Hey Jude, yeah that was fun! Sure, I’m tutoring until about 5:30pm tonight. Want to meet at that Italian place, Copertina, at 7?
That should give me enough time to get home, change, and get to the restaurant. Our town is small enough that Copertina is virtually the only fine dining restaurant we have. There is a sushi place, but it’s currently under investigation for a listeria poisoning outbreak. I shudder at the thought. I really love sushi,but I also can’t reason driving to the next town over for a date. My phone pings with his response.
Jude “The Hair”
Great. I’ll pick you up at 6:30. Black Range Rover. The driver’s name is Eddie.
I frown at my phone hard enough that I may need Botox in the near future.
Okay, I guess that’s nice of him to pick me up.
I shake off the confusion and text him back my address, receiving a thumbs up emoji in response. I quickly swipe on some mascara and lip balm before grabbing my bag to meet my first student at the campus library.
* * *
By the time I get home from tutoring I’m a fair amount richer and my baby hangover has turned into a migraine. I don’tlovetutoring, but it’s good money to help with bills and it keeps me on my game with theories and foundational information for my own classes.
I have a few outfit options thrown across my bed and some music playing in the background. I have a stunning velvet black mock-neck mini dress as my first option, but it seems a little too fancy. I’d rather save it for a special occasion. Plus, it has long sleeves. I don’t feel like sweating my ass off tonight, so I navigate towards option B, holding it up in the mirror.
“That outfit is cute. Going out?” Mom asks from the door. I startle, not realizing she was there. I put down the pink mini dress and turn to her.
“Yeah, remember that guy I had a date with at the coffee shop? He actually asked me out for a second date earlier today,” I say, wondering what she’ll think of me putting myself out there, taking a chance, as she so eagerly wants me to do.
“Hm, well that’s nice, honey. Is this someone Dominic told you about?” she asks, arms crossed, hovering over the threshold of my door. I may be in my twenties but Mom is still a mom, momming away.
“Uh, yeah,” I say not meeting her eyes, digging around in my closet for some matching sandals.
“What does Dominic think of him?” There’s an underlying tone in her voice telling me she’s trying to pry something out of me, I’m just not sure what. I take a minute to answer, head buried in my closet. I pull out some white low wedges and turn to face her.
“I’m not sure, he said he’s got great hair, and honestly I agree,” I give her a small laugh and a shrug. “You know I went on a date with him already, I can judge his character myself.” There’s more annoyance in my voice than I meant to let slip, but I’m running late.
“I know, I know. Well, text me if you need an out and make sure your location is on,” she says before sauntering down the hall to her room. I pause until I hear her Netflixdun-dumturn on, indicating she’ll be resting in bed for the remainder of the night. Mom is aonce I’m under the covers I’m not getting outkind of woman.
I hurry through curling my hair and brushing it out, giving it a soft wavy look. Just as I finish swiping on some liner and lipstick I think I hear an SUV roll up in front of the house. It’s confirmed when I hear Pongo barking away. He must have beenoutside as the car pulled up. I hurry down the stairs, wedges and purse in hand, to get into the SUV before the neighbourhood is disturbed from the excessive barking.
“Bye Mom! Love you!” I call out before heading out the door and locking it behind me.I hope she brought enough food up there for herself for the night.
I pause on the porch wondering if I should run up a bag of pretzels or something for her to munch on, but Pongo’s barking pulls me from the thought and I throw on my sandals and rush towards the SUV. A driver stands by the back door, hands crossed and held in front of him in a professional manner.
“Hello,” I say wearily, offering the driver a small smile as I get closer.
“Good evening, Ms. Pinkfordt,” he says by way of greeting, pulling the backseat door open for me. I step forward to see an empty backseat. I pause before getting in.
“Hi, um, Eddie, right?” I ask and he nods in confirmation. “This may sound odd, but Jude isn’t in the car.” I point to the empty space as I trail off, feeling uneasy about getting into a random car even if this driver knows my name.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Pinkfordt. I was under the assumption you knew Mr. Havenston was meeting you at the restaurant. He is currently at a business meeting with his father and will be dropped off by his father’s driver after the meeting’s completion,” Eddie says in finality, a hand gesturing for me to hop in, as if this was a normal every day kind of thing. Maybe in Jude’s world itisa normal thing. I nod and give him a tight smile before shuffling inside, pulling my phone out as soon as Eddie closes the door behind me.
Hey - The Hair sent a car to pick me up. Text me till I get to the restaurant?
Lane
Of course Pinky. Safety first.
So the man has money, that’s a plus.
Yeah, clearly. Range Rover money. Range Rover + chauffeur money.
Get that bag girl! Your wedding would be huge. Morocco or Italy?!
