Twisted Sister Page 3
Holly was excited about her date with Trent, and had a hard time maintaining her composure the day they were scheduled to go out. She had been keeping Blythe abreast of how their conversations were going, and Blythe must have known something was up because before Holly could put her purse down and get situated at her desk, Blythe was right there with a tall, steaming caramel mocha latte with an extra espresso shot for Holly, one for herself, and a big grin on her face.
“So is there anything you want to tell me?” Blythe inquired, handing Holly her favorite coffee. The steaming cup of coffee was warm to Holly’s hands as she accepted the cup from Blythe.
“Whatever would make you say something like that Blythe?” Holly said, trying to keep a straight face. It was hard. She felt like she was going to burst she was so excited.
“Don’t play with me Holster… I know something is up, I just know it!”
“I have no idea what you mean Blythe,” Holly replied, trying to be as serious as possible. She wanted to string Blythe along as long as possible. It was the least she could do, she thought laughingly to herself.
The look on Blythe’s face became more serious. Blythe leaned forward in her chair, staring Holly squarely in the eye.
“Am I your best friend Holly?” Blythe asked.
“Of course you are Blythe,” Holly replied. “Whatever would make you ask such a dumb question?”
“If I am your best friend, then you are obligated to tell me what the hell is going on! You know I am not patient and I know for a fact something is up with you Ms. Holly… so spill, dammit!” Blythe hissed.
Holly considered stringing Blythe along a little while longer, but she couldn’t.
“Okay, okay,” Holly said caving in. She didn’t want to keep her girl hanging too long. Besides, it was too hard for her to try to keep a straight face.
“He asked me out!” Holy gushed.
“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!” Blythe replied excitedly.
“Shhh… my office door is open, and everybody in the office doesn’t need to know Blythe, especially her,” Holly said with a bit of chastisement in her voice; pointing at her secretary, known to be the office snoop.
“Girl, I’m sorry,” Blythe said as she glided quickly across the room to close the office door. “I’m just so excited for you! I knew something was up the way you came floating in here.”
Holly caught a glimpse of Julia rolling her eyes as Blythe closed the office door.
Holly didn’t say anything to Blythe about Julia’s eye rolling, hoping Blythe didn’t see her. If she had, the conversation would have been completely sidetracked as Blythe would have started in about Julia and how ‘what goes on in this office is none of her concern, and if I catch her cutting her eyes at me again’… etc, etc. The conversation would have never gotten back to what was really important: her date with Trent!
Julia was nice enough. She was much older than Holly and Blythe; maybe in her late 40’s or so. Some people said she was prone to gossip because she didn’t have a personal life. Holly knew Julia had not had much success in the love department and she had never heard Julia mention anything about having a husband or a significant other. She did have a few pictures of her cat on her desk, but no family to speak of.
Julia wasn’t bad looking, but she carried herself much older than she really was. Blythe called her a spinster. Holly didn’t think that was a completely fair assessment. Holly hated to admit it but she did understand why Julia was still single. Julia came across as somewhat unapproachable and bitter. She dressed like a much older woman and never wore anything that was contemporary or flattering. The cat hair all over her clothes didn’t help either. Julia and Holly’s relationship was strictly business. There was no idle chatter. Julia frowned upon that and thought the office should be kept professional at all times. Whatever she was or was not, Julia was a hell of a secretary, and Holly appreciated and put up with her for that reason alone.
Holly turned her thoughts from Julia and back to the conversation at hand. She couldn’t help but smile.
“I am excited Blythe, but a little nervous too,” she confessed.
“What is there to be nervous about?” Blythe asked.
“Lord knows ya’ll have been talking on the phone long enough, and it’s not like you are going on a blind date or out with an absolute stranger,” Blythe continued convincingly. “What’s there to be afraid of?”
“I don’t know,” Holly began. “What if he is not everything he says he is… that I believe him to be…” she continued. Holly paused for a minute thinking about the possibilities.
“Maybe you’re right Bly,” Holly pulled herself back from doubt and speculation, “maybe I am just trippin,’” she said; trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Blythe.
“Just try and have a good time, Holly. Be open and receptive to just having a good time. I mean, it’s not like the man asked you to marry him or something! He just wants to take you out for a night on the town!” Blythe insisted.
“You’re right, I just need to relax and not get ahead of myself,” Holly replied. She did have a bad habit of thinking about things too much sometimes; talking herself out of an experience before she even had the opportunity to experience it. This time would be different. She would give Trent a chance without reading too much into it; without comparing him to her ex and without hearing her mother’s voice in her head. Besides, she had been enjoying their phone conversations, and he seemed like a nice enough guy, right?
“Well now that that’s settled, where are you guys going? What are you going to wear?” Blythe asked, bringing back the excitement to the conversation.
For the next few minutes, Blythe and Holly dissected her wardrobe with Blythe making suggestions as to what would be the perfect ensemble for the night’s events.
The rest of the day went by much faster than Holly expected. She hadn’t seen much of Trent the entire day, but that just made her even the more excited to see him that evening. Holly made sure to leave work on time, made sure her business calls would be managed by the answering service, with the exception of the senior partners, and prepared herself for her date with Trent. Holly made sure to call her mother too, even though it was ahead of their routinely scheduled 9:00 p.m. call. Immediately, her mother knew something was up.
“Why are you calling me so early?” her mother asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I always love to hear from you, but the only time you call before nine is if you have plans.”
Her mother paused, waiting for Holly to fill in the blanks. Holly was quiet, not wanting to tip her hand too much. She knew if she told her mother she was going on a date, her mother would have a million questions and she would never get her off the phone!
“Holly, you hear me talking to you girl? I asked you a question!” her mother gently scolded.
“I hear you mom… I just wanted to talk to you. I know I’m a little early…” Holly offered unconvincingly.
“Holly, you know I know you, and there is definitely something going on,” her mother replied. “Now are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?” Her mother said insistently.
“You don’t have to guess. I called you early because Blythe and I are going to have a girl’s night out and I didn’t want to not call, so that’s why I’m calling early.” Holly replied.
She hated to lie to her mother. Holly felt awful, but if she told her mother the truth, her mom would undoubtedly go overboard and start making wedding plans. Holly would keep Trent her sweet little secret for right now. She would tell her mother if things panned out the way Holly hoped.
Holly’s mother wasn’t convinced about what her daughter was saying and Holly could hear it in her voice.
“Oh, uhn hun… going out with Blythe… is that right?” Holly knew the question was rhetorical and her mother was not looking for an answer.
“Well you tell Ms. Blythe her second mother said hello. Try not to stay out too late and you gi
rls be careful,” her mother reminded.
Regardless of how old Holly was, her mother could always make her feel like a little girl.
“Yes ma’m, we will,” Holly replied, feeling like she was off the hook. “Love you mom, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Holly still felt bad after hanging up with her mother, but she quickly refocused her energy and began to prepare for her evening with Trent.
Holly took a long leisurely bath. She soaked in her claw foot tub filled with vanilla and jasmine scented bath beads. She had several candles lit, offering a soft and soothing glow. Holly closed her eyes, sinking a little deeper in the tub she had designed especially for her. She thought back over her day and the conversation she had with Blythe. It made her laugh. As she soaked, enjoying the warm water and ambiance she had created for herself, her thoughts turned to Trent.
They had had great conversations on the phone. Over the course of the past few days, she found herself thinking about him more and more. She was certainly attracted to his intelligence, and she had to admit that she was definitely physically attracted to him as well. Holly had always been a sucker for a man with a brilliant mind and quick wit and Trent had both. They had talked about everything – goals, aspirations, family, and friends, even past relationships. Nothing about what he said sent up any warnings or red flags for Holly. She hated to admit it, but he did seem like the perfect guy. She was secretly glad Blythe had taken the initiative to put things into motion. Holly knew if Blythe hadn’t, she certainly wouldn’t have. She wasn’t too sure Trent would have either. Holly found herself fantasizing about being with him, holding him, kissing him… making love to him… Realizing she had become totally engrossed in the fantasy, Holly caught herself and brought her thoughts back to the present, don’t get ahead of yourself girl, she thought.
Time was getting away from her. Holly had been in the bathtub longer than she had planned to. If she didn’t get out soon, she would be running behind schedule for her date. Holly climbed out of the tub, letting the water out as she wrapped herself in the bath towel she had warming on the heated towel rack. She slid her freshly pedicured feet into her bath slippers and walked the few steps into her master bathroom closet. Holly loved her closet. Just being there always made her smile. She sat down on the robin’s egg blue brocade and button-tufted chaise lounge that sat in the middle of her ample closet and gently dried off.
Fortunately, she had already selected the little black dress and Christian Louboutin pumps she was wearing for the evening. Holly oiled her body with her favorite scented body oil, and layered with a bit of her most exquisite perfume before she put on her delicate undergarments. Everything had to be perfect. She wanted to look nice for Trent. As the time for her date approached, Holly became increasingly anxious, nervous, and excited. She was really looking forward to spending some time with him in person.
Holly was finally ready. She had applied her makeup and put the finishing touches on her hair. After putting in her flawless one-carat diamond stud earrings, Holly gave herself the once over in the full-length mirror in her master bedroom. “Not too shabby…” she thought to herself. She had just a few minutes before it would be time to take the car to the restaurant to meet Trent.
Regardless of how familiar or how comfortable she was with a man, one of the rules Holly never broke was having a man pick her up at her apartment on the first date. She had called the driving service and they were scheduled to arrive in just a few minutes. The previously subtle butterflies were now somersaulting and doing cartwheels in Holly’s stomach… she was so nervous! She couldn’t believe how nervous she was!
Holly still had a few minutes before the car was slated to arrive… just enough time to call Blythe.
“Hey girl…” Blythe answered the phone on the first ring, as though she had been anticipating Holly’s call. “I hope you’re ready. Are you excited?”
“Blythe, I am excited, but I am so nervous… my stomach is tied in knots, I’m pacing the floor…” Holly admitted.
“Calm down Holster,” Blythe offered reassuringly. “Everything is going to be just fine. Like I said before… relax and try to have a good time. Don’t over think it, just go with the flow.”
Holly took a deep breath, trying to take Blythe’s suggestion to calm down.
“I’m trying... I mean I will,” she replied.
“I will be right here by the phone if you need anything. And don’t forget to text me no matter what time you get in just so I know you made it home safe. You do plan on coming home, right?” Blythe said sarcastically.
“Of course I will be coming back home… alone too if you must know!” Holly replied.
They both laughed. Blythe knew Holly well enough to know she wouldn’t be going to Trent’s or bringing him home; not yet anyway. But Blythe was holding out hope that Trent would be everything Holly desired and more!
Laughing with Blythe helped to calm Holly’s nerves.
“I will text you as soon as I get in ma’m,” Holly reassured her friend.
“You know I want to hear all the details in the morning!” Blythe said excitedly. “Talk to you later girl.”
Holly hung up the phone and looked at the clock on her kitchen wall. It was time to take the elevator down to the lobby of her building and meet the car out front.
She gathered her jacket and her purse and headed out the door. There was definitely no turning back now.