"What's this?" She pulls a white piece of paper from the inside pocket. "He's full of surprises. Is it a love note?"
I reach to grab it from her grasp but she's too quick. She scrambles over the bed as she pulls the note open. I watch as she scans the paper and then throws it on the bed. "It's nothing. Something about an appointment."
I pick it up and instantly recognize Hunter's handwriting. It's the same curved letters that were on the card when he sent me flowers. It's scrawled recklessly but I can make out tomorrow's date and a Manhattan address.
"This must be the new restaurant opening that he had to go to New York for." I stare at the paper finding some brief thrill in touching something Hunter held in his hand.
"We should go." Alexa blurts out as she slides the suit jacket off her shoulders.
"What?" I shoot back. "You're kidding."
"Why?" She smiles brightly as she pulls the pink t-shirt from the pile of clothes. "You told me he said he wanted you to go to a soft launch with him one day. What better chance are you going to get?"
I feel excitement run through me at the suggestion. "Do you think he'd be pissed if we just showed up?"
"He'd be thrilled that you surprised him." She pulls the white t-shirt she's wearing over her head, revealing her bright red bra.
"I don't know, Alexa." I'm wary of the idea. The sharp chime of my phone breaks our conversation.
"He's hot for you. He'd want to see you if he could." She pulls the pink shirt over her head and it hugs her curves like a glove. I instantly regret buying it when I see how much better it looks on her than on me.
I glance down at my phone.
I miss you so much. I wish you were here. H
"He misses me," I whisper.
"That's our sign." She scoops her purse off the bed and reaches for the doorknob. "We're taking the train into Manhattan tomorrow to surprise your boyfriend."
Chapter 19
"Do you think he'll be excited to see me?" I pull the belt on my blue dress tight around my waist. I peer at myself in the mirror. This is the first time I've gone anywhere since the transplant with so much of my scar on display.
"He's going to ravage you on the spot." She motions for me to zip up the sleek red dress she brought with her. "With any luck he'll have a friend who is as hot as him. I need to get laid."
I laugh out loud. "If things go well maybe you'll be back here alone with a guy tonight."
"Count on it." She traces a tube of pink lipstick around her mouth. "I'm ready to paint the town red or pink or whatever."
"Thanks for suggesting we do this." I settle onto the edge of the bed as I watch her play with her hair in the mirror.
"You need to do more of this." She turns to look at me. "He's helped you a lot."
"What do you mean?"
"He's made you trust yourself more." She piles her hair on top of her head before she turns to each side to survey how it looks.
"I'm not sure I understand that." I look down at my lap. "I've always trusted myself."
"He's helped you believe that it's okay to have fun. He helped you trust that people don't care about the scar as much as you think they do."
I nod. "I guess that's true."
"Do you think we should pin my hair up or should I wear it down?" She lets her hair fall back down around her shoulders.
I instantly pull her hand to my straightened dark hair. This is the first time in a long time that I haven't wished I looked exactly like Alexa. Maybe she's right. Maybe he has helped me trust in myself more. I trust that I'm enough now.
"Let's pin it up." I reach to grab her overnight bag where she's stored all of her hair accessories. "Your neck is so beautiful. You should show it off."