Page 38 of Prince of Darkness

She pulls a black dress out from her bag. “I can’t wear anything you own.” I don’t know what she’s thinking.

“You can too. It’s a dress.” She holds it up for me to see. The dress cuts low in the front and I know my boobs are going to be on display. Something I’m guessing she planned. Amelia says I have the best boobs and that she has boob envy. I think they just get in the way and stretch out the cute little cat faces on my shirts, but whatever. I want legs as long as hers but obviously we can’t have it all.

“Trust me.” She brings the dress over to me. “I’m tall and flat.” She motions to her boobs that aren't really flat. They fit her frame. “The dress will ride up higher on you which is good because it would be too long otherwise.” That’s her nice way of saying my legs are short.

I take the dress from her knowing this is a battle I’m never going to win. I drop my robe. She helps me put it on so I don’t mess up my hair or makeup.

“Damn girl.” She smiles, wiggling all around. Way too excited about this.

“I’m scared to look.” I laugh but I take the few steps over to the full length mirror that hangs on the inside of my closet door.

“Oh.” I look sexy. I stare at myself for a minute. I still look like me but I scream sex appeal. “I like it,” I admit. I know I’ll feel a little uncomfortable in it because I’m not used to wearing stuff like this. But I do look cute, instead of trying to hide my curves they are accentuated by the dress. My boobs and butt look good. If I do say so myself.

“Now the shoes.” I cringe. “Just give them to me.” We wear the same size. Like I said before, it’s not that I’m bad in heels they just start to hurt my feet after a few hours. Amelia always says that my feet were made to wear heels. Both my feet and I beg to differ. I won’t have to worry about the length of time I’m wearing them anyway. Since neither my blind date nor I particularly want to be there, it should be an early night. I’ll be home before my feet can even begin to ache.

“I went easy on you. Chunky heels and only a few inches.” I’m in shock but also thankful. I snatch the black shoes from her that have dark blue and purple glitter on the heel. They are adorable. I sit on my bed putting them on before I switch purses to match my outfit.

“We ready?” Amelia is in a red dress that makes her long blonde hair look shinier than normal.

“Yep. Sam is meeting us there.” Her phone dings. “Uber is here.” My stomach forms knots. It feels wrong going on this date but Amelia is right; I need to get out. This is only an icebreaker to get my feet wet. I’m just not sure why it feels like a betrayal. The sexy voice from yesterday still tingles in my ear. I shake my head of those thoughts knowing that they are absurd. I’ve talked to Mr. Kennedy one time. I’m being ridiculous. I need to stop reading all of those insta-love stories.

By the time we get to the restaurant my stomach is in a million knots. Sam pulls out a chair for Amelia as we all sit down and the first round of drinks is ordered. We sit in idle chit chat as I sip on my wine wishing this guy would get here already so that I can eat and we can go home. I want to get this first awkward encounter over. Each second I grow more and more anxious.

“Are you sure he’s coming?” I ask Amelia as the first thirty minutes pass. The restaurant is nice and I feel a little out of place even dressed up nice like I am.

“Kim said he would and she’s solid on her word.” She picks up her phone. I’m guessing to text her. “I know the guy is some big shot business man so maybe he got hung up at work,” she suggests as she clicks away on her phone. Or maybe he saw me and took off? That’s my self-loathing thought. As much as I hate that I have it, it’s still there. I don’t even know why I care. I’ve been trying to get out of this from the beginning. Planning all sorts of ways to leave after dinner. But that’s me leaving. Him not showing up or the thought of him seeing me and leaving has my insecurities coming out. It also has my anger rearing its head.

“Mia?” The maitre d’ says my name.

“That’s me,” I respond.

“I have a message for you.” He gives a small sad smile because we all know I’m about to get stood up. “Mr. Kennedy couldn't make it. He sends his apologies. Everyone’s dinner will be covered and he asked me to give you this.” He hands me a red velvet box before walking away.

“Open it. I want to see what that dipshit sent you.” Amelia drops her phone down onto the table loudly. A few people turn and look our way. I open the box. My eyes almost pop out of my head.

“Holy shit.” It’s a necklace covered in diamonds.

“That can’t be real.” Amelia takes all the words right out of my mouth. I close the box because it doesn't matter.

“Don’t try and set me up on another date with this guy.” I push the box away from me.

“Sorry.” Amelia rolls her eyes at the box. The necklace made me feel cheap. Unimportant. I know I don’t know this guy but still, that shit stung and felt gross. What I do know is that I’m never doing this blind date thing again.

7

MAX

I’ve waited in agony for my sister to realize that I didn’t show up for the date she set up. While I feel terrible for the woman that I stood up, I couldn’t in good faith go on a date when my heart belonged to someone else. It felt wrong. It wasn’t fair to her or my little telephone angel Mia. I sigh and wait for the wrath that I know my sister is going to bring down upon me. I just don’t know why it’s taking so long. What if the woman didn't tell my sister I never showed? Shit. I’d told Mark to send an apology gift or whatever someone does in a situation like this. What if the gift was too good and now the woman was happy with it and didn't care to tattle on me? Damn it.

I open my computer and go through some of my emails while I bide my time before I get my ass hopefully reamed out by Kim. It’s then I notice that I have an email from her. Oh shit, she’s really pissed if she couldn’t even bring herself to call me. I smile before I even read it. Not because she’s upset but because I know this means that my little telephone angel should be calling me very soon. I click on my sister’s email and ready myself for the harsh words that I know it contains. I deserve them for standing the poor woman up.

Game on….

I stare at the two words with all the ominous dots that follow it. I was sure it was going to be a long email of some kind. Not a simplegame on.Maybe I should poke her. What if she’s just given up? Ha. Yeah right. There’s no way that my sister is throwing the towel in. She’s a Kennedy at heart and we don’t give up. I count on it.

“Sir.” I look up to see Mark standing in my doorway. “Something has come up. I have to leave for the day.”

“Everything okay?”

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