Chapter 8: Nikki

"Almost time,” Stephanie said as she twirled in her desk chair. “Are you nervous?”

Nikki continued to stare at her screen, hoping by not looking at her coworker, the woman would cease and desist her nagging interrogation. “Considering you’ve been asking me that question every half hour since lunch, I’m starting to get nervous.”

Stephanie grinned. “Have you picked out your slinky, come-and-get-me outfit yet?”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “I am not wearing some trampy outfit. Theo doesn’t strike me as the type to go for the trashy look on a woman. I’m going to keep it simple. Conservative.”

“In other words, boring. This man was looking at naked women. You need to spice it up.”

“He was researching mermaids, not looking at naked women.” Nikki stared at her friend. “Do not bring that up if you ever meet him.”

“Oh, so you think I’ll get a chance to meet him, huh? That’s a positive outlook for tonight. Should I stop by in the morning to say hello?”

The thought that Theo might actually be with her in the morning made her tingle in places that hadn’t tingled in a while. “I doubt he’ll be there in the morning.”

“If you wear the slinky dress, he’ll be there.” Stephanie winked at Nikki, who gave a soft laugh as she shook her head.

“I’m not catching a man by dressing like a hooker. My mother always said how you catch the man is how you have to keep him. I’m not starting out on that foot, thank you very much.”

“Please. There’s nothing wrong with using the right bait to catch your man. Once you have him, then you just train him the way you want him. Everyone knows the one with the vagina controls the relationship.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “Cynical much?”

“I prefer thinking of it as being a realist.”

Nikki waved off her friend’s notion. “I’m not going to use my feminine charms to woo Theo. He was enticed by my conversation, remember? That’s how I will keep him interested.”

Stephanie tuned back around to her desk, shaking her head. “You have definitely been out of this game way too long. I’m telling you. Men look at the wrapper first before trying out the candy.”

“I’m sure I can get to his sweet tooth without the fancy package, thanks.”

Yet, by the time Nikki arrived back home, she wasn’t so sure. She stood in front of her floor-length mirror staring at her reflection as she wondered if her wrapper was enough to keep Theo’s attention. Never before had she thought about what Stephanie told her, about how the outside of a person sometimes drew another person’s attention first. Yet, she was already past that hurdle, wasn’t she? Theo must have liked what he saw because he asked her out again. Besides, it wasn’t about image, was it? People went for depth in another person? She sighed. Why am I even considering Stephanie’s shallow view on life?

She ran a brush through her light brown hair, which fell to just below her shoulders, her gaze staring at her reflection, even though she wasn’t seeing it. Her stomach was an agitation of nerves as she worried about tonight, role-playing all sorts of scenarios in her head, each one ending in embarrassment and pain. There was a reason Nikki didn’t date. It scared the hell out of her. She didn’t like the unknown and dreaded surprises, especially awkward ones. She much preferred the safety of her back porch and a hot cup of breakfast tea.

Yet, there was something…different about Theo. She found herself smiling, her arm paused in mid-stroke, as she pictured him as he had been Tuesday night at the coffeehouse, disheveled, confused, awkward—everything she was feeling at that moment. However, he still had it all together from what she heard as they conversed that night. He knew where he was going and was enjoying his life. She continued brushing her hair. That was something she needed to do—enjoy her life.

As she dropped her brush back on her dresser, her phone dinged. Stephanie. Stop.

Nikki stared at her phone, her brows furrowed in confusion. Stop what? She tossed the phone on her bed as she passed it on her way to the closet. Stephanie did not make sense at times. How in the world did she expect Nikki to understand what she meant with just one word? She opened her closet doors, dreading the task of deciding what to wear that night.

Her phone dinged again. Stop worrying about tonight and just go and have fun. He asked you out, remember? He wants this to go well as much as you do. So, stop fretting.

Yes, Mom. Nikki rolled her eyes, but as she stared at her wardrobe, she knew her friend was right. She was worrying way too much. Theo wouldn’t have asked her out if he didn’t want to actually go out with her. And the way he did—giving her his phone number as he autographed her book—was beyond romantic. Why would he do something like that if he truly didn’t want to go out with her?

She took a deep breath, determined to do her best to stop worrying and instead focus on the night ahead. She slid cold dresses and stark pantsuits to the side, not wanting to look like she was going to a business dinner. This was a date, a night out, and she needed to dress like it. Not slinky, like Stephanie wanted, but still sexy. Yet, most of her clothes were all business attire. Oh, she had some casual dresses for sitting out on the back porch, but very few shouted date night to her. Finally, she settled on a violet dress that hit mid-thigh with a soft V-neck that tantalized without revealing. She would definitely need to go shopping.

Her phone dinged again, eliciting a groan from Nikki. Stephanie was going to lecture her all night long, it seemed.

It wasn’t Stephanie. I’m really looking forward to seeing you again. I hope we’re still on for tonight.

And her jitters started all over again.