“Oh, he’s got great style,” Vaughn says. “I should get you on that show.”
“I’m not straight,” Parker answers. “Clearly.”
“Babe, if it gets you out of Levi’s, I’m willing to be flexible,” his boyfriend laughs.
Parker rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath as Vaughn winks in my direction. He reaches past me then to grab something from the back of my closet. “Oh, this one is nice.”
“I haven’t worn that since college,” I say with a frown. I take the black number from him, giving the plunging neckline a once-over. “I don’t even know if I own a bra that would work with this.”
Vaughn waggles his eyebrows. “You could always just go without.”
“And let her nipples say hello to everyone they pass?” Parker looks at us incredulously. “It’s snowing outside.”
“Please don’t talk about my nipples,” I toss his way before pulling my shirt over my head.
Parker makes a disgruntled sound. “Just because I’m not interested in your goods doesn’t mean I need to see them all the time.”
“You’ve seen me naked a million times,” I laugh. “I assume you view my body as one does abstract art or something.”
Parker cocks an eyebrow. “Did you just refer to your body as art?”
“She’s not wrong,” Vaughn says as he zips me up.
I shoot Parker a smug grin. “At least one of you has taste.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Parker says, clucking his tongue. “She’ll become more insufferable than she already is.”
“You love me,” I say as I blow him a kiss.
Vaughn pushes me out of the closet so I can look myself over in the mirror.
“Oh, I think this is the one,” he says appreciatively as I turn this way and that. “And I really can’t see your nipples with that fabric.”
“Tragedy,” Parker mutters. “Dr. Alpha will be so disappointed.”
“I’ll let him see them after,” I deadpan. “Don’t worry.”
Parker makes a face. “Gross.”
The dress really does look good, admittedly. The snug, black fabric clings to my hips in a flattering way and the low neckline paired with the soft curls Vaughn coaxed into my hair give me a really sexy vibe. It’s a far cry from scrubs and white coats, that’s for sure.
I bite my lower lip. “You think he’ll like it?”
“You let the guy cart you off to a sex cabin for days on end, and you’re worried how he’ll like your dress?”
I shoot a glare over my shoulder at Parker. “This is different.”
“You’re going to marry Dr. Alpha, aren’t you?”
My stomach flutters dangerously, and I turn away so that neither of them can see the way my cheeks flush. “It’s not like that. We’re just going on a date.”
“Mhm,” Parker says, sounding unconvinced. “Only you could hook up with the biggest asshole we’ve ever met and turn him into a house husband.”
“Maybe her vagina is magical,” Vaughn muses.
Now I’m making a face. “No talking about my vagina either.”
I give myself another once-over, pressing my hands to my stomach to try and calm the nerves still fluttering around inside. I’ve been on a lot of dates this year alone, but I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so . . . anxious about one. I can’t even pin down all my feelings on the matter; I think I’m equal parts excited and nervous as hell. Which really is silly, considering all Noah and I have done, but something about tonight feels more real than anything else that’s happened between us.
I don’t think I ever even stood a chance of touching you and then just walking away.
I have to bite my lip just to keep from smiling at the memory.
Parker’s voice brings me back to the present. “What time is he picking you up?”
“He’s supposed to be here at six.”
“You’re cutting it kind of close, aren’t you?”
“Relax,” I tell him. “No one is ever on time anym—”
The sound of my doorbell makes me jolt. There’s no good reason for me to panic, but I look back at Parker with wide eyes, my gaze flicking from him to Vaughn as I duck to scoop up my shoes. “You guys need to hide.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t want him to know I needed help to get ready for a date!” I slip one shoe on, hopping a little. “I’m trying for ‘put together’ here.”