The week went by fast, and before I knew it Saturday had arrived. Jensen and Carter had managed to move all my furniture and boxes in less than two hours. Dylan and I were busy unboxing and moving stuff around.
“So, I have a date.”
“Shut your mouth… seriously?”
Dylan stood, mouth opened as she stared at me. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, “What?”
“I am so proud of you! Who is it with? Anyone I know?”
“Nope… Well actually, do you remember that guy Dan that came to see me at the bookstore?”
“The one you called creepy?”
“Yeah, I may have rushed to judgment on that call. He was just persistent, and I had coffee with him this week. In fact, he’s nice. He’s graduating in a few months with a degree in business with a minor in entertainment.”
“Wow… that’s close to your degree.”
“I know, creepy, right?”
“You are just hung up on Paul, making you blind to good things around you. This will be good for you,” Dylan pulled me into a hug, “I’m proud of you for taking a risk.”
“Thanks, I hope I don’t regret it.”
“You won’t regret it,” Dylan smiled.
“Regret what?” Jensen walked into the room carrying one last box in from the garage.
“Carly has a date,” she turned towards me, “I forgot to ask, when is it?”
“Tonight.”
“Damn – Paul’s going to shit himself. Good for you Carly. He deserves some punishment.”
Jensen kissed Dylan before walking out of the room. I hollered after him as he disappeared into the hallway, “Thanks, Jensen, I think.”
“What time is this date?”
“Eight.”
“Well let’s get this show on the road. You need time to get yourself sexyfied!”
“Sexyfied… is that even a word?”
“When it comes to you – yes!”
We worked for a few more hours, unpacking, rearranging furniture, and hanging decorations. When we finished, the room had been completely transformed.
“Alright, the room is done… now we need to transform you.”
“Uh-uh… you are not getting your non-trendy paws on me. Go – get your man. I can dress myself!”
I hugged her as I pushed her out of the room, “Go. Thanks for your help, I’ll text you the deets, so you know where I am meeting him… In case he’s a serial killer in disguise.”
“Fine, Fine… but you best text me the details, I don’t want to worry. I’ll be at my house – that sounds so weird, my house.” Dylan smiled as she pulled the door shut, leaving me alone in the room.
Looking around the space, I felt happier than I had in a long time. My phone chirped, alerting me to a new text. Dan had sent me the address to meet him at. We were having dinner at a restaurant in the next town. As weird as it was, his reasoning made sense. He didn’t want anyone from school interrupting us.
Smiling I turned to my closet, searching out what to wear. Deciding on skinny jeans and a white off the shoulder sweater. It was September, not super cool, but cool enough for a lightweight sweater. I pulled on my knee-high boots and dabbed a little lip gloss on my lips.
I took one last look in the mirror, taking in the girl looking back at me. I no longer had the short flirty hair I wore in high school – instead I wore it long, just passed my shoulders. It made me feel more mature.
I smiled, grabbing my phone and keys, and headed out the door. As I made my way into the kitchen, I ran smack dab into a wall of muscles.
“Whoa,” Paul turned, taking in a deep breath, “Sorry.”
He backed away from me, “I didn’t see you come in. Going somewhere?”
Smiling, “Yeah – I have a date.”
His sharp intake of breath told me he was caught off guard, “A date?”
“Yeah – just a guy I met on campus. I’m tired of being alone. So… I thought, what the hell – why not.”
I couldn’t help but emphasize my words, making him shift uncomfortably.
“Be careful.”
He walked around me, leaving me alone in the kitchen. The front door opened, and I watched through the window as his wolf took off into the woods. Seeing his reaction told me two things…
One he was the wolf watching me the other day, and two, I had gotten to him. Plan ‘make Paul jealous’ was underway. In the meantime, I’d enjoy myself.