Page 46 of Playing for Keeps in Starr's Fall
How many times had Matt encouraged her to wear eye-wateringly expensive designers, when she would have been content as well as more comfortable in her slightly offbeat colorful clothes, the kind of things she’d worn before they’d become rich, or really, if she was honest, before they’d got married? Lynn’s comment about the country club membership and the Porsche had hit home.
He had changed since getting that promotion, something she’d acknowledged herself many times, but what she hadn’t fully realized was that despite her resistance,she’dchanged, too. She’d let herself be changed, gone along with the interior designer and the swanky clothes and the new friends who helped his career, while putting her own preferences aside… so much so that she’d become afraid to voice an opinion, had tensed every time Matt had cast an appraising eye over her, or the dinner she’d made, anything. She’d felt like she was living on some kind of probation, never quite sure she measured up. It hadn’t always been that way between them, she acknowledged, but the seed had been there, which had taken root with Matt’s promotion.
If she’d been stronger, Maggie reflected, and if theirmarriagehad been stronger, she would have explained how she felt to Matt and chosen her own furniture, her own clothes… just as Annie should.
“Tell me about this get-together,” she encouraged. “Is it formal? Semiformal? Smart casual?”
Annie plucked at the dress again, impatient. “What do those even mean?” she cried. “I don’t know. How should I? I don’t go on dates.”
“Don’t you mean ‘get-togethers’?” Maggie teased, and Annie gave her a rueful smile, their gazes meeting in the mirror.
“I’m too old to go on dates or?—”
“Not too old for get-togethers,” Maggie insisted with a smile. “So, what do you think the dress code is?”
“He’s taking her to the Litchfield Inn,” Liz informed her in a hushed voice. “Which is only the nicest restaurant in all of northwestern Connecticut! Men have to wear jackets and there is a no-jeans policy. And I have it on good authority that Mike is wearing asuit.”
“I can’t believe he even owns one,” Annie muttered. “And he won’t have shaved that ridiculous beard and he’ll still have grease under his fingernails, so…”
“Wow, well, that sounds exciting,” Maggie interjected cheerfully. She was dying to know more about this unexpected romance between Annie and Mike, but she decided to get the details another time. “What about something with a little more flow?” she suggested to Annie. “Maybe a pantsuit?”
“I know just the thing!” Liz hurried over to a rack and pulled out a simple but elegant pantsuit in deep red. It had a deep vee neckline but was otherwise perfectly modest, the cut of the pants loose and flowing.
“I’ve never worn a pantsuit,” Annie remarked dubiously. “I really don’t do anything like this.”
“So you’ve said,” Liz replied with a good-natured groan. “Just try it on,” she coaxed. “I think Maggie is right. I think you’re more of a pantsuit girl.”
With a sigh, Annie took the hanger and disappeared into the dressing room. Liz took the opportunity to sidle closer to Maggie.
“So,” she remarked in the same stage whisper she’d used before, “I haven’t seen Zach around your place lately.”
“No, I think he’s been busy.” Maggie tried to sound offhand and unbothered and was pretty sure she’d failed at both.
Liz’s eyebrows rose. “Busy? He was a whole other kind of busy last week…” She gave Maggie a knowing smirk before bursting into laughter. “I can’t believe you, girl! Snagging that hottie! I amsoimpressed.”
“Liz.” Maggie tried to give her friend a quelling look. “That was a freak event,” she stated as firmly as she could. “One time only.”
Liz’s smirk disappeared as she nodded in understanding sympathy. “Honestly, knowing his reputation, Maggie, that might be just as well. You don’t want to get hurt.”
“Are you two talking about Zach Miller?” Annie burst out of the dressing room, looking like a fabulous Amazon in her scarlet pantsuit.
“Oh,Annie,” Liz breathed. “You look gorgeous!”
Annie shrugged off the praise as she half-glared at them both. “Were you talking about Zach?” she demanded again.
“Um… yes,” Maggie admitted. She was glad there was no one else in the boutique to hear more about her personal life. Had Annie heard what Liz had said about her “snagging that hottie”? Probably.
“Liz Cranbury, you should know better than to listen to this town’s gossip when it comes to Zach’s reputation,” Annie declared, her hands fisted on her hips. “He might have been a bit wild in high school, it’s true, but those days are long gone. Do you remember how he held down the store for over ayearwhile his mother had cancer? When he was still a teenager, by the way. And how he and Jenna took that place over, when the Millers just upped and moved to Florida, with barely a goodbye. Not to mention how he’s always willing to help anyone out, for just about anything? You turn around, and Zach’s there, lending a hand?—”
“If he’s not on a date—” Liz murmured, shooting Maggie a laughing glance.
Annie rolled her eyes. “I’mgoing on a date. The boy’s allowed to look for love. Aren’t we all?” She glanced down at the pantsuit and then gave Maggie an approving nod. “Now this is something I can wear without feeling ridiculous. I’ll take it!”
As Annie went back to change, Maggie browsed through the racks, looking for something to wear to the grand opening, her mind still on Zach. It felt as if every interaction she had was pointing to the fact that she’d made a big, fat mistake. The question remained, though: what could she do about it? The answer was obvious—talk to Zach. Apologize. And she could do that, of course, but then the far thornier question remained about their kiss. What did she really want to do aboutthat? And what if it wasn’t up to her, anyway? It had been a whole week. Reputation aside, Zach had every right to have moved on, especially considering the way she’d behaved.
Recklessly, feeling the need todosomething, Maggie took out her phone. As Liz rang up Annie’s purchase, she opened WhatsApp and thumbed a quick message.
I’m pretty sure I overreacted the other day. I’m sorry.
