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She put her hands on her hips, standing up from my armchair. “Isn’t that all you were doing your last few weeks at Queen Pearl? Taking her on dressy dates?”
“Well, yes. But we weren’t calling them that.”
She laughed. “Damn, though, but you’re confident now. I could use a bit of that.”
“Hey, you want my help looking good for a date, I’m here. But you’ve always had the better eye for fashion…”
“More just getting this guy to notice I’m hitting on him. You remember Marco?”
I wrinkled my nose. “You’re hitting on Marco? Have you lost your mind?”
“God, let me finish. He’s got a friend. Damien. As hot as he is dumb. I’ve been batting my eyelashes at him for ages now and he won’t do a damn thing.”
“Sometimes you’ve got to be… direct.”
She laughed. “Yeah, seems to be working for you. I mean, damn. One day at the new job and you’re already bagging multi-millionaires.”
“Uh-huh. Which shoes should I go with?”
“I like your monochrome look. Got anything that matches that red?”
I did, as it so happened. And Ruth gave me a big hug as I headed out the door, promising to make sure Earl got his dinner on time, and I felt so nervous as I called a cab that it felt like I’d be sick.
Something about telling Ruth about the date, getting her help with styling, made it all so much… realer. And I was suddenly a teenage girl trying to put the moves on her first crush, all blushing awkwardness. But it was really my first time proper—my last girlfriend and I had kind of just fallen into something together because it felt easy.
This? This was lightyears different. And maybe it was okay to be nervous about that.
I texted Cameron telling her I was on my way, and the taxi driver must have been choking on my nervous energies, because he kept glancing at me in the rear-view mirror until he said, “Something big?”
I laughed nervously. “Yeah… a date with someone you wouldn’t believe I’ve got a chance with. Wish me luck, okay?”
He gave me a big smile in the mirror. “Ah. Good luck.”
La Mar was an elegant place right on the water, looking out at the glistening high-rise structures of Miami Beach, all lit up against the dusky backdrop with midnight creeping on over the ocean. The air smelled sweet and warm as I stepped out of the cab, my heart hammering as I headed for where Cameron stood by the entrance, wearing the same black wrap dress she’d worn that first night as Amelie. I waved to her, and she glanced at me, stopping, a smile playing on her lips as she looked me over.
“Can’t even get inside before you check me out?” I said, and she gave me a playful smile.
“What, you want me to stop?”
“Okay, no.” I laughed, a nervous rush in my chest as I tucked a strand of hair back, dropping my voice lower. “You, um… you look gorgeous.”
“You too. Is this a new dress?”
“How can you…” I cleared my throat. “Right. You probably know fabrics.”
She laughed. I felt myself blush. I wasn’t expecting to be called out immediately. I turned to the water.
“My friend helped me pick it out. She’s got a better eye for fashion than me.”
“Hm. Told her you were off charming clients again?”
I shot her a challenging smirk. “Now you do want me to play the salesperson angle?”
She smiled wider. I folded my arms.
“No, actually. I told her I was off on a date with Cameron Mercier, and I was willing to move heaven and earth to impress her. Don’t worry,” I said, putting a hand up, “she’s one of my best friends. She can keep a secret.”
Her smile dropped, just a little, something there that I couldn’t read—studying me, eyes narrowed just a fraction. Finally, breathlessly, she shook her head and spoke just loud enough for the two of us. “You’re quite hard to resist like this.”
