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Nineteen
Nora
I feellike a damn high school girl waiting on her prom date to come pick her up.
Except this time, he’s not going to come in, compliment my mother on our lovely home, and give my dad a handshake.
He’s going to fuck me.
I tried on a dozen black dresses before choosing this one. I’m still not even sure it’s the best option but if things go the way they’re meant to tonight, I might not even wear it for very long.
Damn, I need a drink.
Shoes first.
I bend my knee, quickly raising my foot and slipping my red stiletto over my ankle.
The doorbell rings downstairs.
“Shit, shit, shit,”I whisper as I shove on my other shoe.
All day. I have spent all day cleaning and tidying. It’s finally six but how the hell did it get here so fast?
I look in the mirror one last time, quickly fluffing my hair to make it look like I didn’t spend an hour making it look like this, then rush down the stairs.
Late dusk shines in from the windows in the living room and I give mother nature an enthusiastic thumbs-up for the perfect mood lighting. At least she’s looking out for me tonight.
I unlock the door — one last breath — and open it.
Clive Snow stands in the hallway and takes that breath away from me.
I expected jeans and a t-shirt, his usual work outfit at Red Brick. He wears a black suit with a red tie instead.
I gulp.
“Hey,” he says, smiling.
“Hi,” I say.
His eyes fall on my dress. “You look amazing.”
“And you look…” I shake my head and move out of the way. “Like you’re still out in my hallway. I’m sorry. Come in.”
He chuckles and steps inside, instantly looking around my living room. “So, this is what Michigan Avenue looks like from this side.”
I close the door and lock it out of habit. “To be honest, I never get tired of it.” I sneak a peek at the mirror by the door. Still looking good. “Would you like a drink?” I ask him.
“Ice water, please,” he says.
I cringe. “Right. No alcohol. That wouldn’t… be right.”
He smiles. “Nora, relax.”
“What? No. I’m fine. I’m very, very relaxed…”
I walk past the stairwell to the kitchen down the hallway. Clive follows behind me, taking slow and soft steps as he looks around. I try and tame my fidgeting hands as I reach into the cabinet by the sink for two drinking glasses but I nearly drop the damn things twice.
Get your shit together, Nora Payne.
