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Colby: Wow, that does sound cool. I love art shows.
I smiled. Yep, he’s definitely hinting.
Billie: I have an extra ticket. I was thinking I’d ask Holden if he wanted to go. You know, the musician connection and all. Of course, it wouldn’t be a date.
The evil side of me couldn’t help myself. Then I added:
Billie: It would be more like an undate. ;)
The dots started to jump around and then stopped, then started again and stopped. I might’ve cackled a little. Eventually, my phone vibrated.
Colby: You want to undate Holden?
Billie: Sure, why not? Of course, it would be platonic like you and I are.
I watched as the message went from delivered to read. A full minute went by and then my phone rang. Colby. Good thing he hadn’t FaceTimed me since I couldn’t wipe the huge grin from my lips.
“Hey,” I said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“What?”
A few heartbeats passed. “Wait. Are you screwing with me?”
I laughed. “Why would I do that?”
“You are. You’re screwing with me.”
My laughter rolled into a snort. “Jealous much?”
“I’m going to kick your ass. I don’t even know if you have tickets to an art show. But for that little stunt you just pulled, you’d better find some. Because you’re taking me to one Saturday night.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “I kind of like bossy Colby.”
“Oh yeah? Well I’m happy to boss you around, sweetheart. Just get your ass over here to my bedroom, and I’ll show you.”
Oh God. That sounded so damn good. But how the hell did we go from me busting his balls to me having blue balls so quickly? I needed to redirect this conversation before I told him to keep talking while I slipped my hand into my pants. I cleared my throat. “So…anyway. Would you like to join me at an art show, Colby? Of course, it would be an undate.”
“It took you long enough to ask.”
I laughed. “I have to go a little early. How is six?”
“Sounds good. I’ll pick you up.”
“I’ll meet you at the shop,” I told him.
“Are you working?”
“No, I’m off all day on Saturday this week.”
“Then let me come to you. I want to see where you live.”
“Umm…”
“Seriously? You don’t trust me yet? I’m not going to maul you, Billie.”
The funny thing was, not trusting Colby was never even a thought. It was me I didn’t trust alone with him in private anymore, especially not in a place with a big bed. But I was the one who was keeping things platonic, so I’d have to suck it up. “Of course, I trust you. I’ll see you when you get here..”
***
“You’re early…”
Colby’s eyes dropped down to my bare legs. I’d just finished doing my makeup and drying my hair and was dressed in a short, silk robe that skimmed the tops of my thighs.
He rocked back and forth on his heels. “It looks to me like I came at the perfect time.”
I chuckled and stepped aside for him to enter. “Come on in. Make yourself at home. I’m going to go get dressed.”
In my bedroom, I slipped out of my robe and into the sundress I’d picked out.
Colby yelled from the other room. “I was trying to imagine what your apartment would look like.”
I yelled back. “Well, what’s the verdict? Is it what you expected?”
“It totally is. It’s feminine and girly, yet also kind of funky. By the way, is the handle on this mug a dick?”
I laughed as I put on my shoes. “Indeed it is. Deek made it for me for my birthday. He and his boyfriend took a pottery class, and everything they made had a dick or balls on it.”
I looked in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door and didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. It had been a long time since I’d worn an outfit like this, but I knew walking into my mother’s gallery in my regular duds would give her a heart attack. So I gave a little, hoping she would do the same tonight.
Out in the living room, Colby was busy checking out the dozens of framed art pieces I had along one wall.
“Did you draw th—” He stopped mid-sentence when he turned and blinked a few times. “Wow. You look…”
“Like I’m on my way to church?”
“Church is the opposite of what I think of when I see you in that dress. I’m going to hell for what I’m thinking…”
I looked down. “Really? This does it for you? But you love my corsets so much.”
“Oh, I love those, too. But that dress…something about the innocent look of it mixed with your sleeve of tattoos… It makes me want to—” He dragged his eyes up and down my body again and shook his head. “Forget it. We should probably go.”
