Pretty Little Lies

Chapter Five

“Fashion tip: If you’re riding a magic carpet with a guy who’s named Aladdin and a monkey named Abu, then I can see why you may have a need for harem pants. Otherwise, unless you are a washed-out rapper, or a genie in a bottle, I would recommend staying away from this horrid fashion trend!”

Before I can even begin to contemplate how many emails I may have received, I get out of bed, go to my closet to grab a change of clothes and head to the bathroom. I leisurely remove my clothes and start the shower. While waiting for the water to warm up, I grab my toothbrush and toothpaste and start brushing my teeth, while simultaneously checking myself out in the bathroom mirror.

I’ve lost weight since my divorce, but I don’t look gaunt by any means. My stomach still has a tiny pooch, which I’m convinced is never going to go away, no matter how many sit-ups I do, but my face does look a little thinner. The dark circles under my eyes are prominent as ever, without makeup to cover them up. My hair seems to have lost a bit of sheen too. Can stress do that? Maybe it just needs a good, deep conditioning. I lean closer to the mirror and look deep into my green eyes. I see the beginning of a glimmer there, like a hint of a secret waiting to be revealed. The corners of my mouth rise a little at the thought. I know without a doubt, little by little, the real me will shine through. The insecure broken girl I became will keep fading away. I feel better than I have in a long time, which considering everything, may seem somewhat strange, but quickly reaffirms that getting out of Boston was good for me.

I also can’t discount Pyper’s influence. Friendship really does help heal the soul. I’m lucky to have Pyper. She’s a loyal and authentic friend. And she knows how to look beyond appearances and what I may say to what is actually in my heart and soul. Such that if I were to attempt to delude her by saying with a straight face that I’m moving on and doing just fine, she would walk to me with a slight smile, give me a hug and yet, know without a doubt that I’m not really doing okay. She would continue to encourage and support me, standing right by my side, for however long necessary. She cuts right through the bullshit and sees the truth; sometimes even when I don’t see it myself. It really is true what they say; a true friend will see the tears pouring down your face, while the others believe the smile you’re faking.

Setting my toothbrush down, I turn and walk to the shower, grab a soft blue towel out of the linen closet beside the shower, hang it on the hook and step in. Once inside with the warm therapeutic shower spray nurturing my entire body, I start thinking about the day ahead. I need to organize my closet, throw some laundry in the wash, work on my blog post, and my Marc Jacobs fashion show write up. I also need to draft my newest article about harem pants. Apparently they are making a comeback. Ugh. Just the thought makes me shudder. Then later, I will be off to lunch with Pyper’s parents. My mind wanders to the memory that seemed to come out of nowhere last night. Luke. I have no doubt that being back in Illinois again ignited that memory. When I considered coming back here I knew this was a possibility, and though I tried to play the “what if” game to prepare myself, it doesn’t make it any easier. As if thinking about him was just asking for another memory, one assaults me before I can stop it.

It’s a beautiful spring day outside and we are sitting underneath “our” tree. I’m on a blanket with the smell of grass and dirt beneath me, and the smell of sunshine and flowers blooming in the air. I’m lying on my left side, facing Luke, who is lying on his back with his arms thrown above his head, eyes closed. I’m watching the sunlight trickle over his face and body in dancing patterns made from the light shining through the leaves hanging from the tree’s branches. I can’t stop looking at him. He’s beautiful. His dark hair - short on the sides and spiked on top, in the popular style guys are wearing right now – that he somehow seems to pull off better than all the others. He has a strong straight nose, high cheekbones that make me swoon, and a strong jaw with a slight dimple in his chin. He has one dimple on the right side of his mouth that deepens when he gives me a full blown grin, and it just begs me to explore it with my tongue. His best feature is hidden underneath his closed eyelids. His eyes are the most striking blue. Like the sky on a cloudless day. His full eyebrows and long dark lashes that any girl would envy only make them more breathtaking. His lips are full and kissable, and when he is thinking hard about something he presses them together. Sometimes he sticks his tongue between his lips and holds it there when he’s concentrating, which always makes me smile. My favorite thing about that soft mouth of his - besides his kisses - is when he raises one corner to smirk at me. When he gives me that sexy smirk, I would do almost anything he asks, which is why I will do anything to make sure he never knows it.