LANA MASON
"What do we think?" My heels tap on the floor as I prop my phone up on my bed and step back so the girls can see my outfit. "Too slutty?"
"Turn around and bend over," Maya says.
"Jesus, My," Jackie laughs in the background as I do what I'm told.
"I mean, we can kind of see your ass but it's not like you'll be bending over like that until the night is over anyway," Maya winks and clicks her tongue, making finger guns at the camera.
"Very funny," I turn to face my mirror and take in the outfit again. "It's good just for drinks, right?"
"Lana, you look hot, what's the problem?" Jackie cuts in. "Why are you so nervous?"
"It's not that I'm nervous to be with him, but this is the first time we're going in public together since we started seeing each other and that is nerve-wracking."
"Yeah, but you're not Brad and Angelina," Maya needlessly reminds me. "It's not like the paparazzi are going to be waiting to catch you."
"Well yeah, Allison is at home with Jane so I'm not worried about running into her or anything, but...what if things are different once Harry and I are out in public together for the first time? What if it feels weird? And I feel bad because I know he's going to be exhausted."
"I feel for him, I really do, but he can't possibly expect that the only time you two are going to spend together is after ten p.m. and without ever leaving his apartment," Jackie says. "If he can't sacrifice his sleep to take you out during the only time he has available for you, then this relationship isn't going to go anywhere. It's not fair for you. You need to be going out on dates and he needs to court you."
"Mic drop," Maya blows a dramatic cloud of vapor at the screen.
Although my first reaction is to defend Harry, I see their point as well. What makes it better is that this late-night date was his idea in the first place. It's not like I had to beg him to go out in public with me, so that's a great sign.
"Yeah, I know, I know," I adjust my off-the-shoulder long-sleeve top and drop my arms down to my sides. "I should go meet him so I'm not late, but thanks for talking to me."
"Have fun, babe!" Jackie calls out from off-camera somewhere.
"Bye, Lan," Maya chuckles as I wave and end the call.
I have about a half hour before I said I'd meet Harry at the bar we're going to near his place and the restaurant, which only leaves me enough time to touch up my lip gloss before I grab my shoulder bag to leave for the night. I'm honestly more excited than I think I ever have been to go meet a guy at a bar, but I'm not necessarily surprised by that. I'm always excited when Harry is involved.
As I climb out of the familiar subway station in the West Village, I take my phone out of my bag to see a text from Harry letting me know that he made it to the bar and is saving us a small table toward the back. It's only a two-minute walk from where I am now, but I think I make it in one as I take long strides and slide my ID out of my wallet to show the bouncer.
Expectedly, it's dim inside and a bit crowded, but it's not nearly as bad as some of the other bars around here, nor as loud. I really didn't want to go to a place where we'd have to yell to communicate all night and this one seems just right for our first public outing. Plus, the drinks are great and not outrageously priced, and the food isn't bad either. Well, I like the food, but we'll see what the head chef has to say about it.
