"You're going to dinner with him then?" Cat asked as she propped her feet on my coffee table. I tossed my purse on the table and plopped down beside her. I had just gotten home from work and I was thoroughly exhausted. It had been four days since the party. Four days since Harry and I had become reacquainted after five long years of silence. Now, tonight, I would be accompanying him to dinner. I wasn't sure what to think. I had tried to keep it off my mind all day because it made me nervous.
"Well, I agreed to go. Yes." I flipped through the channels not paying much attention. It was just something to keep me busy and not look at Cat. A smirk had been plastered on her face permanently since the moment she saw Harry and I walking back into the party together.
"What do you make of it?" She questioned as she reached over and took the remote from my hand. I tried to grab it back but she was too determined to carry on this conversation I had been avoiding for four days. She knew I was avoiding the topic and now I couldn't ignore her or it any longer.
I took a deep breathe before I answered her.
"Honestly, I don't know Cat. I'm happy to have him back in my life. I just want us to be friends. I want to build something substantial and solid. We were too young and impulsive before. We did things that needed more thought. I know leaving him was also impulsive but we wouldn't be where we are today if I hadn't." I stopped to catch my breath. I hadn't realized I had been holding so much in. I had been avoiding the subject in order to get my thoughts straight without realizing they were piling up.
Cat gazed at me thoughtfully before she said anything else. The silence was making me crazy but I didn't push her to speak.
"I think you have come a long way. Let whatever happens, happen. You're both a little older, maybe wiser, and in different places in your life now. But remember, you deserve to be happy even if it's with or without him." The tears threatening to spill from my eyes were extremely unexpected. I leaned over and hugged her. She hugged me back and laughed. She also called me a few choice names for crying like a baby.
"Let's get you ready." She said pulling me up off the couch and dragging me toward my room. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be scared or excited. I took a deep breath and let it out on a laugh as we walked into my closet.
-
I stood nervously in the center of my living room while Cat looked at me. She had one hand on her chin, the other on her hip, and a pensive look in her eye as she scrutinized every inch of me. I watched as her eyes roamed over me from head to toe, inspecting her work. I looked down at myself waiting on her to say something, anything, to alleviate my nerves. I wore a simple off the shoulder sweater dress that fit like a glove with ankle boots. My hair fell over my bare shoulder in strategically made waves done perfectly by Cat. She was so much better at making me look presentable than I was.
"Frankly, I don't know how he's going to resist you." Cat cracked a large smile that lit up her eyes as I sagged in relief. She was really good at leaving me in suspense. She handed me my leather jacket as I smoothed down a few nonexistent wrinkles in my dress.
"We're going out for a friendly dinner. That's all. I have no expectation of anything else." I said as a loud knock sounded at my door. Cat rolled her eyes while walking over to open the door. I willed her with my mind to behave. She could speak her thoughts in front of me all she wanted but I didn't want her mentioning something to Harry.
"Well, hello Harry. I don't think we were expecting you." Cat smiled sweetly. I heard Harry chuckle as he asked her if I was around.
I walked toward the door while grabbing my clutch off the back of the couch. When I finally stepped in front of Harry I could see his mouth form a small "O" in surprise. I could feel the intense blush creep up my cheeks and take over my face.
"You look stunning." His handsome face beamed. I was so taken off guard by his compliment that I was unaware of anything at all until Cat graciously elbowed me in the ribs.
I coughed while trying to cover my embarrassment and thanked him. I told Cat she could stay in my apartment as long as she wanted as we said our goodbyes.
We made our way down to the lobby of my building in silence. I wasn't exactly sure what to say. I glanced his way a few times and noticed how concentrated he seemed to be. I didn't want to interrupt his thoughts with idle chit chat. As we climbed off the elevator I could feel his hand on my lower back gently leading me toward the door. I felt my body temperature spike dangerously high. My mind began to race. I wondered if he could feel the heat radiating through my dress. I felt my cheeks flame at the thought.
"Are you okay? You seem warm." I tried not to groan. Of course he noticed.
"I'm fine. It was just a little warm in the elevator." I tried to make the smile I wore relaxed. I was a bundle of nerves.
I wasn't sure what the night held in store for us but I was more than excited to find out.
