"Where in this massively exquisite place should I go?" she asked, turning to me with a grin as she waited for me to direct her.
"Oh, thanks. Um, I guess my bedroom. Down the hallway on the right."
She pulled me along as she skipped to my room, Cami giggling behind us. I went along with them, starting to catch some of their energy. Cami had the garment bags Nat had brought and tossed them on the bed before going through my clothes piled there.
Nat set down another bag and started pulling hair products and makeup out of it. Cami started some music on her phone and began to dance around as I sat and watched them, mesmerized. They were effortlessly cool and fun.
Nat and Cami were the epitome of cool girls from movies you wanted to befriend. Thankfully, they were the type of cool girls you wanted to be and not the mean ones you feared. I envied their light-heartedness and ability to be easygoing in moments like these.
"So, where's this date? Wait, it's the third Friday, so," Nat mused, turning and lifting an eyebrow, "fight night?"
Her question piqued my interest as Nicco had been very mum on the topic other than ‘an untypical place'.
"Uh, yeah. I think so. I mean, he didn't really say." I shrugged. It was becoming my go-to expression, it seemed. Which was uncharacteristic of me to be so unsure, or well, allow my body language to communicate it. Being the ‘perfect persona' for every walk of life meant I often presented as confident when I was anything but that.
"In that case, you need to look fierce," she decided, nodding in confirmation.
"So, I'm guessing your evening went well the other night if you're having a second date?" Cami asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"Uh, yeah. It went well," I blushed.
"Oh, girl, give us the deets!"
"Ha, well okay, it was the first time I was with someone after my divorce. Well actually, ever," I admitted.
"Wait. Are you saying that you've only been with your ex-husband? Were you religious or something? Waiting for marriage?"
"Don't look so shocked, but no, it wasn't a 'waiting ‘til marriage' thing. Just a high school sweetheart thing. We met when I was sixteen, and I never dated anyone else."
"Oh, I see. Harsh."
"Yeah, you could say that," I uttered, sadness leaching from my voice.
Nat heard the sadness and took my hand to lead me over to the bench seat in the corner. She started to mess with my hair, and I realized I'd never had this experience before, not even as a teen. It was kind of nice to get to enjoy it now, even if I was thirty-two.
"Cams, listen to this though, not only does she have Nicco clambering for dates, she had some angsty-looking hottie at her door smoldering with sexiness when I arrived as well."
Cami was sorting through my closet and rummaging through the drawers in there that held all my underthings. Blushing a little at the thought of her seeing them all, I decided to let it go. I had several matching sets, and they always made me feel sexier than I did in general. At Nat's statement, she poked her head out, an eager look on her face.
"Oh, this I have to hear. Spill the tea, sis!"
"Um, I'm not sure I get that reference," I cringed.
"What! You've never seen RuPaul's Drag Show?"
Shaking my head, I hoped it wouldn't be a deal-breaker as I liked the friendship we were starting.
"Well, next time, we must watch it. It's fabulous. But besides that, it just means tell me about it already!" she laughed. "Who's this hottie that smolders? Hmm, tell me!" She had a very eager puppy dog look going on.
"Oh, well," I started, feeling nervous again, "he's my kickboxing instructor, but there isn't anything between us other than mutual hate."
"You know they say there is a fine line between love and hate, and I find it's best to work it out in the bedroom," she purred.
"I'm just surprised you're not calling me a slut or angry at me since you both are friends with Nicco," I admitted.
"First, no slut-shaming here. Second, you're not in a committed relationship, so do your thing, girl! And third, whom am I to judge? I have two girlfriends and a boyfriend myself!" she laughed.
Her words took me by surprise. The non-judgment was refreshing after living in a world where people like my mother thrived. I was starting to see just how lacking the upper class were despite their bravado at being the best.