back, and go for a subtle smoky eye, not that it really looks like a smoky eye, because I’m terrible at makeup, but I try.
I decide to go with the crochet top because it’s cute, but also casual. I come out, and Hazel makes a long whistle. “And you are trying to downplay this? Girl, you look hot!”
“Ugh, I can’t go.”
But before I can turn to go anywhere, there’s a knock at the door. “Do you want to tell him or do you want me to?” she asks.
“Yeah, right, you’ll just tell him where I am.”
She shrugs.
Putting aside my fear, I open the door. Miles is there, this time with a beautiful bouquet of peonies, which happen to be my favorite.
