Page 31 of Just For Her

“Thatwasfast.”Whileher brother spoke into her earbuds, Kayla continued to get ready for her date with Tove. “You’ve only been there for a month, and you’re already dating?”

“Yup. What can I say? Something’s in the air down here in Bend.” Kayla stood before the full-length mirror in Chrissy’s guest room, holding one dress to her body before grabbing a skirt and blouse to compare. For now, she went with the spring-time green and yellow ensemble that was technically too cold for a date to the country club at that time of year, but Kayla had an arsenal of sweaters at her disposal. “You should be happy for me. I was lonely up in Portland.”

“You were also working fifty hours a week. Who has time to date like that? I know I wouldn’t. Anyway…” Grady turned his head away from the phone and coughed. His spring allergies were legendary in the Smith household, and Kayla would not miss being around him when hay fever struck for the thirty-seventh year in a row. “I hope this guy is treating you right. I remember the last schmuck. He was ten years older than you and kept calling you Kelsey.”

“What’s his being older have to do with any of it? Besides, I’m treated like a queen so far. Where do you think I’m going later today? My latest and greatest is treating me to a day at the country club outside of Bend. That’s right. They have a membership there.”

Her brother was less than impressed, but Kayla didn’t care. Nor was she in any hurry to correct Grady’s assumption that his sister dated a man.One thing at a time.If Kayla had dropped that bomb, Grady would have been even more concerned. His heart may have been in the right place when it came to his baby sister, but Kayla was also in her thirties. Couldn’t she make her own damn decisions?Apparently not.Besides, why did he have to bring up her last boyfriend, a man who was more sugar daddy than a prospective spouse?

“Hope you have fun,” was all Grady said at last.

Kayla could barely swallow the silence between them. “What are you and the squids doing today?”

“They’re both doing Little League. Might take them to Powell’s tomorrow. We’ll see. Not sure we’re in the mood to drive that far.”

“Into downtown?”

“God, no. Beaverton. You think I want to go into downtown Portland?”

“Do you think I want to go anywhere?”

Kayla realized what a silly response that was, but this was what her brother did to her. Since they were kids, they traded barbs, gabs, and fibs as if it were second nature.I always know he has my back when I need it.This was the big brother who had decked a friend for groping Kayla’s ass when he was over playing video games. He also had no qualms about staring into the souls of the boyfriends, casual dates, and sugar daddies who came and went from her life over the years.I did stop him from talking to one of my managers at work, though…Some things went too far, no matter how much Grady cared about his sister’s well-being.

Now he had his own family to take care of. It was time for Kayla to figure out her own life, which she had done quite swimmingly since coming to Bend, one of the best decisions she had ever made.

Chrissy stopped by the room shortly after Kayla finished talking to her brother and put her earbuds in their charger. If Chrissy was shocked by the pea-green face mask adorning her friend’s visage, she had no room to talk. The woman wore a charcoal mask every night, and if the lights were off when she crossed paths with Kayla, it was like looking into the depths of a dark and bleak hell.

“Be honest.” Kayla slapped the green and yellow dress against her chest. “This one, or the skirt and blouse.”

“Depends.” Chrissy sat on the edge of the bed. “Is your goal at the country club to impress everyone there? Or to get your girlfriend turned on?”

Kayla’s head slowly turned toward Chrissy. “Which one is which?”

“If we’re impressing people, then the skirt and blouse. It covers more skin.”

“I was gonna wear leggings either way!”

“Good. Because it’s nice outside and everyone will want to sit on the patio.” Chrissy sighed. “Can’t believe she’s taking you there already. She’s a bona fide Fredriksson woman, right? She must want to introduce you to some of the family. A day like today? At least half of the ones who live here will bethere.”

Kayla zipped up her skirt with a flourish. “That’s what I gathered.” She pulled on the white button-up and immediately spotted a problem.

So did Chrissy, who giggled.

“This is sluttier, isn’t it?” Both of Kayla’s index fingers pointed to the bright red bra showing through the white shirt.

“Do youhaveto wear your garishly whorish pushup bra?”

“Yes.” Kayla turned back to her reflection. What looked sillier? The bra beneath her sheer white blouse, or the green mask on her face? “Tove bought this for me last week. I haven’t worn it for her yet. Honestly, it barely fits. She’s convinced I’m a B-cup.”

“Ouch.”

“Right? I’m obviously a C.”

“Or maybe she’s like men such as my husband. They think a tight bra is worth it if it makes the girls pop out for a couple of hours.”

“I might be meeting some of her family! I can’t be walking around in something like this.” Kayla quickly removed the blouse and left it to rot beside Chrissy on the bed. One of her nipples poked out after such exorbitant movement. It took Kayla a moment to realize where the draft came from, and by then, her friend was laughing harder than ever.

“So change the bra! I know you’ve got some plain white ones in the closet. Huey keeps finding them hanging up in the guest bathroom when he goes to use it.”

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