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“So,” Ashley says, “big first date tonight, huh?” She frowns at me. “Hmm. You don't look like you're ready.”

“Ah, no, I'm not, since the date doesn't start for like seven hours. I kinda thought I'd pace myself, Ash, but I was just getting ready to paint my toenails.”

“Not anymore. WE are going to get you beautiful.”

Like I'm not already?

“We are?”

“Yes. I'm taking you to Bloom Beautiful Spa, that new place.”

“Wow! I've heard that place is incredible.”

“It is and I don't want to be late, so we have to leave. NOW!”

Ashley is still very bossy. I'm glad she's married because now she has someone else to boss around.

Bloom is a great place. I love it!

Ashley and I are immediately treated to a glass of wine. When I question her about drinking wine at ten o'clock in the morning, she just raises her glass to me, takes a drink, and quotes a Jimmy Buffet song, “Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere.”

We sit and relax for a bit. Ashley is babbling on about something, but I'm kinda tuning her out because my mind is on Phillip.

I thought it was pretty cool he left me a sweet note this morning, but then, wow, the flowers were amazing.

And now the spa?

I've known Phillip for a long time, and he has only sent flowers on two occasions, one being Valentine's Day and the other, I forget really why, but they were both wayyyy back in high school.

Really, that seems a bit odd to me now that I think about it because Phillip has had quite a few girlfriends.

They just never seemed to last.

I wonder if that was my fault.

And if it is, I'm glad.

Sorry, but I am.

Phillip has always given me flowers on Valentine's Day. They were not like delivered or anything, but he usually stopped at the grocery store and bought me a sweet little bouquet.

I used to tease him, telling him that he must have a secret crush on me, and he would jokingly tell me that he only did it because he was afraid I wouldn't get anything from a real guy, and then I'd be horrible to live with. He has always been so sweet to me, I seriously do not know why I never hooked up with him before this.

Maybe I knew deep down he was worth more than that?

The other night, I asked him why he never tried anything with me, and he said he was waiting for me to. I was like, So you really didn't want to, and he was like, No, I just, I don't know, it just never felt like the right time, and I didn't want to be like all the other random guys. And I was like, Chicken.

And then he attacked me.

Mmmmm.

I hear my name being called, and it breaks my daydream.

I stand up and ask Ashley, “Hey, did Phillip plan all the spa stuff too?” She just smiled that sneaky smile of hers. She loves knowing stuff that you don't know.

My first treatment is a gingerbread body scrub. After nearly an hour of having my body scrubbed and massaged, I'm feeling amazing. I go back to the relaxation area, curl up on a chaise, and read the latest Cosmo.

Well, I am specifically reading an article about how to please my man, which I am hoping could be um, useful tonight.

Ashley comes out of her treatment room and says, “Isn't this place just heavenly?” She looks all limp, like they poured her out of the room, and she is practically drooling. I think she is really enjoying herself.

My name is called again, this time for a pumpkin enzyme facial. Afterwards, my skin feels so smooth, and I must say, I smell incredible.

Seriously, Phillip will not be able to resist me tonight. I smell like pumpkin bread and gingerbread cookies, which are two of his very favorites!

We are served a wonderful yummy lunch and more wine. I'm really quite relaxed, which is probably a good thing because if I wasn't, I might be thinking about tonight, about Phillip, about our future, if we have a future, all that scary stuff.

And all of a sudden, I am really, surprisingly, nervous for our date.

I know that sounds silly, having known Phillip forever, but I want it to go well.

It needs to go well.

I think in my mind, I have always thought Phillip kind of crushed on me, and I've always felt sort of in control of our friendship, but now.....I'm thinking that I did my fair share of crushing as well, and well, I really think I love that boy.

I mean, I think.

I'm pretty positive, well practically completely mostly positive, and I really want to make a good impression.

Like knock his socks off impression.

Next up is a side by side pedicure with Ash. Ashley and I have fun during the pedicure. We talk and laugh about all the stupid stuff we did as kids, and how Phillip and Danny used to be scrawny little things. And how that has REALLY changed. I mean, they are both very hot and very not scrawny.

After a blissful 45 minute pedicure, I have sparkly, bright red toenails. What is it about painted toenails that make you feel so sexy?

Next we get our nails done. French manicure for me and bright fuchsia for Ashley.

“Okay, time for hair and makeup,” she says, floating down the hall in front of me.

She leads me to Rico's styling chair. Ashley and Rico start discussing my hair, like I'm invisible and have no say in the matter.

Ashley is telling him, “This is a very special occasion. I really think it needs to go in a pretty updo.”

And I'm thinking, very special occasion?

Kind of special?

Sure.

Special?

Yeah.

VERY special ?

I don't know. It's not like it's prom, I mean, yes, I want to make a good impression and look amazing, but its still just a first date!

Rico says, “No, I do somezhing zifferint.”

Different? Now that worries me. I could end up with purple hair or something. Plus, from personal experience, I have learned updos don't stay up so good if the guy you're with likes to play with your hair. And Phillip is always messing with my hair. I have to admit though, I love it. Honestly, I love pretty much everything that boy does to me. So I take control and say, “You know, Phillip always sees me in a ponytail, so I definitely want my hair down. Maybe you could do some of those sexy waves all the stars are wearing these days?”

Rico considers my request, by running his fingers through my hair, “Chez, I zink wee coud do zhat. Perfecto.”

Two hours later, and my body has had about all the relaxation and primping it can take. Aside from my sexy toes, pretty nails and tasty body, I'm sporting long sexy waves and a face full of artfully applied makeup.

I look and feel great.

“Almost perfect,” Ashley says, appraising me in the mirror.

“Almost?” What else could there be?

“Well, you can't wear sweats there, can you?” Ashley snips, in her smart-ass way.

Ashley drives me back home and lugs a beautifully wrapped box and a gift bag into my house.

“I have a couple of presents for you,” she teases. She knows I love presents. “But first, champagne.” She pulls a bottle out of the bag and opens it, without getting it all over. That's a talent I didn't know she had, and I'm impressed because I always seem to make a big mess with champagne. I get a couple of flutes from the kitchen and hand them to her.

“Sit down.” She pours champagne into our glasses and raises her glass dramatically into the air - like she's in front of an audience and not just me. “I propose a toast. To one of my best friends, someone who is like a sister to me. I hope that someday my brother will get off his ass and make us sisters for real.”