Burreaux

Work Party

July 4th,2023

Tonight was the annual team 4th of July party that the Bengals threw. Karleigh knew she had to attend but she was dreading it. She had to ask Jane to babysit Mia, They said children were allowed to attend but seeing as it was later at night it was too late for Mia to be up and Karleigh didn't want to see Joe again for the first time and have to explain to him he has a child while holding a cranky toddler. She still hadn't decided if she wanted to tell him tonight. Maybe he wouldn't recognize her, but due to having a child her frame changed she now had a larger chest, wider hips, and a fuller face. Not to mention the change in her hair color, clothing style, and going by the name Leigh (Lee) instead of Karleigh when in a professional setting.

"Jane, do I have to go? Can't I just pretend to be sick? Or say Mia is sick? I have nothing to wear...I can't show up looking like a hot mess what if he notices me and I look like shit...I just don't know what to do or what to wear. Do I approach him first do I let him approach me?" She rambled while going through her newly and nearly arraigned closet like a tornado.

"Good god woman calm down! First of all, you need to show up and make a good impression on your bosses and coworkers. It's going to be a good chance to meet the guys and build up a relationship with them and trust them. And as for Joe number one you gonna look hot I'm going to make sure of it. Number two you look so different from 3 years ago that he probably won't notice until you walk up to him. You hold all of the power babe." Jane said trying to calm the almost hysterical woman down.

"Jane he proposed and I said no. I chose my career over him...and then I found out I was going to be having his child and it changed everything but I...." She said almost in tears.

"I know honey I know. It's gonna be scary and no matter how you feel towards each other you have a child together and now is your chance to tell him." Jane said while trying to get Karleigh to sit down. "Let me go find you something to wear just sit down and start your hair and makeup."

She carefully pushed Karleigh onto her vanity chair and then disappeared into her closet to find her something to wear. She came back out with a short white Jean skirt, an off-the-shoulder red top, and Karleigh's signature bling cowboy boots. Jane laid the outfit on the bed and placed a matching cross-body purse next to it. She gave Karleigh an encouraging pat on the back and walked back into the living room to take care of Mia.

Karleigh finished her hair and stood up to look at what Jane pulled out for her. She picked up the outfit and held it to her body examining it in the mirror. She knew she would look good but was it too much? It was a semi-casual event that would be hosted at one of the guys' houses there were going to be drinks and a DJ. She wiggled the skirt up over her hips pulled the shirt over her head and smoothed the outfit out. Karleigh walked over to her jewelry box to pick out some accessories. She debated on wearing the necklace Joe gave her on their first anniversary, She kept it so one day she could pass it on to her daughter but she would often wear it when she was feeling nostalgic.  She picked up the dainty heart-shaped silver locket and placed it around her neck.

"I'm about to head out Jane thank you for taking care of Mia I shouldn't be out super late I'm going to bail the first chance I get!" Karleigh said as she walked out of the door.

"Be careful! Don't worry and have fun!" Jane yelled after her.

Karleigh shares her location with Jane just before getting into her Uber. She got in the car and sat silently in the car until she reached the restaurant. The car stopped right out front of the restaurant and let her out. The outside of the house was beautifully decorated in a mix of red white and blue. She walked in hoping to stay under the radar but with how short the skirt that Jane picked out was she was and the way her hips swayed back and forth naturally while she walked that was virtually impossible. Walking to a discrete and quiet corner of the party as fast as possible was her main priority. She gently knocked on the door waiting for someone to answer, her toe nervously tapping the ground. The door creaked open and she was met with a face that was familiar but only from tv. The one and only Tee Higgens opened the door smiling down at her.