One look at the clock confirmed that I needed to start getting ready for my date tonight. I was going on another date with my cowboy. I knew it would be fun. I always enjoyed hanging out with him, I just wondered if I was making the right choice by moving forward. I couldn’t deny what was happening between us. I decided then and there that tonight would be about us. Just Beau and I going out on a date. Zero pressure. If he wanted to kiss me I’d let him. I’d let him hold my hand too. What was the harm?
Anytime I began to question my decision I mentally slapped myself out of it. I started grabbing clothes to wear from my closet. A pair of jean shorts, a tank top, some cute panties, socks, and my favorite pair of boots. I was glad that my parents had kept them over the years. I needed to shower. My hair was a mess from wearing a hat while working Oakley earlier today and I smelled like a combination of barn and sweat.
Fifteen minutes later, I was clean and smelling fresh. I toweled out my wet hair and let it dry as I shaved my legs. No man wanted to see hairy legs on the girl he was dating. Although Beau certainly gave off the idea that he wouldn’t care what I was wearing when I was around him. I wanted to look nice for him though.
I’d just gotten done drying my hair when there was a soft knock at the door. I opened it just a crack to see who was waiting on the other side. I hoped it wasn’t Beau, because there I was ass naked just fixing my hair and he’d be able to see everything from the mirror on the wall behind me.
“Nice ass, Cassidy Mae. Damn, girl. Now I know what Beau sees in you. Let me in… I’m helping you get ready!”
I quickly wrapped a towel around me. She clearly wasn’t bothered by my nudity, but I was.
“I don’t need help, Rea. I think I can manage on my own.”
She tsked me.
“Okay then, missy. Let’s see what you’re wearing tonight.” She pulled up the clothes I’d laid on the bed and shook her head.
“We can do better than this, Cassidy Mae.”
“I’ve seen your idea of better, Reagan. I believe the last time you helped me I ended up in a swimsuit that was missing important pieces…”
“Girl, you looked hot as hell in that suit. Beau’s eyes never left you that day.”
“That’s not true,” I said and looked down at myself. “I’m not sure why he’d want any of this, I’ve got so much baggage, Rea.”
“That man has been in love with you since we were kids, Cass. I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything you could do to change his mind on that. He’s just so happy you’re home. I know this is a lot to take in and he can come on strong sometimes, but please give him a chance. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it, but you’ll never know if you’re missing out on the love of your life just because you’re afraid to try.”
“I’d already decided to let the cards fall where they may tonight, Reagan. I’m giving in and letting go.”
“How far are you letting go, exactly? I mean… you finally giving in. Thinking about knocking boots with my big brother?” She winked at me.
I playfully smacked her.
“Reagan, ewww. Don’t talk about your brother like that…”
“Like what? All I can say is that Tara was smiling for a week afterward.”
“Really, he slept with skanky ass Tara? Gross.”
“Girl, he was trying to learn for you. Who better to learn from…? I think it’s sweet. Sometimes we can’t all sleep with rock stars.”
“He literally couldn’t find anyone else? Gah, I hate her.”
“Cassidy Mae. You shut your mouth. It was a long time ago.”
“Ok, fine, but still…” I curled my lip with disgust over the fact that he’d slept with my arch-nemesis from high school. It wasn’t enough to steal my boyfriends in high school, she had to go after Beau too…
I couldn’t believe it, but I had no feet to stand on and be jealous about it. That was years ago when I wasn’t here. We weren’t together. I had no right to the decisions he made while I was off ruining my life with Andrew. I’m sure he probably felt the same way about Andrew that I now felt about Tara.
“Alrighty, then. Let’s pick out some sexy clothes, shall we?” She laughed then started picking through my closet.
“No… no… this is a terrible shirt, why do you have this?” She turned around accusingly and looked at me holding the shirt.
“I got that years ago. You’re right though, it is ugly. Toss it.” She nodded and went back to snooping through my closet.
“Here, perfect. Wear this, Cass. It’ll make your legs look sexy as hell and you can totally pull off the short dress look.” She put her finger to her chin and tapped like she was pondering a great, important question of the world.
“Were you planning on wearing cowboy boots too?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with them?”
“Nothing…”
“It’s not nothing if you’re saying something about it. Now, spill.”
“Cass, you’ve worn them in the barn two days this week. They aren’t date boots.” She turned to leave but then stopped. “Wait here, I’ll be right back. I’ve got the perfect pair if they fit you.”
She left me in my room, waiting for her return. A few minutes later she returned with a pair of dressy cowboy boots. Brown leather boots weaved with yellow sewing in the pattern of a flower. They were the perfect boots to match the yellow sundress she’d picked out for me.
I lifted up the dress and looked at it. “Is it your goal in
