Chapter 6
Leo was not very sure what was scarier. The fact that his best friend had taken some time off work for the first time ever or that she was finally dating. Actually dating. Not just making a date to sleep with some random guy. She had always been the kind of person to make sure that she never had to meet someone a second time. But here she was asking him if going out for dinner in flat soled strapped sandals was okay.
“Well, I guess it all depends with what you are wearing,” he said as he looked at her. “And that is not a flat soled sandals kind of dress.”
She looked down at herself and smoothed down the sides of her dress before she shrugged.
“I really wanted to do the strapless maxi,” she said and he shook his head.
“That burgundy bandage dress looks perfect on you. And it would look even better with the black peep toe ankle boots I got you last time I was in Milan.”
“Leo…” Macy started and he shook his head.
“When you and I were still in that group home I swore to you that when I finally made it, you would be my muse. Remember that?” he asked and she nodded. “Well, even though I still haven’t made it as big as I would want to, but I want to spoil you. So let me,” he added.
“Buying me twelve hundred dollar shoes is more than spoiling me, Leo,” Macy said as he walked over to her closet.
“You are the one who insists on being a bus driver. And fire fighter…” He turned to look at her. “There is always a spot for you at the Leo Collectionwhen you are ready.”
“I love what I do, Leo,” Macy pointed out and Leo nodded.
“I know, but I just thought I would throw that in there.”
“I know,” she said as she looked at him. “Thanks,” she added as she sat on the edge of the bed.
He handed her the shoes and she reached for a headband.
“Whoa…what are you doing?” he asked and she shrugged.
“I wanted to hold my hair up.”
“And mess up those perfect curls?” he asked and she looked at him unsure of how to answer him. “You hold your hair up every single day. Let those curls fall free for once.”
She looked at her reflection for a long second before she sighed.
“See this…this is why I don’t date,” she said.
“Why? Because you get to dress up? Are you that used to wearing overalls and those God awful shoes you drive in that you can’t appreciate the one time you put on a decent pair of shoes and a dress that shows off that perfect body?”
She shook her head as she put on her shoes.
“It’s not the dress…I love the dress. I mean, I bought the dress,” she started. “It’s the pressure to look perfect that I can’t handle. Being this person who has to go overboard to please someone else for something that might not even last.”
“Two questions. Do you love the dress and the make-up that you did on yourself?” he asked and she nodded. “Good. And do you actually want to see Mr. December?” She nodded again.
“I don’t see how these questions are relevant.”
“Oh, but they are,” Leo said.
“How?” she asked and he shrugged.
“You are not nervous because you hate this. You are nervous because this whole thing scares you. Because at the back of your mind you know that you might actually like this guy.”
“Please…you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She walked over to her closet and grabbed a coat and a black clutch.
“You would only get like that if what I was saying was true, babe. You know it.”
He shook his head and sighed.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
She put on her jacket and began making her way towards the door.
“You know you are excited about this,” Leo called out as she approached the door.
“Don’t wait up,” she called out as she opened the door.
“Don’t forget the wine!” Leo called out again. He was hoping she heard him before she walked out of the room.
When she closed the door, she leaned against it for a while before she began walking towards the stairs. With every step, she kept on feeling like she was making a mistake. This was an actual date. This was a commitment she was not ready for. Not even on her best day.
“You can go back,” she thought when she got out of her apartment building. “You can walk right back into the building and change into your sweats. Maybe watch TV or something.”
But even though that was what her mind was thinking, her feet kept on moving. She sighed loudly when she got into the car. She could actually hear her heart beating hard and fast as she began driving down the street. She had doubts alright, but she was going to push through with the whole plan.
*****
Victor’s apartment building was just twenty minutes from Macy’s place, but for some reason, she took twice as long to get there. She was breathing hard and heavy as she pulled up.
“This is not a mistake,” she assured herself as she stepped out of the car. She made her way to the front door and rummaged through her purse for her phone. She looked at the phone screen for a minute looking at the text he had sent her before she rang his doorbell. A small gasp escaped her lips when he buzzed her in. It was now or never. There was no turning back now.
She took a long deep breath as she walked up the stairs to his second floor apartment her fingers tightly wrapped around the bottle of Pinot she was carrying. She softly knocked on his door and waited for him to open the door.
“Wow,” he said when he saw her. “I’m sorry…hi.”
She smiled.
“Hi yourself.”
“You look amazing,” he said as he looked into her eyes.
“You don’t look so bad yourself. I was kind of used to seeing you in yellow overalls…this is all new,” she said and he laughed.
“You’re saying you…” His eyes ran down her body and for a second, his gaze lingered on her perfect cleavage. “This is how you should always look like. It’s different…sexy.”
She shrugged and smiled.
“So, are you going to invite me in or are we just going to stand here and compliment each other all night?” she asked and he ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’m sorry.” He stepped aside for her to walk in. “Come on in.”