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Hallie
I haven’t decided what to wear to this date I don’t even want to go on, but there’s a knock on the door around 5:30 that eliminates the need to.
I’m not expecting any packages, but when I peek out the peephole to see who it is, I see Hollis with a dress bag and another stack of boxes. This time he has a woman with him, someone with dark curly hair and skin darker than his. She’s wearing an orange and brown outfit with stiletto heels and has several bangle bracelets dangling from her slim wrist.
I frown, then unlock the door and ease it open.
“Date preparations,” Hollis informs me before I’ve even asked, barging right in with the woman following behind him.
“Um…”
I follow him through my apartment (which he seems to know his way around pretty well, considering I’ve never shown him around) and the woman heads for my bathroom where she begins to unpack the bag she brought with her.
When Hollis comes out of my bedroom empty-handed, I ask, “What is going on?”
“Monique is going to help you get ready for your date tonight.” He checks in on Monique to make sure she has everything she needs, then he starts to leave. Before he does, he doubles back to tell me, “And, just in case you were considering it, there’s no point trying to appeal to her for any sort of help. She knows where you’re going tonight, and not only will she not believe you, she’ll think you’re an absolute moron.”
My eyes widen and my jaw goes slack, but Hollis just leaves, telling me he will see me a little later.
Monique seems upbeat as she takes out all her beautifying tools. She starts talking about how excited I must be and how lucky I am. She tells me her last date was eating Ray’s Pizza on a park bench, and it gets me thinking about the last date I went on—a real one, not one I was coerced into.
Jackson and his friends were going to see an indie movie some girl he knew had a part in. He invited me to come along, and we stopped for sushi on the way there. I don’t like sushi. I’d told him that before, but he must have forgotten.
I wonder what Calvin has planned for our final date.
It feels sordid to call it that, but I guess it’s what I agreed to.
Monique styles my hair and does my makeup, then escorts me to my bedroom to unpack my stuff. I try to help, but she tells me to sit down and stop touching things so I don’t smudge the manicure she gave me before it has time to dry.
It doesn’t feel right sitting here like some kind of princess while someone else does everything for me, but since she clearly doesn’t want help, I look at my nails. Monique hasn’t let me see my hair or my makeup yet. She said it’ll be more fun if I see the whole look she put together once I’m completely ready.
My nails are lovely. She used different blue Dior polishes to make a beautiful, shimmery ombre look from dark at my cuticle beds to such a light blue, the tips are nearly white. I’ve had a few manicures over the years, but my nails have never looked this lovely.
The first box she opens contains a pair of black suede pumps that tie in a bow at the ankle. They seem a bit high-maintenance and are certainly nothing I would ever buy for myself, but boy, are they beautiful.
The second box contains a shimmery silver clutch with crystal fringe.
The third, a blue strapless bra with matching panties.
Finally, she opens a small jewelry box and shows me the stunning diamond and white gold bracelet inside.
With the boxes all opened, she opens the dress bag to reveal a midnight blue beaded ball gown.
A ball gown?
Where could he possibly be taking me that I need a ball gown?
Monique helps me get into it and once I’m fully dressed, she finally lets me see a mirror.
My own reflection sort of takes my breath away. My hair is done up in a sleek chignon, my makeup would fit in on any Hollywood red carpet, and the gorgeous blue ball gown makes me feel like Cinderella.
Well, if Cinderella had a psycho semi-stalker instead of Prince Charming.
I never expected to feel anything like excitement approaching this date, but when Hollis shows up a moment later, I can’t deny a small spark of it as he escorts me out to the limo.
That ember should die the moment he opens the door for me and I see Calvin inside. He looks handsome, but he always does. Tonight he’s dressed in a fine black tux with gleaming loafers. He looks like James Bond waiting for me instead of the villain I know he is.
“Should’ve brought an Aston Martin,” I remark as I lift the bottom of my gown and climb into the car.
