Playing It Safe(55)

“Julia?” my dad says, completely puzzled. “When did you get on the phone?”

“I’ve been here the entire time, Dad.”

“Are you watching the Hurricanes game, Julia? The f*cking refs are killing us. It’s total bullshit.”

“No, I’m not watching the game, Dad. I’m kind of busy, actually.”

My mom decides to chime in. “Is that why you can’t come over?”

“Um, no. I’m trying to find something to wear for a date I have tonight,” I confess, and take a seat on the edge of my bed. My dad is momentarily distracted by another god-awful call, so my mom continues with her questions.

“Is this your first date with the lucky guy?” she asks excitedly.

“Yes, kind of.”

“It either is or it isn’t, Julia,” my dad says, popping back into the conversation.

“It’s complicated.”

“That doesn’t sound promising,” he adds under his breath.

My mom butts in next. “How can it be your first date and already be complicated?”

I fall back on my bed, exasperated, and onto some of the outfits I’d laid out.

“Well, Carter, obviously there is something Julia isn’t telling us.”

“You think?” my dad says with a snort. “If he’s anything like the other guys she’s brought home to meet us, I give it another week.”

“Do you remember that one who wouldn’t drink anything all night, even with his food? I mean who doesn’t want even a little sip of water to clear their palate during a meal?”

“I remember that one,” my dad says. “How about the one who kept going to the bathroom every five minutes? He must have had a serious drug habit.”

“He didn’t have a drug habit, Dad.”

“Oh, so he had the shits then? I’m not sure that’s any better, Julia.”

“Carter,” my mom says while laughing, “stop teasing her.”

“You started it.”

“Julia, maybe this guy is going to sweep you off your feet.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” my dad says.

“Okay, guys. As much as this conversation has been as enlightening as ever, I’ve gotta go and start getting ready.”

“So you’re not coming over?” my mom asks again, like she hasn’t heard a word I’ve said.

“Not today. Maybe next week, okay?”

“Okay, sweetheart. That would be nice. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Julia,” my dad says in a cautious voice before I hang up. “Make sure whoever this guy is that he treats you good.”

I smile in spite of myself at the warning. Even though my parents might officially be off the reservation, I know in my heart they mean well and care about me, so I put up with their antics.

“I will, Daddy.”

We say a collective good-bye, and I toss my phone onto the bed. I’m still smiling while staring up at the ceiling and thinking about last night and this morning. My eyes eventually start to grow heavy, and although I really should decide what I’m wearing later tonight, a nap wins out instead.

I guess Sabrina was right. He wore me out. But in the best way possible.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


It’s 7:17 p.m., and as much as the nap did wonders for me and I feel completely rejuvenated, I slept until just after six o’clock, leaving me about an hour to get ready. Thank God I had already taken a shower today, which ended up helping to save me some time. Well, two showers, but who’s counting.

I switch off the blow-dryer and put it down amongst the clutter on the counter before performing a thorough final inspection of myself in the mirror.

Word to the wise, ladies: always perform the final inspection. The one time I didn’t, I ended up with my tits on display because I had an extra button undone on my blouse. Of course it wasn’t until my date kept staring at my chest with a lascivious grin that I looked down and noticed it. Needless to say, it was our one and only date.

After a lengthy debate with myself over whether to show too much leg or not, I opted for showing them off tonight. I settled on a simple black shift dress with a plunging split neckline and dolman sleeves that end somewhere along my upper thigh. I paired it with strappy leopard-print high heels. My hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and the only accessory I’ve added is gold hoop earrings. To the untrained eye it looks like I’m not wearing any makeup, but in fact I’m wearing enough to make it look like I’m not, which takes years of practice to perfect.

Overall I’m extremely pleased with how I turned out, given the fact that I only had an hour to get ready. I turn around and crane my neck over my shoulder to take one last look at my backside in the mirror. Once I’ve ensured that there is no back fat or panty lines visible, I switch off the bathroom light and head into the living room to wait for Alex.

First, I take to sitting on the couch but quickly decide that it may wrinkle my dress. Next, I try the barstools by the kitchen island and sit comfortably for all of a minute before my leg, kicking back and forth like an impatient child’s, drives me crazy and I jump off the seat. I start to pace back and forth behind the couch, but I stop when I realize my pits are starting to perspire again. So I freeze in mid-step and crane my arms up to let them air dry. I probably look like Daniel-san in The Karate Kid standing in the middle of my living room when I hear a light knock on the front door.