Emani Bennett had changed outfits three times. Which, for someone who usually trusted her first instinct, already felt like proof that she was overthinking entirely too much.
The first option, a fitted black jumpsuit—looked too loungy for a children's recital. The second, a soft knit dress, somehow felt too formal once she put shoes beside it. Now, she stood in front of her bedroom mirror wearing brown high-waisted pants, a cream blouse, and a pair of small gold hoops staring at herself like the answer might suddenly appear if she looked long enough.
Her bed behind her looked like a quiet argument between rejected choices. Two pairs of shoes, a jacket draped sideways, a handbag she had already switched twice. Her phone buzzed in her hand.
Raychell.
Emani answered immediately, "Tell me honestly."
Ray's laugh came through before words did.
"You saying hello would've made me suspicious."
"Does this feel like too much for a six-year-old recital?"
"What are you wearing?"
Emani angled toward the mirror, describing it while adjusting the sleeve again.
"Cream blouse, brown pants, heels but not serious heels."
"That sounds normal."
"Normal like adult normal or trying too hard normal?"
"Adult normal," Ray answered. "You are attending an event, not sneaking into the background."
Emani exhaled but kept staring at herself anyway. That nervous energy had been sitting under her skin since she woke up. Subtle, irritating, impossible to ignore. It made no sense.
It was a recital, a child's recital. She had attended performances before. Dance schools were not intimidating. Yet, somehow today felt different. Maybe because she was stepping into a room where everybody already belonged.
Cade's family.
His mother, maybe even his father. Cannen who she knew, and Ray, of course. She wasn't even sure if Riley's mom was around or attending. But the little dancer was expecting her.
And Cade—
That thought alone made her adjust an earring she had already fixed twice. Emani heard the silence.
"You're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"You called me before leaving, and changed clothes three times."
Emani frowned at her own reflection.
"How do you know three?"
"Because you only sound like this when the third option finally wins."
That irritated her because it was accurate, "I just don't want to look misplaced."
"You won't."
"It's family space, Ray."
"You know Cannen. You know me. You know Riley."
"That is not the same as entering somebody's family section like I've been there before."
Ray's tone softened slightly.
"Emani."
"What?"
"You got invited because people wanted you there."
She looked down briefly, smoothing the front of her blouse. That should have helped more than it did. Instead it only sharpened the thing she had not fully named yet:
Why did being seen there suddenly matter?
Why did the thought of Cade noticing she came feel heavier than it should?
YOU ARE READING
me & tomfoolery
RandomA book of nothingness and everything at the same time. Welcome to my mf thoughts.
