When We Run (Mason Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 2

DANIKA

I was in the middle of getting ready for date night when I heard a knock on my bedroom door, followed by my mom’s voice. “Danica, it’s mom, can I come in?”

“Yeah, I’m just doing my hair.”

My mom comes into my bathroom and right away she starts looking me up and down. I know what she’s doing, judging me. I pretend that it doesn’t bother me when she does this, but it does. I’m not skinny, but I’m not plus size either. I go between a size 6 and 8 depending on the designer. Most women would love to have my body shape.

I’ve got curves, so I’m not like the skinny women that my mom is used to working with in the fashion industry. Not saying they aren’t perfect and beautiful just the way they are, but it is not me. So when I see her look at the pants I’m wearing with her head tilted, I know she is about ready to make a comment. “Danica, Stuart said that you were going to be going to The Orient tonight.”

“Yeah, he was in the mood for sushi since they closed that deal with the bank from Japan. I know it seems cliche, but I’m always down for some good sushi.”

“That’s great, but The Orient is not Panda Express, you should probably wear a dress or at least a skirt.”

I roll my eyes, “Mom these are Rachel Zoe pants, it isn’t like I’m wearing Dungarees or anything.”

So picks at the waist of the pants, “Maybe if you were going to a job interview, but they just aren’t right for an expensive dinner date. You never knew who might be there and see you.”

I put down the hair straightener and turn to her, “Fine, if I put on a skirt will you drop it?”

“I guess that depends on what skirt.”

“You’re impossible. Come on, pick one out since I would never get the right one anyway.”

She either doesn’t read the sarcasm in my voice or doesn’t care. Nonetheless, we walk into my stupidly packed closet and she starts to go through my skirts, making weird sounds at each of the skirts she looks at. She takes a few out and holds them up to me, but shakes her head and puts them back.

“What if we changed your top too?”

“No, just give me that black pencil skirt, that’ll look fine with the ivory top.”

She hands it to me and starts to dig through my undergarments while I slide off my pants. “What are you looking for? These are seamless panties.”

“You should really put some shapewear on.” I wish I could say I didn’t understand her obsession with shapewear, but I knew exactly where it came from.

“It’s just Stuart, Mom. He’s seen me in plenty of outfits without shapewear. It’ll be fine.”

“Sweetheart, I love you, but you have your grandmother’s hips. They’ll be perfect when you’re ready to have babies, but for a pencil skirt? Not your friend.”

“Okay, your time is up,” I push her out of my closet and through my bedroom until she’s on the other side of the bedroom door. “Go. Shoo. Find somebody else to torment.”

“Dan…”

“Bye, Mom.” I close the door in her face and snicker when I hear her cursing as her heels tap down the hallway. I do a once over in the mirror, telling the voice in the back of my head to shut up when it suggests shapewear too. Yes, I know I have hips, but I also have a pretty skinny waist, and aren’t hourglass shapes supposed to be sexy? I shake the bad thoughts out of my head. I know Stuart likes my figure, so who cares what my mom thinks?