“So…” she responds as she buckles her seat belt and places her hands in her lap.
Oh, hell no. She is not going to play all innocent with me.
“You and Kyler, huh?”
A goofy grin and a blush appear on her face. Oh, this is going to be good.
“Mmmhmm.” Did she moan?
I throw my head back in laughter as I start the car. “Oh, I think lunch might need to added to our shopping date, and that lunch may need to include cocktails because you better damn well believe you are spillin’ all the details! But first things first, we need to set the mood.”
I have waited years for this moment. Her face lights up as bright as the sun as Katy Perry begins to play through the speakers.
“What!” Dani squeals.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to be able to jam to this CD with a Jacobs and not feel like I’m being judged. I have watched your brother and Kyler do some crazy and stupid shit over the years, but there is some serious judgment in his eyes when I play this in his presence. It’s like he didn’t even know who I am, even though he’s seen us perform these songs all the time. I guess it was different once it was his girlfriend doing them? I had to channel my inner Katy, all by myself. Now…let’s go get you all hot for your date!”
We make our way to the mall, singing and dancing to all our favorite songs. This feels good; it’s us against the world again.
After a full morning of shopping, Dani and I make our way to the cute little bistro on the waterfront. It’s one of my favorite places to eat. I usually bring my mom here when she comes to visit. We both order a mimosa and a salad. I order my typical chicken Caesar salad, and she orders a steak salad. It’s cute—that’s usually what my mom orders too.
Once the waiter leaves, I place my hands on the table and stare at Dani. I eye her up and down, and she looks confused.
“What?”
I smirk. “I’m trying to figure out who you are and what you did with my best friend?”
She laughs. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
She doesn’t say it rudely, as a smile is still on her face from ear to ear. That smile hasn’t left all day.
“Well…it means, look at you, Dani! Look at how far you’ve come recently. You’re opening yourself up to not only us, but to Kyler. After all that time away and shutting us out, you actually saw your parents and mine—my mom has not stopped talking about how excited she is about having someone to help her in the kitchen, so thanks.”
It’s a never-ending story of jokes about how bad I am in the kitchen.
Dani giggles and shrugs. Smug bitch.
I continue. “But in all seriousness, D, I’m proud of you. I mean, look at you, actually going on a date, and hello, that kiss last night.”
I fan myself because it was H-O-T.
She nods, and I don’t miss the blush on her cheeks.
The waiter brings our drinks and salads. I take a bite and moan. Oh my God, this is heaven in my mouth. I look up to see that Dani is just pushing food around on her plate.
“To be honest, Hails, I’m not sure how to feel. There is something about Kyler that, I don’t know how to put it in words…”
I’m not sure where this is going, but I cut her off instead of letting her continue. “You don’t need to put it in words, because you just smiled when you mentioned his name, and that, I think, is enough.”
“Can I be honest?” she asks while taking a bite of her salad. I nod, so she continues. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I mean, I’ve only ever been on one first date, and that was when we were thirteen. What if I’m no good at it or Kyler realizes how much of a mess I am? Then it’ll just be awkward.”
I hate that she is doubting herself right now. This stops now. I raise my glass at her and nod so that she picks hers up too.
“I know you are scared, but that’s how these things go.” I think back to how nervous I was before Zach and I’s first date. “I knew Zach my whole life, but I almost threw up from nerves before our first date.”
She giggles. I narrow my lips into a straight line.
“What I’m trying to say is just take it one day or date at a time, okay? Now cheers, bitch—to us being back together and being able to gossip about boys and it not be my brother.”