Page 16 of Mixed Connection
Even through text, this reads as if he wants me all to himself. I bite down gently on my thumbnail, a little pressure keeping mein this moment instead of imagining being alone with a man like Jameson.
Oh.
Oh. OH! That’s all I could come up with. Jameson makes me feel like a schoolgirl again, getting tongue-tied and losing the ability to form true sentences.
Jameson
Yeah, oh. *devil smiley emoji* Can you be ready by 7pm?
I can! See you then. Can you pick me up at the bar?
My apartment is the upstairs loft.
Jameson
I’ll see you there. *winky face*
Babes at Benny’s Group Chat
Lo
Bitch you better send us a picture!
J-babe
Yeah, we want to see how hot you look too! Jameson can’t be stingy.
You guys are terrible! I promise I’ll send you a pic but I gotta finish getting ready.
Getting together with the girls soon is a top priority since we haven’t gotten a chance to spend any time together since we had brunch almost a week ago. With Janelle leaving soon, we want to have a girls’ night in, which is perfect, considering I’m going out with Jameson tonight and I want to share all the details with Janelle and Lo. I put my phone down, rolling my eyes playfully at Lo and Janelle.
“Fuck, I’m so glad this week is over,” I sigh to no one but myself. Owning my own business can be incredible given I truly love what I do, my weeks never drag. I want to be at the bar, serving up mafia romance indulgences in cocktails to my customers, but this week was “as slow as molasses”, as my grandma would say. All I could focus on was my date with Jameson, the excitement and anxiousness of being out with someone I’m getting to know.
That’s a lie. It’s him.
I’ve gone on plenty of dates, but I don’t recall ever being this thrilled. Plucking a gold chunky hoop from my bathroom vanity, I take a cleansing breath and make an attempt to lessen the grin that’s permanently plastered on my face. But as I watch myself put the other earring in, I give up the fight. This is such a full body feeling of intrigue, I don’t want to let it go or hide it. And why should I? I pump myself up even more exclaiming, “Tonight’s the night you see if your crush was everything you dreamt it was.”
Butterflies in my stomach overwhelm my senses as I finish getting ready for our date. I expected to be nervous, but all I feel is excitement in seeing him tonight along with not knowing where we’re going.
Smoothing my hands down my curves, the dark-red satin dress lays effortlessly against me. Two tiny straps hold the top up on hope alone, showcasing my ample cleavage, draping around my waist. I brace myself against the door frame and slide my feet into my open-toed, black strappy heels I set next to my mirror once I decided on my outfit. I wiggle my lilac-polished toes to get the right fit; I’m so glad to have gotten a pedicure this week.
I round the corner of my bathroom to fluff my hair and apply the matching red lipstick that has become my signature color over the last few years.
Red lipstick makes me feel powerful and feminine, it gives me that extra bit of confidence I searched for when I was younger, whether I needed it or not. I purse my lips, rub them together, and spray a fine mist of my favorite perfume. Warm vanilla and sandalwood fill the air around me.
No matter where this night ends, I’m ready for it. Just as I reach for my phone to check the time, I hear the doorbell signaling someone is at the front door of Shaken Tropes. Before I can see who it is, a notification appears on my phone screen.
I answer the incoming call and his deep voice comes through the line. “Hey, beautiful, I’m here. I thought I would walk to your door, but I’m not sure which one it is.” He chuckles and I can tell he’s smiling.
“I will be down in just a moment. Promise.” Checking that my phone location is on, I text the girls to let them know I’m heading out on my date. I shake my hands, trying to breathe through the excited anxiousness that I’m feeling. I haven’t been this excited for a date in a long time.
Turning, I lock my door and make my way down the stairs. Jameson is leaning against his SUV with a sly smile on his face as he watches me, before pushing himself off the side of the vehicle to meet me at the bottom of the stairs. Taking my hand in his, heextends our linked hands in the air and nods his head; I give him a quick twirl as the pink in my cheeks grows darker with how his eyes follow my curves.
“Hmm.” It’s the only audible noise he makes as he steps back to look me over once more and I preen under his gaze. Jameson’s actions make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, like there couldn’t possibly be anyone else in the room if we were standing in one. “You are absolutely stunning.”
I step closer to him and drop my eyes to his feet and slowly raise them to his lips for a moment, before looking him in the eyes. His hair is down and pulled over to one side to hang down his back and over his shoulder. “You clean up very well yourself.”
Taking in my blatant ogling he pulls me slightly, welcoming me into his space as a grin widens on his face. “Are you ready for our date?”
