Page 64 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

“That’s a good idea, man. Thanks, I will think about it.”

A grand gesture that shows her that I’m all in this time? Pretty sure the biggest thing is to convince Kendra that I’m capable of actually loving her, that I am in love with her . . . that I have been in love with her for the past nine years, despite my actions.

52

Kendra

Iam going on a date, a real date with Eli. We are not sneaking around town like the summer I was nineteen. We aren’t parking out on deserted back roads or in fields where nobody will see us. At least I hope that’s not what we’re doing. He said he wanted it to be known that we were together, on a date.

For fuck’s sake I shouldn’t be this nervous. I am living with the man. He kisses me daily. We recently masturbated . . . together. I blush thinking of the memory and tug at the fifth sweater I have tried on.

“Any luck,” Sutton says through the fitting room door.

“No! I hate everything. Or everything hates me. I don’t know.” I open the door showing her the flared jeans I have on with a simple, soft brown sweater.

“That looks beautiful, Kendra! What’s wrong with it?”

“I just don’t think it’s ‘date’ enough, do you?” I step into the open space and look at myself in the trifold mirrors.

“Honestly, I think you could wear a potato sack and Eli would lose his mind.” Sutton grins.

“You’re being the best hype woman.” I squeeze her hand.

“Here, give this a try.” She hands me an oversized, deep V-neck sweater in army green. “Front tuck it,” she instructs.

Stepping back into the fitting room I do as she says and smile because this is a first date outfit.

I open the fitting room door a final time to Sutton’s gasped, “Yes!” and I know we nailed it.

Eli left an hour ago to drop Wren off with Holly who excitedly offered to babysit and keep Wren for the night when Eli told her that he was taking me on a date.

The doorbell rings as I am slipping my new sweater carefully over my head so I don’t mess up my meticulously curled hair. I do the front tuck into my jeans like Sutton told me as I bound down the final few stairs to answer the door.

I look hot, I feel confident . . . until I open the door and come face-to-face with my date who could also moonlight as a freaking model.

“Holy shit.” I stumble back as Eli steps into his own house.

“Hello, sweetheart.” Kissing my cheek, Eli pulls out a huge bouquet of flowers from behind his back. A wild mix of vibrant colors and variety that smell amazing.

“I need to change!” I exclaim.

“What? Fuck no, you look incredible. I’m for sure going to have to scare other men off with my stink eye all night, but no. Do not change.” Eli grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together.

“But look at you.” I point to him. He is wearing a charcoal suit, tailored perfectly to his massive body. The crisp white button-down underneath is starched, his tie is the same one he wore to Lainey and Rem’s wedding, and his shoes are a black square-toed dress shoe that look like small boats on his size 14 feet.

“What about me?” He worriedly looks up and down his body.

As if there is a flaw. I roll my eyes.

“I’m not dressed as fancy, as nicely, as you are, Hulk. We don’t match. We don’t go together.” I tug at his hand, trying to go toward the stairs, but he won’t allow it.

“If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that we are always perfect together. Here,” he says, and starts to undress before my eyes.

The suit jacket comes off first and he lays it across the back of the couch. He loosens the tie next. I gulp as he loops it over his head, tossing it on top of the jacket—Eli’s eyes staying locked on mine with every movement so he can have access to how he’s affecting me.

“You doing okay over there?” He smirks, dimple dipping in just enough to be seen.

“Uh-huh.” I trail my eyes down his throat to his hands where he’s undoing the buttons at his collar. Next he rolls up the sleeves of his crisp white dress shirt, flexing his corded forearms with each movement and making me feel like I might pass out from how ruined I am from this simple action.