Golden Hour

Chapter 17

For our online date I'd chosen a crimson cami with lace trim underneath a white open blouse and a black skirt. No makeup. Thanks to blessings bestowed upon me from the Almighty God of Frizz, I opted for a tight bun at the base of my skull. Rockin' my mighty librarian vibe once more.

At least the cami makes my boobs look good.

An evil cackle slipped from my lips when I brought my shoulders back and they lifted slightly.

Neil and I coordinated our dinner choices so that it would feel like a real dinner date. We both chose Gastro pub fish with chunky chips. But I'd learned Neil hated salad. With a passion. So he opted for a couple of slices of bread while I made a green salad instead.

Dude, I must really like him. I never plan Jack crap in a handbasket.

Our BB-8 timer went off with his happy beeps five minutes before my date with Neil.

Emily and I took turns making dinner for each other. Fair's fair after all. Whoever cooked didn't need to do dishes. It made housework more bearable for two women who hated chores.

Despite it being my turn, Emily volunteered to help so that I could concentrate on cleaning my office bedroom and getting dressed.

"You ready, Vee?" Emily asked me from the kitchen as she took the trays out of the oven. "Want everything on one plate or separate dishes?"

"One plate and a bowl for the salad if that's cool," I replied. 

"No worries."

"I feel bad leaving you all alone tonight."

"Nah, don't be silly," she said. "I've got a mountain of correcting to catch up on, and I'm desperate to rewatch Joker."

"Good choice."

"Don't worry about dishes tonight either." Emily grinned. "I've got ya covered."

"But--"

"No buts. Focus on your date with Neil." 

"I feel bad."

"Nah, you can do both next time," she suggested. "And then we can go back to our regularly scheduled program."

"Sounds like a plan." I gave her a friendly hug. "Thanks Em."

"No worries." She gave me a sly smile when she pulled away. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, but do everything I would do."

"Em!"

She cackled.

Closing the door to the living room, Emily made sure the movie didn't carry into my room. I laid out my dinner on my desk as though it were an actual place setting. And logged into Skype.

Neil rang me. My heart thudded as I clicked 'accept'. 

"Hello!" he said in his friendly baritone.

"Hello!"

All my words failed me. 

He wore a short sleeve Fjallraven button-down collar shirt and had cut his hair to a neat and tidy buzzcut. Freshly shaven. No sign of the nerd shirt or the scruff, but Neil did decide to wear his glasses. This version of Neil appeared like an amalgam of professional Neil and nerdy Neil.

Squeeeee!

"It's nice to see you again," he said, a faint blush trailing across his cheeks.

"You too." Like a total nut, I covered my eyes and laughed nervously. "Sorry, I'm not used to doing this."

"Me either." He gave me a bashful smile. "We'll figure it out together."