To Find You

8.

A massive thank you for all your support in voting and even just reading!! I'm > 700 reads and I couldn't be more grateful. So here's this chapter a couple days early!!

Bisous,
Summer xx

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"I CAN'T FIND THEM"

"Find what?" Ashley replied from my living room where she was currently sat, flipping through the glossy pages of Vanity Fair.

Some help she was.

"My pearl earrings you goose, have you not been listening?!"

"I can't say that I have ma cher" she shot back, her voice garbled by the beignets she was currently scarfing down.

My beignets, the ones Nicolas sent me today.

"If you eat one more of those, I'm kicking you out." The apartment went very silent, followed by a muffler repentant "sorry".

Rolling my eyes, I continued my search while thinking about how sweet Nicolas was being about this evening. He'd sent white roses and beignets - a little treat reminiscent of our first outing together. He'd also called to confirm my address and our meet-up time.

He'd completely refused to tell me where we were going but I assumed it'd be quite formal, so that's sort of the vibe I went with when putting my outfit together.

I decided to wear this dress I'd splurged on when I was at NYU, for one of the business dinners I never ended up attending.
It was a silk dress in this beautiful peach shade that fell modestly to my knees. The showstopper was its built in corset (and I love a good corset) and its slightly scandalous scoop neckline; but I think I'll be able to get away with it this evening.

Ashley has been of absolutely no help to me today, clearly she came here to read my magazines and eat my food.

The time was 5:53, meaning I had barely an hour and a half to sort out my hair and makeup. Thankfully - I'd already showered and shaved.

Abandoning my search and sitting down at my vanity, I started taking out the twists I'd done the night before - praying to God that they weren't still damp. Natural hair problem #568. Thankfully, all was in order and I was able to style my hair in record time, giving myself a side part to frame my face while fluffing the curls out a little.

"ASHLEY MAI NGUYEN GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW."

"I'm here, I'm here no need to go full parent on me; and damn your hair looks amazing, why am I even here right now? You don't need me - "

"Yes I do you idiot, I need your extensive makeup skills and if I'm being honest, your moral support. You of all people, know it's been years since I've gone out to dinner with a man. I might not show it but I'm freaking out a little bit"

Her eyes softened as she took in the weight of my statement "I'm sorry Alex, I was being silly and I forgot how big a deal this is." She wrapped her arms around me in a big hug swaying me gently. Looking at me in the mirror she asks, "Shall I get started on your make up then?"

We chose a soft brown smokey eye with dewy 'glow from within' skin and because I didn't want to over do it, a muted reddish-brown lip.

Ashley had discovered my earrings on my dining room table and rushed them to me while I filled my clutch with the necessary items: - Cards? Check. Cash just in case? Check. Lipstick? Check. Perfume? Check. Now I didn't really need my keys because Ashley was staying over but you've seen the girl - Keys? Check.