Disney Got It Wrong

Chapter 4

By the time Friday evening rolled around I was more or less resigned to the date and more than a little excited to go out. The kids were away for the weekend, and I just don't do well with an empty house. I miss the noise and the company and always try to manage some kind of outing to keep me busy and avoid the loneliness I feel when my little minions are gone.

I still hadn't decided how I would handle things with Derek. Not really wanting to encourage him, I opted for something super casual. I settled on red skinny jeans and a close fitting black tank with a scooped neckline. I kept my makeup simple with a dusting of taupe eyeshadow and clear gloss on my lips. I styled my hair in a long messy braid over one shoulder and dug through my jewelry box for the pair of black pearl studs I had bought just a couple of weeks before at the flea market.

Derek was tall like his brother, and as the shortest person expected in attendance for the night, I knew I would need every height advantage I could get away with. I have the feet for open shoes, small with short manicured toes, and I favor open shoes in warm weather and adore a pair of killer heels. So, I completed the look with my favorite pair of black strappy heels, the centerpiece of my shoe collection, to elongate my legs and give myself a couple of extra inches.

The finished product in the mirror was the epitome of casual. My outfit accented all my best physical features, mainly my butt which I was very proud to show off, but it didn't scream 'do me now' no matter what my underwear argued. I rationalized the pretty, lacy scraps of material I wore under my tight pants and close top as necessary. Derek and I had history. He probably had expectations I wasn't entirely sure I shared. I intended to be prepared for any outcome but was resolved to wait and see where the night went. Besides, nobody likes panty lines.

I'm not above admitting that a part of me wanted to make Derek feel like a jackass for dismissing me so easily back at New Years. No matter how much crap I talked about what a self absorbed meathead he was, that subtle rejection had stung a little. My pride and self esteem were out for a little retribution tonight. He would have to work for redemption if he wanted it.

Though, to be fair, I had held him off more than once when he tried to talk about a steady thing between us instead of our occasional hook ups when he was in town. Even so, long distance and binding titles weren't my thing. That was my main line of reasoning anyway.

My iPhone vibrated on my bathroom counter while I applied a final coat of mascara. I spritzed on a little of my favorite perfume and read the text from Natalie on my way down the hall to the living room.

Nat: Cab getting you first. Be there in 10.

I grabbed my red wristlet off the coffee table. I added my lip gloss and compact to the other essentials I had tucked into it which included my license, debit card, house key, and breath mints. No one had decided exactly what we would be doing beyond meeting up at Sam and Natalie's place, so I tucked enough cash into my back pocket for cover charge in case I needed it and my part of the cab fare. Though it was supposed to be a date, I wasn't going into it assuming Derek would cover my end of anything. I was a single independent woman. I'd happily pay my way, date or not.

It was one of the little things Wesley and I used to argue about after we got married. He'd try to take me out for a date night, and I'd be trying to whip out my wallet at every turn. It wasn't because I was stubborn or proud or anything, it was just that together we were a single unit. The money came from the same bank account that we both contributed to, so what did it matter which card got swiped?

It took me a little bit to trust the idea that it was just an issue of principle. He was the only dating experience I'd had. I was going off my mom and dad's example and was so caught up in what was fair and logical while Wesley was trying to be traditional and romantic.