I dressed for work, but in one of my old boring outfits. Since I’d started seeing Gavin, Krissy had been able to convince me to put a bit more color and sex appeal into my work attire, but I didn’t want that today. I wanted to go back to the way I’d been before I’d met him. So, a plain skirt that stopped just above my knees and a tailored, but not sexy, white blouse. I’d gotten rid of the pantyhose because Krissy had said there was no good reason to keep them, so thigh-high stockings were the only option I had other than bare legs. I pulled my hair back and pinned it into place. No make-up other than what I needed to cover the bags under my eyes. And, finally, sensible shoes. A modest heel that made me look professional but not enough of a heel to draw attention to my legs.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The young woman I saw peering back at me was familiar, but not the person I’d been seeing over the past few weeks. She looked like the girl I had been before. Confident in the courtroom but timid in life. The girl who’d only talked to the handsome stranger because her friends had pressured her. The girl who’d enjoyed sex but had never really had a problem going without it.
I knew I couldn’t be her again, but I wanted to. I wanted to go back to who I’d been, pretend that none of this had happened. Now that I’d been with Gavin, I knew I could never experience sex the way I had before. He’d played my body like a musician playing a fine instrument. He’d made me feel things I’d never felt before, want things that I hadn’t realized I’d wanted, and now that I knew these things, I couldn’t un-know them.
I closed my eyes against the tears I could feel coming and took a deep breath. No crying. I’d done my crying the night before and I was done. I had a job to do, and it had nothing to do with Howard’s divorce case.
I was going to take the bastard down.
With that thought firmly in my head, I headed out to the living room... and saw Krissy waiting for me. She was seated at our kitchen table, still wearing her cute little bunny pajamas, feet pulled up on the seat and a mug of coffee in her hands. She looked half-asleep, but I knew the caffeine would change that fast.
“Oh, hey.” I tried to keep my voice nonchalant. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
She shook her head. “I was hoping we could have breakfast together and talk.”
I tensed. Had she figured out that I’d been faking sick?
Then she grinned and I knew it wasn’t about me. “I’ve been wanting to tell you about this insane weekend I had since you got home, but I wanted to let you rest last night.”
I glanced at the clock. I could spare a few minutes. “I don’t have time for a full breakfast, but one cup of coffee won’t make me late. I just have to get some files from Mr. Weiss before work.” I went and poured myself a cup while Krissy began telling me her story.
“So, I figured since you were off on a sex-adventure all weekend...”
I winced at her phrasing, but my back was still to her, so she didn’t see my face.
“...I was going to have a little fun of my own.”
I really hoped she wasn’t going to regale me with tales of her sexual exploits going from one guy to another. Krissy wasn’t a slut, but when she wanted to have a wild weekend, she could get pretty crazy. I’d once seen her make out with three different guys and take a fourth back to our hotel room. Granted, we’d been juniors on spring break at the time, but still.
“I called up Pete to have that cup of coffee you promised him.”
I turned towards her, not trying to hide the surprise on my face. “Detective Pete Connors? The hot geeky guy you didn’t want to see again. The one who lives with his mother and goes to comic book conventions.”
“That’s the one.” Krissy sighed and turned in her seat so she was facing me when I sat down. “You reminded me how gorgeous he was with his golden hair and green eyes. And, of course, that body. He really does take the fitness part of his job seriously.”
Out of all of the guys Krissy had been involved with for longer than a one-night stand, I’d liked Pete the best. He wasn’t like any other guy Krissy had dated, which was, of course, the problem. Krissy tended to gravitate towards rich men who had more money than class. I was honestly surprised she hadn’t liked Howard.
“Anyway, we go out for coffee and the next thing I know, we’re back at his place.”
“His place?” I almost smiled. “With his mom?”
Krissy held up a hand. “Let me tell my story.”
I nodded and began to sip my coffee. I wasn’t hungry and didn’t think I could force myself to eat with these knots in my stomach, but the warmth of the liquid and the rush of caffeine did me good.