The Christmas Olympics

Date Night

"Don't you look nice," Arden said, a grin spread across her face as she ran her eyes up and down my body. She leaned against her door frame, her posture one of ease and nonchalance, like she casually leaned against it everyday. I thought she looked like a model with the eyes she gave me. I felt heat rise up my neck.

I collected my thoughts, now scattered, and offered her a smile in return as I approached. I was relieved Arden noticed my outfit—the one I'd spent hours meticulously planning, my mother's gym equipment now covered in hastily strewn clothes, flung across the room in a frantic panic during the hunt for an outfit that would look just right. After about forty-five tortuous minutes, a moment before I threw myself on my air mattress and screamed into my pillow, I'd settled on a dark turtle neck sweater, complimented with my cream pea coat, dark jeans, and heeled boots. After I'd won that battled, I snatched a beanie and tugged it onto my head, not giving my brain another excuse to inculcate another breakdown. I spent extra time in the bathroom, leaning close to the mirror as I applied my makeup, wanting to look every bit as perfect as Arden seemed to believe I was.

I knew I had nothing to prove; knew I didn't have to impress Arden, but I wanted to. I wanted to be enough for her, to earn the spot on her arm tonight, to earn those jealous looks of longing for being the one to capture Arden's entire attention. I wanted to deserve her.

"You look beautiful," I said. Arden wore dramatic makeup: her greens eyes piercing, a stark contrast against her dark mascara and eyeshadow, and her lips a bright red. She wore a scarf, wrapped loosely around her neck, and a maroon sweater that made her eyes pop. I stepped up closer and offered her the bouquet of flowers I carried and placed a tender kiss against her lips, happy to note the few inches my boots boosted me were enough to kiss her with ease. "You're stunning, Arden."

She smiled, a blush dusting her cheeks. I couldn't help myself: I cupped her cheeks between my hands and placed another kiss against her lips. She melted into my touch and sighed when I pulled away. Her eyes fluttered open a moment later, catching me in a memorizing stare. This woman was intoxicating.

"We should get going, otherwise I might not want to leave" I said, raking my gaze down her body and biting my lip. Gorgeous. Arden laughed her agreement. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's go." She reached inside and grabbed her purse. When she locked the door and slung her arm into my crooked elbow, she smirked conspiratorially. "There's always later."

"I'm hoping so."

"I had no idea you were so horny," Arden laughed.

"Can you blame me? It'd been, like, four months since I'd had sex."

Arden stopped walking, her mouth hung open. "Four months?"

"Yeah!"

"You and Sarah weren't. . .?"

"Nope. She was never interested, or one of us was tired. It was always something"

"Ouch."

"Yeah, it did wonders for my self-esteem."

Arden latched onto my arm. "Your self-esteem should be just fine now."

I shrugged. "I don't know. I might need to give it another try soon." I winked and Arden laughed.

"Four months though? And you had no idea you were going to break up?"

"I just thought we were in a funk or something." I frowned. "I guess I'm dumb for not seeing it."

"You're not dumb. You two were just drifting apart. I also have it on good authority that Morgan Whitley will believe whatever she wants, despite the facts."