It felt a little bit like I was going off to prom or something.
“Be good,” Hollis yelled. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
That was good, because Hollis had definitely kissed and had dinner with many women before, including my sister, obviously.
I laughed as I got in the car and checked my face one last time before turning on the car and driving to Piper’s house.
I sat in the car bracing myself before I got out and walked up the steps to knock on the door. I clasped my hands behind my back so she wouldn’t see them shaking.
I was even more nervous than when I’d showed up to meet her the first time.
The door opened and she stood there, wearing a dress. No, this was a gown. Black, to the floor, and one-shouldered.
“Wow,” I said, without intending to.
“Wow yourself,” she said, stepping back to look at me. “You look great.”
“Thanks, you look…” I struggled to find the words.
“Thank you,” she said, grabbing her designer purse from the table.
“Preston is upstairs with the babysitter.” She shut the door and I could tell that she didn’t want the babysitter to see me, which was fine. I hadn’t told anyone I was having dinner with her, either.
“Shotgun,” I called as we walked to her car. She laughed.
“You must have done that a lot when you were a kid.”
“Oh, I did. I won a lot and my siblings got so mad because I’m the youngest, so they thought I had it the easiest.”
“And I bet you didn’t,” she said as she started the car.
“No, I didn’t.”
I cracked the window and let the breeze mess up my hair even more.
Piper put on some nice music and we sat in comfortable silence as she drove out of Castleton.
“I changed my outfit four times,” she said suddenly. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you that, but it’s true.”
“I’d love to see what you rejected,” I said.
She laughed. “Sometime I’ll show you.”
“Where is the dress from?”
“My parents always take me shopping in SoHo in Manhattan a few times a year. Got this on my last trip.” It would probably make me cry to know how much the dress cost. I decided not to think about it.
“Oh, so you’re the spoiled only child, I see,” I joked.
“Hey, that’s not fair! I can’t help it if my parents spoil me.”
“You know I’m only teasing,” I said, reaching for her hand. I didn’t know if this was allowed, so I simply twisted her fingers with mine and waited as she drove with one hand.
“Now you’re trying to distract me from the road,” she said, and I gave her hand back but not before I had run my finger across the back of her knuckles.
“I would never do such a thing,” I said, pretending to be offended.
Piper laughed as she took the exit that would take us to the restaurant. We teased each other the rest of the way and I didn’t know the last time I had giggled and blushed so much at the same time.
When I got out of the car, my nerves came back. The place was fancy, fancy. One of the main reasons I’d agreed to come here was that Sasha had said it was great, and if Sasha could be comfortable here, then I could too.
Still, the facade was intimidating, as was the dude in a tux at the front who asked if we had a reservation.
Piper, of course, was completely comfortable as the host took us to a table in the back corner near a fireplace.
There was a man playing the piano and I remembered Sasha saying that he took requests if paid enough. Should have brought more cash.
“Thank you,” Piper said, as the host pulled out her chair and then pulled mine out for me.
“Oh, um, thank you.”
We both sat down and I looked at her with what was probably equal parts awe and terror.
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just a restaurant,” Piper said.
“Okay,” I said, looking around. There were lots of other people eating their fancy food wearing their fancy clothes.
I drew on my deep meditation and breathwork to calm my heart rate and let go of my anxiety about eating here.
“Oh, I love this song,” Piper said, listening to the piano.
I listened too but didn’t recognize the song.
“If it wasn’t probably frowned upon, I’d ask you to dance,” I said.
Piper looked at me and smiled slowly. “I think I’d like to dance with you.” I bet she hadn’t danced with a woman before either. It was exciting that she hadn’t done a lot of things before, and she was going to do some of them with me.
I also tried not to think about the other firsts we might have. Piper definitely wasn’t ready for any of that, and I didn’t want to be pushy.
“I don’t really like wine, but I want to drink something,” I said.
“Have you ever had prosecco?” she asked. I shook my head. “You’ll like it.”
I bet I would.
I also took her guidance on the food, since I wasn’t familiar with what a lot of it was. Piper explained ingredients I didn’t know in a way that didn’t make me feel like a child.
She ordered the prosecco and our entrées for us. Taking charge again. I was happy to let her. This was her comfort zone. When it came to yoga, that was my domain and she ceded herself to my expertise.
The prosecco arrived and it was fizzy and had a sharp and sweet flavor.
“Oh, I like that,” I said after my first sip.
“Good. Should we toast?”
“Oh, sure,” I said. “Do you know any good toasts?”
Piper thought about that and then smiled slowly. “Be good. And if you can’t be good, be good at it.”
I almost snorted through my nose as I tapped my glass to hers. There was a twinkle in her eye.
“I know a number of bawdy toasts. Get a few more glasses of this in me and I’ll share them with you.”
“You’re a woman of many talents,” I said.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Our meals arrived and I was blown away by how pretty the food on my plate looked. Almost as if it wasn’t real. I almost wanted to take a picture to send to Julia, but then she might see that I wasn’t eating alone. Better not risk it.
Piper ate with a practiced ease and I did what I could to be dainty.
“Was Preston upset about you leaving?” I asked. I wanted her to know that I was open to talking about her son. He wasn’t something to be avoided or ashamed of.
“He was a little. He’s not used to me going out at night. He likes his routine. I’m hoping if I bring him some cake it will help with the guilt.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Cake can solve all kinds of problems,” I said.
“I think so too.” Her phone went off and she took it out of her bag. She smiled softly and then showed me what she’d been looking at. It was a picture of Preston all tucked in bed, with his mouth half-open, his eyes closed.
“The babysitter sends me updates.” She looked once more and then put her phone away. “At least she didn’t show me a picture of him throwing a tantrum.”