Chapter 436

Chapter 0436 Iwas a nervous wreck. Everything inside me screamed, and I didn’t know how to calm myself down.

I “How do Ilook?” I ask the three women (I who were on video chat with me.

It’s funny how I just clicked with them. I had never had girlfriends before, but Ava, Letty and Connie were quickly becoming my girls. I was surprised at how everything flowed with them and how easy it was for me to open up to them.

When I'd told them that I was going on a date with Gabriel, they'd been excited for me and even helped me brainstorm the kind of makeup I should go with and how to do my hair.

“Hot,” Ava replies with a smile that lights up her face.

Letty jumps in after “Sexy,”

-y TY wie . “I'ddo you if I were into women,” Connie says seriously, making me laugh.

"My new friends helped me shop for-my dress. The moment they found out about the date and that I had yet to find a dress, I" they volunteered to help me scout shops I in order to get the perfect dress.

Ilook at myself in the mirror, appreciating how I looked. I wasn’t vain, but I looked pretty damn delectable.

We’d settled on a red bodycon, midi dress with a round neckline, long sleeves and an open back. I wanted something that was sexy, but classy at the same time. Ava had agreed that showing just enough to tease was going to drive Gabriel.

My intention wasn’t to be seductive or drive him crazy, but I wouldn’t mind if it happened either. gp My long hair was in a low textured bun with loose tendrils framing my face. For my makeup, I went with golden brown

eyeshadow, black eyeliner and red matte lips. I paired everything up with a pair of I golden heels and a black leather clutch. i “Seriously, Gabriel won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Ava says, with an I appreciative glance at my outfit.

I “Thank you, guys, for helping me pick this dress up,” I tell them.

“Anytime, sweetie,” Letty says in a sweet voice and I could tell she meant it. “Now, have fun and don’t forget to fill us in on how it went.” Connie, who I came to realize is the more silent one of the three, adds, “I’m mostly looking forward to hearing all about Gabe’s reaction.” “Bye, and like Letty said, make sure to have fun,” this comes from Ava.

After bidding them goodnight, I take a deep breath as I stare at myself one last time before turning around to leave.

“Oh my gosh,” Lilly screams when 1 step into the living room, scaring the life out of me. “You look so beautiful mom.” I She rushes to me, before stopping a few inches from me. “Turn around.” I With a laugh, I do as she says and spin around for her perusal.

Liam and I rarely went out on dates. It's not that we couldn’t afford it, there are cheaper places we could have gone to, but we just never really wanted to. We mostly preferred to stay indoors and have family movie nights. gp Like I said, our life was built on friendship and companionship. It was comfortable and that was okay with both of us. I didn’t mind it, but looking back right now, I see our life together for what it was. We both didn’t want to put any effort into it because we had both loved and lost. Our losses were different, but it still hurt all the same,

y ed 19 BONUS Maybe if the girl he had loved. The one who took his heart with him had been I alive, they would have had a different life.

There would be date nights where they enjoyed each other's company. Maybe their life would have been full of passion [ and fire instead of comfort.

I Lilly’s claps bring me back to the present.

“You look like those models I see on TV.” Bending forward, I kiss her cheek.

“Thank you darling. I'm so glad you approve.” Lilly has never seen me dress up like this.

Seeing her so happy and excited about seeing me dressed up, brings a pang to my heart. I'll always be grateful to Liam for accepting us, but what kind of life was I showing my daughter? That it was okay to just be comfortable in marriage? That it was okay fora relationship to lack passion? That it was okay to marry someone you aren’t in love with?

Bb A __& hd She would have started seeing our relationship for what it was. As she got older, she would start to understand and she would think it was okay to settle, I was hurt before but it doesn’t mean that I no longer believed in love.

I