Page 85 of The Opposite of Romance
I love it. The only thing I don’t like is when it’s time for me to leave in the evening. I try not to interfere by staying for dinner, but there’s nothing I’d like more. To help Sadie put the dishes away, and get kids ready for bed, and settle onto the couch next to her.
Jim, my foreman, makes fun of me daily. He asks me for a beer on Wednesday, but I make him accompany me to get a tux instead.
“What you need this for?” he asks me while I’m browsing the suits in the store.
“I have a date.”
“Where are you taking her? Buckingham Palace?” he deadpans.
I smack his chest. “Actually,she’stakingme. To an awards ceremony.”
“Whooo!” He lets out a low whistle. “Fancy.”
“Very fancy. Hence, this.” I gesture to the clothes around us.
Luckily, the sales assistant approaches us, saving us from endless browsing.
“Give us your best tux,” Jim demands dramatically, and I roll my eyes.
The assistant smiles at us, her eyes lingering on me longer than necessary, but I’m not interested. Still, she’s more than helpful, bringing me multiple suits to try out.
“Who would’ve thought? You being so down for a girl,” he quips as I step out of the changing room in a gray suit.
“What do you mean?” I ask, heading back in because the fit of the suit is just awkward. My thighs are about the burst out of it, and the shoulders aren’t faring any better.
“Well, you are down for her, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m not questioning that part.”
He chuckles on the other side of the curtain while I try to fit my thighs into a dark blue suit. “It’s weird. The guys and I have never seen you like this. We couldn’t even think of the last time you had a girlfriend.”
“I’m glad to hear I’m paying you to gossip about me.”
Once again, he chuckles.
He’s right, in a way. I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of commitment, but relationships were never really a priority to me. Not until Sadie. And we aren’t even in an actual relationship. I’d love to call her my girlfriend, but I’m pretty sure she’d run away screaming if I suggested it.
Six suits later, I think we’ve finally found the one. I smooth the dark fabric that I’ve put back on the hanger before heading to the register. I have my work cut out for me, hoping to convince Sadie to give us a shot and the first step is to show her I can fit into her world. My palms are clammy with jitters about the date, but the suit gives me confidence. I’ll be way out of my depth, but at least I won’t look it.
Chapter Thirty-Three
SADIE
David picksthe kids up right after school. I spent the morning getting waxed and my nails done, and Logan went home to get ready.
Since my nails are brand new, I chew on the inside of my cheek, my nerves getting the best of me. Though I have no expectations of winning tonight, being nominated is still exciting. But what really unsettles my stomach is the fact Logan will be there. After the last few disastrous dates, I’m afraid I’m cursed. I know Logan is nothing like those guys, but everything feels wrong.
Having a first date after having sex for weeks is weird. Having a first date at an award ceremony in a public setting where I’ll know everyone, and he’ll know no one is plain awkward.
This would be a horrible romance book. It’s something Sandy would tell me to scrap the second I told her I’m writing it.
But I’m not writing it, I’mlivingit. And even though none of it makes sense, itfeelsright. It’s probably my neglected heart getting some attention for the first time in years, but it feels fucking right.
The ring of the doorbell snaps me out of my thoughts.Shit, I’m not ready yet.
Barefoot and half dressed, I make my way downstairs to lethim in. The plan is to scatter right back to my room before I’m met with the sight of him in a tux.
“I-I’m not ready,” I stutter.
