‘Looking through your old stuff?’
‘I couldn’t help myself. I’m starting to get excited about this whole thing.’
‘Well, it’s about time,’ Missy said, snatching the yearbook back. She sat down with a plop and eagerly began flipping through the pages. ‘Reunions are supposed to be fun, you know. You’ll see all your old friends. Talk about old times. Eat.’
She was beginning to know her too well.
‘They’ve got cheesecake on the menu,’ Roma said, licking her lips. ‘Do you know how long it’s been since I had cheesecake?’
‘Last night, if Jake’s T-shirt on that hassock is any indication.’ Missy’s smile was impish as she looked up. ‘Oh, wait. That would be beefcake, right?’
Roma stuck out her tongue. ‘Smart ass.’
They stared at each other for all of two seconds before bursting into giggles.
‘Where is he today?’ Missy asked. ‘I didn’t see him at the gym this morning.’
‘He’s spending the weekend in Chicago.’ Roma picked up the shirt and folded it neatly. It was all she could do not to hold it to her nose and inhale. ‘He’s visiting his sister and her family before taking an early look at the venue for the Fitness Show. He wanted to see the auditorium, the warm-up areas, the dressing rooms. Those types of things.’
‘That’s smart. They’ll have enough to worry about when they get to the competition.’
‘He’s got it figured out from every angle.’ Roma hugged the T-shirt to her chest. ‘I’ve got to tell you, the accountant side of me loves that.’
Missy grinned before turning her attention back to the yearbook.
‘So where are you in this thing?’ she asked, trying to find Roma’s high school photo. She thumbed through the pages, but stopped when she saw a group picture at a football game. ‘Hey! Is that you in the flirty little skirt? Were you a cheerleader?’
Roma rolled her eyes, wounded to the core. ‘Puh-lease. My arch-enemy, Ellie, was the head cheerleader. She was always bounding around doing backflips and handsprings.’
‘Show-off.’
‘I refused to even try out.’
Missy ran her finger along the edge of the photograph. ‘So what’s the uniform for? Were you on the drill team? I was on the drill team.’
‘Well, that explains your amazing dexterity when it comes to step aerobics.’ Roma wandered back to the couch. Absently, she began gathering up photographs and putting them back into their shoebox. ‘Drill team really wasn’t my thing.’
‘Oh, come on. You’re getting more coordinated.’
‘And you’re a terrible liar.’
‘Flags,’ Missy said, snapping her fingers.
‘I tried, but I whapped Jeannie Smothers in the head and got tossed off the squad.’
‘Then what? What’s left?’
Roma finally turned. ‘I held the school sign, OK?’
Missy looked perplexed.
‘You know when the band is in a parade, they’re led by two people carrying the school sign. When we performed at half-time, Myrtha Snodgrass and I stood at the edge of the field facing the grandstand.’
‘Myrtha?’ Missy choked.
‘Snodgrass,’ Roma said sympathetically. ‘Poor thing.’
‘Hey, at least you two were out in front. That’s cool.’
Roma cocked her head. ‘You’re right. I never considered that.’
‘You should have. You look cute as a bug.’
Roma moved so she could peek over her friend’s shoulder. She did look rather adorable in the shot. Even more, she looked slim. Maybe she hadn’t been as chunky back then as she’d thought. ‘Want to know a secret? My goal with this whole weight-loss and fitness thing is to fit back into that skirt.’
‘You still have it?’ Missy asked, her head swivelling around.
Roma pointed to the chair on the other side of the room. Her uniform was draped across it as if on display. The white sweater had a big green ‘W’ on the front and the short swirly skirt matched with green trim on the hem. ‘Washington High Wolverines,’ she said proudly.
Missy hopped out of her chair to investigate. ‘They let you keep it? I didn’t get to keep my uniform.’
‘They knew they were purchasing new ones for the next year, so they let us keep them if we wanted.’ Roma fingered the skirt lovingly. ‘I wanted. We had so much fun going on band trips.’
‘See,’ Missy said, nudging her. ‘That’s the sort of thing you should be concentrating on with this reunion – not some bouncy cheerleader on a power trip.’
‘I know,’ Roma said. ‘I’m trying. With every day that passes, I’m looking forward to going more. I can’t wait to see everyone – or have them see me.’
‘I don’t suppose Jake has anything to do with that?’
Roma couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face. ‘Can you imagine how people will react when I walk in with such a fine-looking stud? But seriously, he’s more than a trophy date. Look what his training has done.’
She wiggled the loose waistband of her jeans. There was a gap of nearly three inches between it and her tummy. ‘These are supposed to be my skinny jeans. Even they’re getting baggy on me!’
Missy let out a whoop and, together, they did an impromptu happy dance.
‘We’ll have to add jeans to our shopping list today.’
‘But the dress,’ Roma said. She reached out and grabbed Missy by the shoulders. It was imperative that she listened. ‘We’ve got to find the dress today. It’s the third time we’ve been out looking. We’re running out of time.’
‘Don’t worry. Today’s the day. I know it. I’m feeling lucky.’
‘Oh, really.’ Roma wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. ‘I don’t suppose Hawk has anything to do with that?’
‘Hush,’ Missy said, blushing. Turning, she snatched up her purse and headed to the door. ‘Let’s get going. You have about a hundred purchases to make, and I need a new teddy. Preferably red.’
‘I thought you bought one of those last week.’ ‘I did, but it’s in shreds now.’ Missy let one eyebrow arch before stepping out the door. ‘Don’t ask.’
There were days when shopping could reduce a woman to tears. Styles were unflattering, fits were all wrong, or colours were just gross. Hours could be spent looking for that illusive buy, with each store becoming more depressing than the last. For Roma, that had been the case for the past three weeks.
Today, though, things were different. Missy had been right. It was one of those rare occasions when everything was coming together. The planets had aligned, and Lady Luck was smiling down. Yes, it was one of those days when shopping could propel a woman into the stratosphere.
Roma was currently somewhere over the moon.
‘A size smaller. Can you believe it? I just bought jeans an entire size smaller!’
‘I know,’ Missy said, smiling indulgently. ‘I was there.’
‘But I haven’t been able to buy a size smaller in…well, ever! It’s always a size bigger.’ She gestured with her cup of Starbucks coffee to the other women prowling the mall’s corridors. ‘You ask any one of these ladies. I’ll guarantee you that being able to buy jeans in a smaller size is unprecedented.’
‘Yes, it’s never been done before,’ Missy said. ‘Remind me to tell Jake to lower your caffeine intake.’
‘It’s not the caffeine,’ Roma said, taking another big swig. ‘It’s life. I’m high on life.’
‘You’re high on something.’ Missy laughed. She tossed her own empty cup in a trash bin and pointed to a store across the way. ‘Want to go in there?’
Roma scowled. ‘The dresses there are too frou-frou. I want something bold. Something sleek and sexy. Something totally opposite of clumsy Roma Hanson.’
‘Right. No bows,’ Missy said, remembering their disastrous shopping trip from the week before. ‘Let’s wander for a while.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ Roma felt fine just strutting up and down the mall’s hallway
s. She was, after all, wearing jeans one size smaller. She glanced at her reflection in a store window as they walked past. It was spring, and she and Missy were similarly dressed. Their outfits of jeans, stacked boots and fashionable tops were simple, but attention getting. For that, her smile just wouldn’t fade. She was quickly learning that a good body could make anything look great.
And she had a good body.
A fantastic body.
A size-smaller jeans body.
Ha!
‘Do you think I should start tanning?’ she asked, nodding at the Tropic Topic store as they sauntered by.
‘God, no,’ Missy said, giving a dramatic shudder. ‘Liz does that, and it looks so phoney. You don’t want to show up at your reunion looking that way.’
Roma perked up, if that was at all possible. ‘Liz? You mean Jake’s Liz.’
‘He’d hate it if you did that. It’s been a constant argument between the two of them.’
Jake and Liz argued? Double ha!
‘ ’Nuff said,’ Roma murmured happily. She took another swig of her too-strong coffee and savoured it on her tongue. Life was getting better and better.
‘A haircut might be a good idea, though,’ Missy said. She stopped in front of the Styles and Smiles shop and looked at the products they had on display.
Roma’s high-riding mood dipped. ‘What? Does it look bad?’
Automatically, her hand went to her hair. ‘Am I behind the fashion trend again? Damn, that always happens.’
‘Oh, stop it,’ Missy said, bumping her with her hip. ‘Natural blonde is always in. I’m just thinking that you should get your hair cut about two weeks before your reunion. That way it won’t have that “just cut” look and you won’t be too shaggy.’
Roma’s shoulders slumped in exaggerated relief. ‘Where did you learn all this stuff? I swear you’re a fashion guru.’
‘Well, you’re the expert when it comes to lingerie.’
Roma snorted. ‘Honey, when you’ve got boobs as big as mine, you learn quick.’
Missy glanced down at her own chest. ‘I guess that explains why I’m a slow learner.’
‘Oh, give me a break. Your knockers are top of the line.’ Roma hooked her arm through her friend’s and started walking down the walkway once again. ‘They’re full and perky, just like they should be.’
Missy watched herself jiggle as she walked in her high-heeled boots. ‘Hawk does seem to like them. Quite a bit, in fact.’
‘Whoa,’ Roma said. ‘Information!’
Missy started to laugh, but stopped mid-breath when she looked up. She came to a halt so suddenly, she nearly jerked Roma’s arm out of its socket. ‘Oh, my God. There it is!’
Roma struggled not to slosh the last precious drops of her coffee onto the floor. ‘Hey, careful.’
‘Look! That’s it. That’s the dress.’
‘The dress?’ Roma’s head snapped so hard to the side, she nearly gave herself whiplash. What she saw made her forget about her coffee entirely. A mannequin in the store window directly in front of her was wearing a dress so pretty, it made her eyes sting. And it was the dress. ‘Ooooooooooooh,’ she sighed, all her air leaving her lungs at once.
‘Watch it,’ Missy warned, grabbing the coffee cup as it slipped from her hand.
Roma stood motionless as her friend tossed her coffee into the trash. She couldn’t stop staring. It truly was a thing of beauty.
‘Don’t just stand there. Let’s go try it on,’ Missy said excitedly. She caught her by the arm and gave a tug.
Roma followed, but craned her neck to keep an eye on the pretty confection until it was out of sight. When she finally snapped to, she found herself at a rack holding at least a dozen of them. ‘Out of my way,’ she said, diving in.
She chose two – one in her normal size and one a size smaller. Who said it couldn’t happen again? Turning on her heel, she made a beeline to the dressing room.
Missy was close on her heels. She stood outside tapping her toe impatiently as Roma whipped off her newly minted favourite jeans. ‘How’s it look?’ she asked.
‘Mmmphhh,’ Roma said, her words muffled as she pulled off her shirt. She tossed it towards the hook on the door, but it sailed over the top. Missy caught it before it hit the floor.
‘Let me see,’ she said. ‘Let me see.’
Roma pulled the material over her head and reached back for the tab of the zipper. The dress took shape as the zipper cinched up – and what a shape it was. Stunned, she stared at herself in the mirror. ‘Somebody pinch me,’ she whispered. ‘Is that really me?’
The stretchy fabric clung to her curves as if it had been made for her.
Missy pounded on the door. ‘Let me see!’
Roma whipped it open and looked at her friend helplessly. ‘Tell me I’m not dreaming. Tell me it’s for real.’
Missy took a step back, and her jaw dropped. ‘Oh, heavens! That’s gorgeous.’
Roma spun back towards the mirror. It truly was – and it made her look gorgeous, too. The dress was Grecian style with one thick strap going over her right shoulder. The bodice was snug, showing off her full breasts and trim waist. At her hips, it flared lightly into an asymmetrical skirt. It angled from mid-thigh on her right leg to somewhere mid-shin on her left. The colour, though, was what set everything off. It was a deep purple, nearly blue in intensity. She wasn’t one to wax poetic, but the colour brought out the lavender of her eyes and made her hair shine like spun gold.
Best of all, it was the smaller size.
Roma felt like she just might faint.
‘You look incredible,’ Missy said in awe. ‘You’ll be lucky if Jake doesn’t tackle you before you get to your reunion.’
Roma turned to see her profile. Oh, yeah. Jake was definitely going to like this. From the side view, she looked unbelievably curvy. Even more amazing, the asymmetrical skirt made her legs seem long and lean.
‘Ring it up,’ Missy declared. ‘We’ve got to hurry back to Burgette’s. I swear I saw a pair of cute purple sandals on sale there. Then we need to find you a strapless bra. Oh, my God. Your classmates will be stunned.’
Roma smiled into the mirror. Oh yeah, the day just kept getting better and better. This was exactly what she’d wanted that first day she’d stumbled into Jake’s Gym. Perfection – or as close to it as she could get.
Reunion, watch out!
‘Bring it on, Ellie,’ she whispered in challenge. ‘I’m ready for anything you’ve got.’
The shoes Missy had seen at Burgette’s were a perfect match and thirty per cent off to boot. It had been a challenge, but the outfit they’d finally found for Roma’s reunion dinner was stylish, seductive and kick-ass all at once. Missy wished she could be a fly on the wall when her friend made her grand entrance. Tongues were certainly going to be wagging.
They had one last purchase to make, though, and it was the store she’d been waiting for all day. Lingerie. Once they set foot inside the door, Roma headed for the strapless bras. Missy took time to stop and look around. As always, she could hardly choose where to begin. She just hoped the shopping fairy would look down on her, too.
‘Do you have anything new in red teddies?’ she asked the sales clerk.
The woman pointed to the far corner, and she started moseying in that direction. It was funny. Just a few months ago, she’d walked by this store without giving it another glance. Back then, she hadn’t seen the point in buying delicate undies. As a college student and aerobics instructor, they weren’t practical. She just couldn’t rationalise spending the money.
Now she could – and this store was her favourite.
A little zing settled in her belly as she walked between the racks of bras, panties, nighties and hosiery. So many colours. So many pretty things. So much sex!
She rubbed her damp palms on her jeans. It didn’t matter what she looked at, visions of Hawk’s reaction would appear in her head. Red was definitely a trigger for that man. When she’d stripped down to t
hat teddy the other night, it had been like waving a flag in front of a bull. A very, very horny bull.
The frothy fabric hadn’t lasted long once he’d gotten his hands on her. Afterwards, he’d been sorry, but she hadn’t. God, she hadn’t. He’d insisted on giving her money to buy a new one, only he’d made a special request.
The new one should have an open crotch.
She licked her lips and tried to tamp down her excitement. The idea of buying something so naughty should have shocked her.
It didn’t.
She had a sex life. A wonderful, glorious, active sex life. She’d be a fool not to revel in it.
Fighting a smile, she headed towards the far wall. She wasn’t even halfway there when a teal-coloured bra suddenly caught her eye. Her breath caught. The blue-green colour was her absolute favourite. She stopped to look and, like Roma with her dress, simply stared. Carefully, she ran her finger over the lace trim. She loved the frillier things. Lace, satin, bows…
‘That’s beautiful,’ Roma said, coming up to stand by her side.
‘It’s push-up,’ Missy said, still entranced. She swept her fingers along the inside of the cup. It was padded and comfortable.
‘It’s demi-cut,’ her friend warned. ‘You’ll be spilling out all over the top. That could be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it.’
It was a good thing. Definitely good. She sorted through the bras until she found one in her size. It was rather expensive, but with her discount card, she could swing it. Another discovery made the decision for her. She sighed happily. ‘Oh, look. Matching thongs.’
Roma laughed. ‘You’ll be spilling out there, too.’
‘It’s perfect,’ Missy said. She picked out a pair of the underwear and held the bra above it, trying to envision how the combination would look on her.
‘I don’t know how you wear those things,’ Roma commented. ‘I tried once, and it felt like butt floss.’
High School Reunion Page 14
