Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,34
You don’t like to be touched, big deal.”
Relief flooded through my system and I smiled at Piper. She smiled back.
“You better get a move on, Jared’s going to be here soon,” she warned.
“Oh crap!” I dropped the lip stain onto the counter. I ran to the living room and grabbed the dress, before dashing back into my room and changing.
I opened my bedroom door and Piper was standing there. She looked me up down several times, before saying, “You look gorgeous, Katy.”
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing my black blazer off the back of my desk chair. It was supposed to be colder tonight and I didn’t want to end up freezing in the short dress.
I smoothed the bottom of it down; a bit uncomfortable with the short length, but it was a gorgeous dress. It was white, with a flower design, and the bottom of it flared out.
“How long do we have before Jared gets here?” Piper asked.
I looked at my watch, it was Michael Kors and a gift from my mother, despite my hatred of most things she purchased for me, I actually liked the watch. It was a gift for my high school graduation. I was still shocked she’d actually remembered my graduation. It wasn’t unusual for her to forget my birthday.
“He should be here in twenty minutes,” I said, I had text Jared my address while I was getting dressed.
“Good! That’s plenty of time to paint your nails,” she scurried out to my living room and began rummaging through her purse.
“I hate to tell you, I don’t have any nail polish,” I informed her.
“I figured as much,” she rolled her eyes. “Which is why I brought my own.” She held up a bottle of lavender nail polish. “Sit,” she pointed at the couch, while she perched on the end of the coffee table.
I did as she told me and grabbed a stack of magazines to rest my hands on.
Piper was careful not to touch me while she applied the polish.
I blew on my nails in the hopes of speeding up the drying process.
“I just want to thank you, again, for coming over,” I looked up at Piper.
“It’s not a problem, Katy. I was just doing homework. You and Rollo are pretty much the only people I know here, so my Friday’s are pretty boring. At least I have shopping to forward to, tomorrow,” she grinned. “I’m in need of some new shoes.”
“Shoes!” I exclaimed. “Oh crap!”
Piper laughed. “Did you really think I’d forget shoes?” she pulled a pair of black pumps from her purse.
“Jeez, what are you going to pull out of there next?” I asked with widened eyes.
“Nothing interesting, I assure you,” she handed me the shoes.
I’d barely put them on, when someone knocked on the door.
Piper grinned. “Sounds like Mr. Sex-on-a-stick is here.”
I shushed her. “He’ll hear you!”
“I don’t care,” she giggled. “It’s true and I’m sure he knows it.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to tell him,” I hissed, just as Jared knocked on the door again.
I almost tripped on my way to the door. It had been a while since I’d worn heels.
I swung the door open and was in no way prepared for the Jared that stood before me.
He wore a white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, and the top three buttons undone, showing off a bit of his tanned chest. The shirt was then tucked into a pair of gray slacks that hung on him, like they were tailor made. The belt he wore was black, and held, no pun intended, the look together.
“Damn,” Piper whispered under her breath from somewhere behind me.
Jared chuckled and I finally looked at his face. He was freshly shaved; just a hint of stubble still visible, and his hair was slightly damp but brushed back from his face.
“Are you ready?” he asked me. “I don’t want to be late. If I am, Karlie will kill me.”
“Uh-yeah, I’m ready,” I stuttered, grabbing my purse.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Piper said, brushing by Jared and me, and heading down the hallway.
“Bye,” I called to her retreating back.
She threw her hand up in a wave.
I locked the door behind us.
“Looks like a nice place,” Jared said, as we made our way down the hallway to the elevator.
“It is, just a bit small, but it has enough space for just me. Rollo ends up staying over a lot, and then it’s kind of a tight squeeze. Plus, he eats all my food,” I laughed.