Chapter 3: What to Wear?

As we finished our coffee, Luke leaned in closer to me. "Kiara, I have to say, I've enjoyed spending time with you. I feel like we have a real connection." I felt my heart skip a beat. "I feel the same way," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Luke reached across the table and took my hand. “I know we only met yesterday, but I have to ask… would you like to go on a proper date with me?” I felt a rush of excitement and nervousness. “Yes, I would love that,” I said, smiling up at him. Luke grinned, a glint in his eye. “Great. How about dinner Friday night?” I nodded eagerly. “That sounds perfect.” I let go of my hand and a wave of disappointment overcame me, but it lasted only a few seconds because Luke pulled out his phone and handed it over to me. He must’ve noticed my strangeness because he let out a quiet laugh. “I’ll need to call you.” I laughed and put my contact information into his phone. We got up out of our seats and walked out of the door, passing the girl behind the counter who watched Luke with a look of longing. You and me both girl. Luke walked with me back to the bookstore in comfortable silence. We reached the door and he waited patiently beside me as unlocked the door and entered the building. I turned on the step above him and looked at him. He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before a sleek black car pulled up behind him. “I’ll pick you up on Friday night,” he said, a smile on his face and he turned to get into the car. The dragon inside of my stomach woke up and started wreaking havoc on my insides. I watched as he drove away, my heart pounding with anticipation. As I walked back into the bookstore, I felt a smile stretch across my face. Currently, I was staring at the dress I had thrown down over my head. I had no idea what dress to wear. I was tempted to call Alex over. She has been my best friend since middle school, we were always together, and people often thought new were family. Which was strange because we were completely different, both in looks and personality. Alex was a fiery redhead, she was bold and always spoke her mind. I was a dark-haired, shy girl. A strange pairing, but a pairing nonetheless. I decided against calling her, I hadn’t told her about the date, and if I told her now she would freak out and I didn’t need another person freaking out around me when I was already doing just that. I called my parents instead. I hadn’t told them about my plans either and I needed some words of encouragement right now. “Hey, Mom and Dad, it's me, Kiara,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. They haven’t been home much these days, but I’m not upset about it. They have been working their entire lives, they serve to enjoy their retirement. “Kiara! How are you, honey?” Mom said, sounding happy to hear from me. “I’m good, thanks. I just wanted to let you know that I’m going out tonight,” I said, feeling a little shy. I had never been on to go out on dates. I preferred to spend my time at the bookstore or in my room watching movies with Alex. “Out? With who?” Dad asked, his tone a little suspicious. I rolled my eyes, I loved him with my entire heart. But he had always been way too protective of me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for their reaction. “His name is Luke. We met at the bookstore a few weeks ago, and he asked me out for dinner tonight.” There was a long pause at the other end of the line, and I felt my heart sink. I was hoping they would be excited for me, but it seemed like they were hesitant. “Luke? Who is he? What does he do?” Dad asked, his voice low and serious. “He’s a CEO of a company. He’s successful and charming,” I said, my cheeks warming and feeling a little defensive. Mom spoke up, sounding concerned. “Kiara, are you sure about this? You hardly know him. What if he’s dangerous or has ulterior motives?” I sighed, feeling frustrated. “Mom, Dad, I know you’re worried about me, but I’m not a little kid anymore. I can make my own decisions. Luke seems like a great guy, and I want to give him a chance.” There was another long pause, and I held my breath, waiting for their response. Finally, Dad’s voice filled my ear again. “Okay, Kiara. We trust you to make the right decision. Just be careful, okay? And let us know how it goes.” I felt a wave of relief wash over me. “Thanks, Dad. I will. I love you both.” “We love you too, honey. Have a good time,” Mom said, sounding a little more at ease. As I hung up the phone, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited to see Luke again, but I couldn’t help feeling a little anxious about what my parents had said. I hoped they would eventually come to see that Luke was a good guy, but for now, I was just focusing on enjoying my date and seeing where this went. I stood at the bottom of my bed, scanning the dress for the perfect outfit. I wanted to look casual, but cute, nothing too fancy or over-the-top. After a few minutes of deliberation, I threw my hands up in the air. “Screw it, go big or go home,” I mumbled to myself. I grabbed my favorite navy blue, backless dress and a pair of silver heels from my closet. I added some simple jewelry and applied a light coat of makeup, feeling satisfied with my look. I let my dark hair fall down my shoulders in waves. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door as I heard a knock. I held my breath and answered the door. He stood waiting for me with his hands placed behind his back. His hair looked perfect, not a hair out of place. His hazel eyes scanned over my body. “Wow, Kiara. You look incredible,” he said, sounding breathless. I blushed rubbing my hands along the sides of my thighs. “Thank you. You look pretty great yourself.” We made our way to the car. It was a sleek and modern black sports car. He held the door open for me like a true gentlemen. The inside of it was just as impressive as the outside of it. It had tinted windows that gave the interior a sense of privacy. The seats were made of plush leather, and the interior was outfitted with the latest technology. The car was both powerful and elegant, reflecting Luke's status as a successful and sophisticated businessman. As we drove to the restaurant, we spoke about our day and shared a few laughs, the nervous energy between us starting to dissipate. The nerves came more from my end. I had never really been on any dates, but even to me this seemed a lot more mature than what I had pictured as a kid growing up. When we arrived at the restaurant, Luke once again held the door open for me, leading me to the door. The restaurant had a modern appearance from the outside, with a large glass front allowing passersby to see inside. The sign for the restaurant was crafted in elegant cursive letters and placed above the entrance, while the outdoor seating area was surrounded by vibrant plants and flowers, adding a touch of natural beauty. Inside it was a cozy and intimate space, with warm lighting and soft music playing in the background. The walls were adorned with modern art pieces, and the tables were draped with white tablecloths and lit by small candles. The ambiance was elegant and sophisticated. As we perused the menu, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Luke. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. “You know,” Luke started, startling me. “I have to say, I’m really glad you said yes to this date,” he said, smiling across the table at me. I smiled back, feeling my cheeks flush. “I’m glad I did too. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”