Page 85 of Starting Back
While I was sure everyone was still whispering about the kiss at the bar, I was thrilled to give confirmation to whoever we saw tonight about whether we were really together.
I wore a green sweater dress, just tight enough to highlight all of Leo’s favorite places, and went a little heavier than usual on the shadow to play up my eyes.
On the first few “dates” with Colin during our failed last-ditch effort to save our marriage, I’d tried to bump up my appearance like this but stopped when it was obvious that he didn’t notice or care. He’d said I “looked nice” once or twice, but with none of the emotion or the reaction I was looking for, which only made me feel worse.
There was no desperation in trying to look my best tonight, only excitement as dressing up for a man who would appreciate it was an exhilarating kind of fun.
“Where?” Chloe asked, her arms crossed over her torso as she studied me. She’d shrugged it off at the festival when I’d admitted that I liked Leo, but watching me get ready to go on a date with him seemed to put her on alert.
“Dino’s,” I told her as I fastened my earrings.
“You’re gettingthatdressed up for Dino’s?” Chloe lifted a brow as she leaned against the doorjamb. Dino’s had been a family favorite ever since I was a kid. They had the best Italian food, but we’d never dressed up to go there. We’d stopped by last week after Chloe’s basketball game in sweats.
I was dressing for the person, not the place, but I was leery to put too much emphasis on that. This new phase Leo and I were heading into was exciting but still new. I was sure enough about him for it to frighten me a little, but if we wanted to make this real in the long-term, we had to move slowly, if only for the girls’ sake.
“It’s not a crime to want to look nice.” I tapped Chloe’s nose. “I wear scrubs at work and leggings everywhere else. This dress still had the tags on it and deserves a night out of the closet.”
I spun around with a dramatic flair, hoping to make them laugh. I was rewarded with a giggle from Emma but could only pull a weak shrug out of Chloe.
Leo was going to be around a lot—I hoped. While Emma would be all in without much convincing, I knew Chloe would have a hard time. Leo had said that he was up for the challenge, and I prayed that seeing me happy would help her acclimate to Leo and me sooner.
“You look beautiful, Mommy!”
“Thank you, Emma,” I said, raising a brow at Chloe. When she moped away, I stifled a frustrated sigh.
Leo and I had already pulled back on each other plenty of times for no reason other than fear, only to be miserable in the end. Tonight was a beginning for all of us, and like all beginnings, some things and some people would be uncomfortable.
Trying to protect my girls from change hadn’t helped any of us. I would reassure them as best as I could, but as far as I was concerned, there was no other direction for Leo and me than forward.
“Don’t you look beautiful.” My mother brought her hand to her chest and sighed.
“See?” I turned around to where the girls had followed me down the stairs. “Grandma doesn’t even remember the last time I dressed up, so I think it was about time.”
Mom was staying the night with the girls so that Leo and I didn’t have to rush back. There would be no “sleepovers” tonight, but we could enjoy each other’s company without a time limit, and that was good enough for me.
“Well, yes, I love the dress, but I was talking about the way you’re lit up from the inside,” she whispered as she clasped my arm. Her emerald eyes shone as they searched mine, her wide and relieved smile squeezing my heart. “I like Leo already.”
“Me too!” Emma said as she hugged my waist. I smoothed the loose hairs from her ponytail back while the innocent happiness in her features scratched at the back of my throat.
I inhaled a long breath through my nostrils and smiled down at my youngest. Tonight was a happy night, not one to get all blubbery and ruin my makeup.
“He’s here!” Emma yelled at the chime of the doorbell.
My mother grabbed Emma’s hand as she raced for the door.
“Why don’t we both let him in since you’re still too young to answer doors by yourself.” Mom gave Emma’s ponytail a playful tug before she took her hand and unlocked the door.
“Leo, come in, it’s freezing,” Mom said as she pulled him inside with Emma still latched on to her waist.
“Thank you, Mrs. Russo,” he said, taking both of Mom’s hands in his. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
“I am thrilled to meet you too.” Mom shot me a glance over her shoulder, her eyes widening for a moment before she turned back to Leo.
While he spoke to my mother, I gave his body a shameless perusal. His gray jacket clung to his torso and tapered waist, and I was looking forward to the view from the back when he turned around in those black pants.
My mother’s reaction was spot-on. The man was beautiful—and all mine tonight.
“Wow,” he breathed out, a slow grin spreading across his lips when his eyes met mine. “You’re gorgeous.” His eyes flicked down my body for a quick moment before he straightened, clearing his throat.
