She has a point, and it has been a while since I got a good trim. “Fine.”
Once our nails are dry, we walk next door to the salon. I’m assuming we’re walk-ins, and the place is busy, so I’m not sure if I’ll actually get in. But then Mom gives the lady at the front desk my name, and I realize she made an appointment.
Before I can ask her about it, I’m ushered to a chair, where I spend the next couple hours getting a trim, having my balayage redone—since I haven’t gotten it done in over a year—and then having my hair straightened. When the stylist is done, Lexi, Georgia, and Mom gush how beautiful I look.
“While we’re at it, why don’t we do her makeup?” Mom suggests.
“I don’t think—” I begin, but am cut off by the stylist.
“Yes! Perfect.” She flits around, applying my makeup, and when she’s done, I look like I have somewhere to go—kind of a waste if you ask me, but it does feel nice.
“Here, put this on,” Lexi insists, thrusting a bag at me. It’s from earlier when we were shopping.
“Are we going somewhere?” I ask, confused.
“We’re not, but you are.” Lexi winks. “Now go! We only have a few minutes. The heels are in the bag too.” Before I can do as she says, she pulls me into a hug. “Have a good time tonight.”
“Yes! Text us later,” Georgia says.
“Well, tomorrow,” Lexi adds with a laugh.
“You’re leaving?” I ask, separating from Lexi.
“Yeah, we’re going to head home,” Lexi says. “We have an apartment to find.” She winks and kisses my cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you both,” I say, pulling Georgia into a hug.
After we finish saying our goodbyes, I head into the bathroom to change. The halter dress in the bag isn’t one I’ve seen before. They must’ve snuck it in while we were shopping. It’s navy blue and short, showing off my legs. I slip on the black peep-toe heels and stuff the clothes I was wearing into the bag.
When I step out of the bathroom, I look around for my mom but don’t see her anywhere.
“They’re outside,” the receptionist says with a smile.
“Thank you.”
When I step outside, my gaze lands on the most gorgeous man standing in front of a stretch limo. Our eyes connect and he smiles wide, his two dimples popping out.
“You look fucking amazing,” he says, stepping forward.
“Look at you,” I say back, drinking him in. I thought he looked sexy last night in a button-down shirt, but that look has nothing on the suit he’s sporting right now. Black jacket and dress pants that look like they were tailored just for him. He’s wearing a metallic silver shirt underneath—no tie, with a few buttons undone. His shoes are shiny and black. He looks like he’s going to a…
“We’re not getting married, are we?” I blurt out.
Ryan throws his head back with a laugh. “No, babe. We’re not getting married. But we are going on our first official date.” He shoots me a flirty wink and takes my hand in his.
“Who has RJ?”
“He’s with your parents at their house.”
I slide into the limo and Ryan edges in after me. I notice a bottle of champagne sitting on ice and lift it. “Want some?” I waggle my brows.
He shakes his head. “No, but you should have some.”
I hand him the bottle so he can open it for me. He pops the top and pours me a glass. I take a sip and the bubbles go to my nose. I’ve never had champagne before. I assumed it would be sweet, but it’s kind of… bitter. I take a few more sips, then set my glass down.
Ryan leans in and runs his tongue along the seam of my lips, sending shivers down my spine and straight to the apex of my legs. “Mmm, you taste good,” he murmurs against my lips.
“You sure you don’t want any?”
“Nope, I’m enjoying tasting it on you.”
A few minutes later, we arrive in front of a well-known restaurant that I know costs a fortune to eat at. I mentioned last night when we walked by that I’ve always wanted to eat there.
“If this is where you’re taking me to eat on our first date, you’re setting the bar high,” I joke as we get out. “I mean, how in the world will you top this place for our second date?”
Ryan chuckles. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”
With his hand splayed across my lower back, he guides us to the elevator and up to the top floor, where a maître d’ is waiting. Ryan gives her his name and we’re immediately shown to our table, which is outside on a terrace.
“Wow, this view is gorgeous,” I say, looking down at the Strip.
“I’d have to agree,” Ryan says.
I look over at him and he’s staring at me. “You’re such a cheeseball,” I say playfully, rolling my eyes.
“Maybe, but it’s the truth. You look beautiful tonight.” He pulls out my chair for me and I sit, taking a sip of the water the waitress dropped off.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” I tell him, setting the water down. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted tonight to be memorable,” he says. “You only get one first date.”
The waitress returns and reads off the drink specials. Since I had enough to drink last night, I stick with water, and Ryan does the same.
We both peruse the menu, and when the waitress returns and we both order the same thing—steak and scallops—we laugh.
“Is it weird that I’m missing RJ like crazy, even though I just saw him a little while ago?” I ask, when the waitress walks away.
“Am I that bad of company?” Ryan jokes, pouting dramatically.
“No!” I reach across the table and slap his arm. “I’m enjoying your company. I always do. But I feel like I haven’t seen him in a while. He spent the night at my mom’s last night and then I spent the day out without him today.” I shrug a shoulder, hoping I don’t sound like some crazy helicopter mom. “It’s just that… he’s a part of me, and when I’m not around him, it’s as if a piece of me is missing.”
Ryan smiles softly, moving his chair closer to me and taking my hand in his. “It’s because you have the biggest damn heart,” he says, bringing my knuckles up to his lips. “And you’re an amazing mom.”
“He makes it easy,” I joke. “The real test will be when he’s a hormonal teenager, fighting us tooth and nail to be his own person. Sneaking out of the house to meet with his girlfriend or to go to parties…”
Ryan chuckles. “Is that what you were doing as a teenager?”
“Well, duh… weren’t you?”
He shakes his head. “I was in JROTC and spent my weekends at drill or robotic competitions.”
“You dated, though, right?” We haven’t touched on our past. I know he was married, even met her a couple times, but I don’t know much about him before our time at the beach house, except that he was overseas more than he was on U.S. soil.
“Laura and I hung out, but we were just friends. We met in science and sort of hit it off. I wasn’t much of a talker, so I didn’t really make friends easily, and she kind of attached herself to me. She didn’t mind that I was quiet. She just liked not being so alone.” His lips tilt into a shy smile.