Page 102 of Legacy

And hoping to hell I’d find a way to make it happen.

Chapter 16

Felicity

I had been on dates before, plenty of them. But I didn’t know why I felt so stressed at this point, considering this shouldn’t be anything new.

Callum and I had been seeing each other for weeks now. We’d slept together. Our families knew we were together. We’d even been out in public together.

Except now, it wasn’t a secret.

I slid my hands over my little black dress, loving the way that it ruffled slightly over the middle of my thighs. The neckline went straight across my collarbones, leaving the long lines of my neck and my shoulders bare. It also dipped low in the back, and I knew that one day soon, I’d finally get my tattoo down my spine, and this dress would showcase it perfectly. I slid my feet into forest green heels, a fun color that had made me smile and would stand out against the black of my dress.

I had put my hair up in a chiffon, one that could easily come out with just one or two pins in strategic places.

I looked like I knew what I was doing. Classier than I felt sometimes.

I wasn’t sure why the nerves had settled in so hard. But they were there. And I didn’t know when they were going to go away.

My phone buzzed, and I smiled at the readout.

Keely: You’ve got this. I want to hear all the details later. This is so much better than online dating.

I smiled as I replied.

Me: We can find you a small-town guy. Though most of the men I know are older.

Keely: You don’t seem to have a problem with older.

Me: No, I don’t. But what about an older single dad? Those are most of the single guys I knew. Other than my brother. Which, I know you don’t want to date my brother.

Keely: Well, you’re doing the whole brother’s best friend thing. I’m not going to do the whole best friend’s brother thing. Rune is nice, but no. As for Atlas? He scares me. I will find a nice and calm, maybe, possibly, single dad in Ashford Creek. At some point.

Me: We’ll find you somebody. Although, I’m nervous about tonight.

My phone rang this time, and I answered.

“Why are you nervous? This is Callum. You’ve got this down by now.”

“It feels like a first date.”

“Why?” She paused, and I heard her snap her fingers. “Oh. Duh. You guys are going out in public. Out to dinner. Where everybody knows you will be dating. It’s not just something that people can confuse for two friends going out.”

“Ding ding. Why am I so stressed out?”

“Because he matters. Because this matters. But what others think does not. So have fun, enjoy yourself. And ride that hot bearded man. Or at least climb him like a tree.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I am. Now enjoy yourself. I’m going to go work on these tarts.”

“I don’t know if you’re calling yourself a tart, or me,” I teased.

“Haha. We have an event tomorrow, and I really want to make Promise proud. So I’m going to work my ass off on these tarts. They need to settle overnight, so wish me luck.”

“Don’t work too hard.”

“Even if I do, I’ll sleep well. Now go get laid.”