Chapter1
Caroline rarely didanything exciting with her weekends; they usually involved comfy pants and a mountain of work. But not this weekend.Nottonight.
She leant towards her bedroom mirror, applying a deep red lipstick and rolling her lips. She looked hot, and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. Caroline had spent far too long seeing herself as less than. She’d sat at home with negative thoughts repeatedly playing over in her mind. But now she was ready to move on, or as ready as she could be. After a pep talk from her sister, Joy, and her best friend, Gail, Caroline had psyched herself up…and now she was ready to let her hair down.
This was nothing more than a little fun, but Gail and Joy had promised her that everything would be okay. Caroline had to remember that if she had any chance of stepping foot outside the door tonight.Don’t get this all wrong. Enjoy yourself.
“You’re beautiful. You matter. You deserve happiness.”
Caroline smoothed her hands over her new size 14 dress, the soft silky material heaven beneath her palms. She’d lost a few pounds over the last several weeks, but she finally felt comfortable in her own skin again. She’d always had curves—at one time, she’d loved them—and this dress really showed them off.
She slipped her heels on and grabbed her phone from the bed. As she did so, it started to ring in her hand.
“What are you wearing?”
Caroline’s brow rose. “That’s a little forward of you.”
“Ha! There she is. My best friend is back in business.” Gail laughed as Caroline turned off her bedroom light and took the stairs. “So, what outfit did you decide on?”
“The green dress.”
“Perfect. I bet you look absolutely gorgeous.”
Caroline smiled. She loved Gail dearly. She’d always been the one shining light in her life. “I’m trying to remind myself that I do.”
“Listen to me, and listen good.” Gail paused, making sure she was listening. “Youaregorgeous. You always have been. And I know this is a huge step for you, it’s been so long, but Naomi isn’t in your life anymore, Caz. She has no hold over you; youdon’tanswer to her. She’snothing.”
“I know.” Deep down, Caroline absolutely knew. Still, old habits were hard to break.
“You walk in that bar tonight, and you knock the socks off Eva.”
“I know you mean well, but it’s not like there’s any point in trying to impress her, Gail. I’m paying her to be there…”
“Correction:I’mpaying her to be there.”
Okay, Gail was right. But if Caroline enjoyed her evening, she may just pay the beautiful, blonde Eva to spend time with her again. She couldn’t believe she’d decided to go along with this. Booking an escort wasn’t something Caroline had thought she’d ever do. But still, she was excited. For the first time in two years, Caroline would spend the evening with another woman. It didn’t matter why or how. The important fact was that she was doing it at all.
“You still there, Caz?”
“I’m here.” Caroline ran a hand through her dark hair, taking her overcoat from the closet under the stairs. “Just…I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I?”
“Do you think I’d let you go through something like this if you were going to get hurt? This is just some fun. Relax into it.”
“No, I know you wouldn’t. But this is just a meaningless meeting, Gail. I’m sure Eva is going to be wonderful company, you said a friend of yours is very fond of her, but this…isn’t me.”
“And whatisyou? Sitting at home, working yourself into the ground, single for the rest of your life?”
“That’s not what I want. But having dinner with Eva isn’t going to mean I’m not single. I’m still going to come home tonight alone.”
“No, but having dinner with Eva is preparing you to get yourself back out into the world of dating. If you can feel comfortable and confident with a woman like Eva, you can feel comfortable and confident withanyone.”
Again, Gail was right.
“And tomorrow morning, I’ll be over to have brunch with you and dissect how your night went.”
Caroline didn’t know what she would do without her best friend. Gail had been through so much with her, and instead of pressuring Caroline over the years, she’d sat on the couch drinking wine or eating tubs of ice cream with her. Gail may never understand how much that meant to Caroline, but it did. It meant the world.
“Now, you pretty lady, have a date with Eva. Don’t think of her as an escort. Don’t worry about the cost or if people are looking. They won’t be. Andplease, enjoy yourself.”