Page 86 of Thanks for the Memories
“Very funny. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
When I hang up the phone, I’m on cloud nine. I have a feeling this night is going to be unforgettable. I can hardly wait.
* * *
What do you wear for a night out with a man you’ve worked side by side with for almost a year? I didn’t think I’d be putting this much thought into it, but I’ve been standing in front of my closet for at least fifteen minutes. I want to look like I’ve put forth effort, otherwise I might look like I do every other day at the office. Although I guess I made a good impression on him at some point.
I hold up three possible outfit choices and let Gabby make the final decision for me. She chooses my favorite black sleeveless shirt that Kennedy says doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, a pair of dark skinny jeans, and platform wedges.
“Good choice,” I say.
Gabby smiles. “I think Jeremy’s going to be very pleased.”
“It’s not too much, right?” I ask.
“Not at all.”
I straighten my hair and put on some gold jewelry.
“You look fantastic,” Gabby says as soon as I’m ready. “Now do I need to give you any advice?”
I giggle. “Sure, if you have some wise words of wisdom, I’ll gladly listen.”
Gabby sits up straight and crosses her legs under her.
“Okay, Reagan—” She opens her mouth and pauses. “I wish I had some monumental relationship advice to share, but my track record is average at best.”
“Ah, but you and Theo are great together.”
A pink hue fills her cheeks. “Theo is pretty dreamy. But those stupid doubts love to creep in and make me question everything. I thought I was marrying my soulmate, and he broke my heart. I have every reason to be cautious.”
I sit down on the bed next to her.
“Gabby, you deserve every bit of happiness.”
She puts her arm around my shoulders. “And so do you. I’m so proud of you for getting closure with Dante.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I’m proud of myself.”
She giggles.
“See? You totally underestimated yourself,” I say. “You do give good relationship advice.”
After Gabby walks out I check myself in the mirror a few more times. There’s a lot to think about if Jeremy and I continue seeing each other, but I don’t need to worry about that now. All that matters is that I enjoy myself. I’ve definitely earned it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
As soon as I hear the sound of the doorbell chime, I race to answer it. I guess I’m even more excited about this night than I thought. I silently count to three before opening it and suck in a breath when I catch my first glimpse of Jeremy. Seriously? You’d think it was the first time I’ve laid eyes on the man.
Was Jeremy always this hot? I mean, he loves to remind everyone about the abs. But he also has great hair, a nice smile, and a fun sense of humor. All of those qualities combined make a pretty damn good package. Tonight, he’s wearing a white Henley shirt that fits him like a glove and black denim pants. I subtly wipe the drool from my mouth.
“You look amazing,” he says, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. His warm breath sends a shiver up and down my spine as I breathe in his cologne.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say. This would be an understatement based off my initial reaction.
“I clean up well when I want to.” He produces a bouquet of tulips from behind his back and holds them out to me.
“Wow, these are beautiful,” I say, taking the flowers from him. “Is this how you usually kick off a first date?”
