Chapter Five
“You look so beautiful,” Kat cooed as she stood behind Jamie in the full-length mirror.
Jamie didn’t recognize the person looking back at her. She’d never worn this much makeup in her life and it felt like a mask. Her face felt itchy and she wanted to grab a washcloth and wipe it all away. She looked like one of those Instagram models, not that they weren’t beautiful but this look just wasn’t for her.
At Kat’s insistence, they’d gone shopping for something decent for Jamie to wear on her date with Asa. Since she was on a budget, Kat had taken her to an upscale consignment shop that sold designer labels at a deep discount. There were a few outfits that Kat had Jamie try on that were so risqué, she might as well have been walking the street. After a huge compromise, they agreed on an off-the-shoulder little black dress that buttoned down the front with long sleeves. They even found some nice patent leather high-heeled shoes and a matching clutch. Kat had even roller set Jamie’s hair which now fell around her shoulders in soft curls.
“So what do you think?”
“I don’t look like me.”
“Of course, you do. This is the new enhanced you. Don’t you like it?” her friend asked eagerly.
“Well, I really like my hair.” Jamie fluffed her curls. “And the outfit is pretty. I don’t think I’ve owned anything so nice before.”
“I feel a ‘but’ coming on.”
“It’s just that, you were a little heavy-handed on the makeup. I feel like a clown.”
“What are you talking about? You look amazing. Your face is beat girl. This is the trend.”
“Then send it back because it’s definitely not me.”
“You’re going to knock your handsome doctor’s socks off.”
A shiver traveled up her spine at the mention of Dr. Stansfield. He’d come on so strong, she still wasn’t sure what to make of it. Maybe when he saw her with all this heavy makeup, he’d run the other way. “Well, do I have to wear these ridiculous lashes? I look like a Muppet.”
Kat pursed her lips. “You’re going to complain until I change it, aren’t you?”
“Please don’t think I’m not appreciative of what you’ve done to me. I’m sure most women would love this look, it just makes me feel a little out of place is all. Besides, Dr. Stanfield has already seen me without makeup so I’m not sure what or if it will matter that much if I have all this gunk on my face.”
Kat pursed her lips. “Fine. Let’s compromise. How about I remove the foundation since you already have gorgeous skin, but you keep the eye make up on but this means starting over again?”
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
Kat used several wet wipes to remove Jamie’s make up and started again. It took several minutes for her to finish but when she did, Kat stepped back to examine her handiwork. “Voila! This is a more natural look. Hopefully, you’ll like this look better.
Jamie took a look at herself in the mirror. It was still more makeup than she was used to wearing but this wasn’t so bad, and what was now on her face didn’t feel as heavy as before. “Nice,” she complimented her friend.
“Yes, I think so. Even though, you were really rocking that glam look.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate you doing this for me. Without your help, I probably would have left my apartment looking like a bum.”
“Now, you look like a million bucks. I bet the good doctor won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
That was what made her nervous. She still hadn’t forgotten his comment about her calling him ‘Daddy’. What kind of kinky shit was he into? Maybe if she established boundaries from the beginning, he wouldn’t try anything. But then again, who was she kidding. Every time he so much as looked at her, she found herself incapable of even speaking. She seriously doubted she’d be able to go against whatever he asked of her. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.
“It’s only a first date so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Besides, we might not click. I can’t imagine what the two of us would have in common. I mean, he probably hangs out with a higher class of people and I’m so socially awkward. It won’t take him long to see that we’re not compatible.”
“Wow. Way to be down on yourself. I’ve already pointed out all the things you should be proud of but if you want me to list them again, I will. You’re smart and gorgeous. I mean look at all this beautiful skin. I’m so jealous. I can’t go outside without slathering on the highest SPF sunblock or else I get burned to within an inch of my life with this pale Irish skin of mine. When you smile… your entire face lights up. You’re beautiful and I wish you could see what I do. Not only that, you’re a survivor. I don’t know many people who can endure what you have and still manage to get through life with the same quiet dignity that you do.”
“That’s just the thing. I’m a mess. I still have nightmares. I can’t stand the dark and I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I flinch whenever someone holds their hand out for me to shake because I get flashbacks and…well, I’m just a mess. He’ll see that soon enough and get tired of me and my issues.”
“Or maybe, he’ll like you for who you are and see that you’re a wonderful human being. Look, I’ve dated all kinds of guys; doctors, lawyers, drug dealers and the perpetually unemployed. And let me tell you, men are all the same from any walk of life. Don’t think of it as you being unworthy of him, think of him as being unworthy of you and this is his audition. Dick is everywhere, sweetie, and it’s cheap but pussy is premium. Don’t forget that.”
Jamie wished she had her friend’s confidence. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re so confident and worldly. I, sometimes, wonder why you haven’t gotten tired of me.”
“Because you’re one of the few genuine people I’ve ever met. That’s hard to find in this world. You’re kind of like the little sister I never had.”
“Thank you,” Jamie said softly as she was reminded of her own sisters who wanted nothing to do with her.
“No need to thank me. I only speak the truth. Anyway, it looks like you have five minutes to spare if Dr. McHottie is punctual. And, I suppose I should take a nap before I get ready for work… that is unless you want me to stick around to give you moral support.”
Jamie gave her friend side eye. “You mean, you just want to stick around and meet him up close and personal.”
“Well, I mean you’re nervous and I just want to be there for you in your time of need.”
Jamie rolled her eyes and giggled. “Okay, you can stay. In fact, you probably are doing me a favor. He makes me so nervous. Maybe if you’re here, it’ll give me the courage I need to not be so awkward.” Her sentence was barely complete before the slapping of the doorknocker sounded throughout her apartment.
Kat grinned. “He’s here. Do you want me to answer it so you can make a grand entrance?”
“No, I think I should answer it. Just hang back, okay?”
Kat gave her the thumbs up. “Don’t worry. You look beautiful.”
Jamie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before heading to the door. When she opened the door, her tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth. He was dressed casually in all black with a button-down shirt that had the top two buttons opened to reveal a smattering of dark brown hair. In his scrubs, he was sexy, and in a suit and tie, he was handsome and dapper. In this outfit, he was a work of art. He looked slightly damp as if he’d recently showered. One russet lock fell waywardly down the side of his forehead.
Jamie couldn’t tear her gaze away from him even if she wanted to. And then he smiled, showing off teeth so perfect he could have been an advertisement for toothpaste.
He raised a dark brow. “May I come in?”
“Uh, sure.” She took a few steps back and opened the door wide enough to let him in.
“You look beautiful, Jamie. Here, these are for you.” She noticed for the first time that he held a bouquet of red roses in his hand. “I know it’s cliché but I was always taught to never come to someone’s home empty handed.
In awe, she took them. “Thank you. No one has ever given me flowers before.”
“Well, I’m honored to be the first.”
Kat cleared her throat noisily, announcing her presence.
“I’m sorry. This is my neighbor and friend, Katrina.”
Kat stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “But, you may call me Kat.”
“Asa,” he returned smoothly taking Kat’s hand in a firm handshake.
“I, uh, I’m going to go put these in water. I’ll be right back.”
Jamie headed to the kitchen to find something suitable for her flowers. She didn’t have any vases so she put them in a pitcher and filled it with water.
When Jamie returned to the living room, Kat was giggling like a school girl in the middle of her first crush.
To Asa’s credit, his attention returned to Jamie. “We should probably get going. I’ve made reservations for seven-thirty.”
“Okay, let me get my jacket and I’ll be ready to go,” she said walking to the closet beside the door.
“And, I should probably catch that nap before going out tonight. I’m a club promoter, by the way. You two should stop by the Blue Lagoon tonight. I’m always trying to get Jamie to come out to the club but she never does. Maybe, you can convince her.”
Asa shot Jamie an easy smile. “Perhaps, another time. I prefer to have Jamie to myself tonight.”
The blood rushed to Jamie’s cheeks, heating her face. If he kept talking like this, she might start believing him.
On their way to wherever he was taking her, Jamie sat with her hands folded and her head down, too nervous to make small talk.
He turned on the radio to a smooth jazz station and glanced her way. “You really do look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you. You look nice as well.”
“Relax. I won’t bite. Unless, you want me to.”
Her heart sped up. “Uh, so where are we going?” She blurted out because she wasn’t sure how to respond to what he’d just said.
“A little restaurant called Maurice. And then, I thought we might to listen to some music afterward. Hopefully, you’re a music lover.”
“I do like music but I don’t often get to sit and listen to it, just for the sake of listening.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, I can’t listen at work because we’re not allowed to wear headphones and we can’t have personal radios outside of the break area. And by the time I get home, I usually read for a little while before I go to bed.”
“On your days off, what do you do?”
“I read and take my online courses. Sometimes, I go to the movies if there’s something I want to see. I guess that sounds pretty boring.”
“Not at all. What online courses are you taking?”
“Statistics and Literature.”
“How are you doing so far?”
“Well, statistics is a challenge for me but my professor is very helpful. She answers my emails fairly quickly when I have questions. I like literature. It’s basically reading the classics and writing reports on them. Once a week, we do an online group discussion about the books we’ve read.”
“So, it seems reading is one of your favorite pastimes.
“It is. It didn’t used to be, mainly because…” she broke off embarrassed at what she’d nearly revealed.
“What were you about to say?” he probed.
“Nothing.”
“Jamie, you remember what I said about repeating myself? I hate liars even more. What were you about to say?”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“To be embarrassed, is to be ashamed. Your love of books is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Well, you already know a little about my past. I had trouble in school when I was younger. I was even held back a grade. Teachers thought I was just being lazy and my mother thought I was stupid. When I went to live with my father, I was in school for about a year until I was taken out to be ‘homeschooled’. She used air quotes. “It was a better school district but again, I was having problems. I tried to explain to anyone who would listen that the words just seemed all jumbled together and letters appeared backward to me. By the time I was put in foster care, I was so far behind my age group that I was put in the special education class. One of the teachers realized that I might have a learning disability.”
“Dyslexia?”
She nodded. “Yes. Once I got help and got proper tutoring, I loved reading. It became my go to activity because it was like an escape for me. I could go on an adventure at sea or travel to a fantasy kingdom. It was my escape from the real world.”
“What’s your favorite book?”
“Hmm, that’s a hard one because there are so many favorites to choose from and I read just about anything I can get my hands on; mysteries, romance, sci-fi and thrillers. I guess if I had to pick just one book, it would be The Color Purple. I think, I have the entire book memorized. It’s just so beautifully written.”
“Hmm, I’ve seen the movie but never read the book.”
“Oh, the book is so much better.”
“Then, I’ll definitely check it out.”
Talking about something that she enjoyed made her a little less nervous. The fact that Asa didn’t seem to judge her, helped Jamie to relax. Maybe this date wouldn’t be the disaster she thought it would be. In fact, she was beginning to look forward to what this evening had in store for her.