Just then, I noticed my phone on the desk, and I remembered the text she sent me that I never responded to. Picking up the phone, I go to our text thread.
EL: The boys want a taco bar for dinner tonight. Dinner at my place?
Me: Actually, I think I’ll just eat at home tonight. You can send Jacob over when he’s finished eating.
After sending that text, I tossed my phone on the desk. I know I never had a chance with Ella, but damn, even losing her friendship feels like a heartbreak.
Change
Chapter Nine
Ella
Once again, I glance down at my phone. Two weeks ago, I invited Mitchell to the house for tacos, and he bypassed them. Mitchell loves my taco bar. Since that decline, he’s grown distant.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d done something wrong. The last thing I can think of is our encounter on my back patio. For just a split second, I allowed myself to think of how it would feel to kiss Mitch. And for a moment, I could almost imagine I saw the same desire in his eyes for me.
I know. I know. That was a stupid thought. The man is my ex-husband’s best friend. I’m sure he doesn’t think of me in that way. And there I was, practically drooling over him.
Maybe he got weirded out about that look and decided to keep his distance. All I know is that the space between us hurts. I guess that’s proof that I have relied too heavily on him. Hopefully, this date tomorrow will help take my mind off things.
“No, have her try on the black top,” Destiny says as she sips her wine.
Tonight was book club night. All the girls were at my house again instead of Jada’s, as in tradition, to help get me ready for the date.
Kyra had brought over the rack of clothes the ladies had helped me pick out. They stayed true to their word about giving me a wardrobe update.
“I don’t know about that one. It’s a lace corset. Don’t you think that’s too much for a first date?”
Jada walks back to the living room, eating one of my chocolate chip cookies she took off the table.
“Hell no.” She drops onto the couch across from me. “With your breasts, that man will be drooling.”
I look down at my size D cup boobs that are sitting high in the red v-neck dress I’m wearing.
Kyra pulls the black corset from the rack along with a black form-fitting blazer and jeans, and walks them over to me. She smiles as she hands the clothes to me.
“Trust me, okay?”
Shaking my head, I grab the clothes before heading into my bedroom. I placed the garments down on the bed. My phone vibrates in my hand, letting me know I have a text. I hurriedly fumble for it to see who’s texting me. Disappointment settles in my belly when I realize it isn’t Mitch. It’s Jeremy, the guy I’mgoing out with tomorrow. He and I have been talking and texting for the last two and a half weeks.
Jeremy: I have to admit, I’m really excited about tomorrow.
Jeremy is the general manager of a popular cellphone retail store. He’s also a youth basketball coach. He loves coaching kids and spends a lot of his free time helping his grandmother. On paper, the guy checks all the boxes.
Me: I guess that makes two of us.
I replied before placing the phone on my bed. Despite how I’m feeling about Mitch, I am excited about this date. And nervous. I haven’t been out on a first date since I was fifteen years old. Hell, I’m not even sure what the protocols are on a first date anymore.
I quickly changed out of the dress, and into the new outfit Kyra handed me. Standing before the full-length mirror in my bedroom, I stare at my reflection. It’s been a long time since I’ve looked at myself and saw a sexy woman. Not a pretty mother of two or an attractive wife, but an alluring woman.
“Ella, bring yourself out of that bedroom,” Pamela shouts with a chuckle.
“Yeah, Ella. We want to see,” Meagan adds.
Grabbing the expensive black heels with the familiar red bottoms, I admire them. I’d bought these shoes last year for my anniversary. I was trying to look beautiful for my husband. His only words when he saw me were that I was going to bust my ass in those damn shoes. At the time, I had quickly taken the heels off and changed into some flats. I hadn’t worn the heels since. But today, I slip my feet into the shoes and walk out of my room.
The moment I turn the corner and into the living room all the women stop talking and stare back at me.
