Page 36 of Billionaire and the Barista

GABRIELLA

Istood in front of the cheap almost full-length mirror hanging on the back of my bedroom door. Robbie sat in the middle of my bed, surrounded by piles of discarded outfits.

“I don’t know,” I muttered looking at my reflection.

I twisted side to side. Did my butt look too big? Did it look flat? It was big but I didn’t necessarily want to emphasize it. I definitely did not want it to look flat. My backside looked okay. And the cleavage was good, but I hated the way it emphasized the visible belly line.

I pulled the dress off and tossed it onto the bed and began rummaging in my closet for something else. There was no way to get away from my body, just some clothes looked better, and sometimes I didn’t care. Tonight, I cared. I cared a lot. The next dress needed to work; I was running out of options.

I pulled on an old favorite. It was bright and the skirt swirled around my knees.

“You look pretty mommy,” Robbie said.

I turned away from my reflection and looked at him. He was no longer looking at me but playing with some cars.

“You like this dress?”

He shrugged.

“Or do you like this one better?” I held up the dress that I had just pulled off.

The expression on his face told me I had already passed his tolerance for fashion.

“You don’t like that one.” He pointed to the dress in my hand.

I liked it, just maybe not for my first date in six years. Or my first date with Nathan since he had left.

“What makes you say I don’t like it?”

“You didn’t smile. You look happy in that one, so you like that one.”

I flopped onto the bed and pulled him into a squirmy hug. I hugged, he squirmed.

“You know you are a smart little man. How did you get so smart?”

He squealed and giggled, and I giggled too. Fashion sense or not, he had helped me to pick my dress. He was right, I did like this dress. It was pretty with big red flowers, and it was comfortable. I could be myself in it. I would be self-conscious enough going out with Nathan. I didn’t need to compound my issues by constantly wondering if my clothes were alright.

He wiggled free of my grasp. And pushed a pile out of his way.

I got up and began putting clothes away, keeping the dress on. I still needed to finish getting ready.

“You’re going to be good for Lacey tonight, right?”

He nodded.

“She’s going to put you to bed. Don’t do that thing where you won’t go to sleep.”

“Why aren’t you going to put me to bed?” he asked.

“I told you, I’m going out on a date. I will probably be back later than bedtime.”

A wash of nerves overcame me. I shook all over and let out a whoosh of air. Robbie looked at me funny.

“I’m a little nervous,” I admitted. “I haven’t been on a date in a long time.”

“Why are you nervous? I’m always excited when I get to go to a playdate. Last time I got to play at Annie’s we played with blocks. And then her big brother played with us until he got cranky and knocked down everything. Are you going to play with blocks?”

“I don’t think so, baby. We’re going to have dinner and talk.”

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