Page 21 of A Really Bad Idea

“I still have another day. Let’s not push it,” I respond jokingly as I untie the belt of my trench coat. “Who has the boys tonight?”

“Beth’s parents,” he replies.

“Great party last weekend. Thank you for hosting it.”

He lets out a light laugh. “You certainly walked away with your dance card full.”

I lean back and wonder if it’s just me hearing a tone of sarcasm in his voice. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” He lifts his glass and drinks through the thin red straw.

Christian pops up behind me and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Can I take your coat?”

I unbutton my trench, and Christian slides it off my shoulders, whistling through his teeth. “Nice dress.”

I look down at the strapless navy dress I bought at J.Crew years ago. It has a sweetheart neckline and a jacquard print, making it one of those outfits you can dress up or down, depending on where you’re going.

As I take my seat, I thank Christian, who is holding my chair, and notice a beautiful woman with short hair and catlike eyes standing right behind him. She has on a latex-looking dress that hugs her body so tight that I can see the definition of her hoo-ha through the thin fabric.

She must know I’m staring because she weaves a hand around Christian and holds it out in front of my eyes. “I’m Natasha.”

“Sexy Nurse Natasha!” I shout and then raise a hand over my mouth, realizing I probably shouldn’t have said her nickname out loud.

Angela giggles from her seat as Natasha looks at me with a tilted glare. Christian just shakes his head at me like I’m a ten-year-old who just made a fart joke.

Sorry, I mouth.

He lifts his arm up and over Natasha’s shoulders, pulling her to his side and properly into my view.

“Natasha, this is my Meadow.”

“Hi, Christian’s Meadow. I’m Christian’s Natasha,” she purrs with her oversize glossy lips puckered. It makes me wonder if she has injections, or maybe she uses one of those lip plumpers.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” For some reason, my words come out almost pouty.

“I love your eyelashes,” she compliments.

“Thank you. I love your face.”

Yes, I just said that, and it seems even a woman like Natasha, who must get flattery by the bucketful, is a little thrown off by my overt admiration.

“Seriously, Meadow?” Brian quips from his seat.

I lift my glass and hold it up to my lips. “What? She looks like a Sports Illustrated model.” I take a sip and hug the glass to my chest as Christian pulls Natasha’s seat out for her and sits down after she’s comfortably in place.

The Loeb Boathouse has great food. I haven’t been here in years, but every time, the meal has been enjoyable. Christian went ahead and preordered appetizers of grilled octopus, creamy burrata, and crab cakes for the table. As the waitress lays the dishes in the center of the table, everyone serves themselves.

I place a piece of the octopus on my plate, and Christian rests a lemon wedge next to it because he knows I like to squeeze lemon juice on my seafood.

The pepper shaker is to my left, so I grab it and move it to my right where Christian is looking around the table for the pepper, which I know from years of dining with him.

“I’m a huge fan of your blog!” Marissa is practically falling into her food as she gushes over Beth. “Your thread about the best kitten heel for size ten and above saved my wardrobe!”

Beth thanks her in the most gracious way. The two women talk shoes, and Angela is quick to jump in. Of course, she has to ask about the Yves Saint Laurent boots we adore. Marissa is looking at Beth like she’s a rock star, and it’s totally warranted.

“Wait! You’re Spikes and the City?” Natasha asks excitedly.

“What’s Spikes and the City?” Denny asks.