Page 27 of Renegade
“Please, you have nothing to feel awful about. You aren’t his, are you?” she asks, wiggling her eye brows.
I sit up and squeeze my cup. “No, Poppy. I am most definitely not his.”
She bounces off the couch and smiles. “Just checking.”
**
After a long day of exploring, eating, and getting new bras and panties like Poppy suggested, we are on our way back to her place to change for dinner. She said she wanted to take me to an upscale place and I’m pretty excited to get dressed up again. I brought one dress with me, my favorite and I don’t care what Poppy says, I’m wearing it.
I do my hair, putting in a few lose curls. I apply my makeup, a bit darker than I normally would, but not like Poppy would do it. I slide on a new bra and panties, black satin with pink lace, super sexy. I look at myself in the mirror like this and smile. If only Fitz could see me now. Shit, wait, what? Hank, I meant Hank. Shaking my head, I pull on my red and black dress. It hugs my breasts and flares out at the waist, very fifties.
Walking into the living room, trying to pretend I didn’t have thoughts of Fitz while in my underwear, I wait for Poppy. I thought for sure she’d be done before me, so I go into the kitchen to get a water. Just as I take a sip, she steps into the kitchen and it’s a good thing I swallowed, because my mouth drops open.
“Holy shit, you look stunning,” I say, checking her out. Gone is the rocker girl look that I’m so used to and replacing it is a stunning Hollywood starlet. She has her hair up in an elegant French twist, her makeup is heavy, but in a seductive way. The dress she has on is purple with a lace applique. It has an open neck and sits right on her shoulders, falling to the floor.
She spins around and smiles. “Every once in a while I like to shock people,” she says, laughing.
“Well, you shocked me, but in a good way.” I pull her in for a hug and suddenly I feel heartbroken that tomorrow at this time I will be back in California. “I wish I didn’t have to leave tomorrow,” I say when we pull apart.
“Me too, but you could stay you know. I’ll call and get a flight some other time and you can call your work and ask for extended leave,” she says with a hopeful smile.
I grin and shake my head. “I can’t. I need to get back to my life.”
“Well, you look beautiful for our last night. So, let me ask you a question,” she says, walking into the living room. I follow behind and wait on her to continue. “Totally up to you, but the guys kind of wanted to have dinner with us too. They want to say goodbye.”
The thought of saying goodbye to them brings tears to my eyes. I knew I was leaving, but I didn’t think it would affect me like this. I didn’t realize how much I would come to love these people and enjoy the crazy ass lifestyle, even if I cried, bitched and ran most of the time. Smiling I say, “They need to be at dinner.”
She grabs me and kisses my cheek. “I’m so glad you said that, because they are on their way to the restaurant,” she says, laughing.
“Such a bitch, but I’m glad you always do the opposite of what you think I’d like,” I say, giggling. Just as she grabs her purse I look at myself in the mirror she has above the table. “Poppy, are you sure I look alright?” Knowing now that Fitz will be there and this will be my lasting impression, I want to look my best.
She comes to stand next to me and looks at me through the mirror. “You look stunning. Fitz is going to have one hell of a lasting memory of you.” She kisses my cheek again and walks away.
We get to the restaurant and the cab drops us off right in front. It is incredible from the outside, very classy and I can’t wait to see t
he inside. We walk in and Poppy tells them who we are meeting and we are ushered to a private room. On the way, I am taking in the elegance of this place. Crisp white table cloths, sparkling crystal and high class patrons. The door opens leading to our private room and I’m blown away. It has a window that showcases the bright city lights, one huge table and minimal lighting. The next thing I notice is the guys. They are all dressed up and I mean shirt and tie, dressed up. I can’t believe how different they look. My eyes catch Fitz’s and he is taking in every inch of me, causing my skin to heat up.
They all stand up and Nate walks over to Poppy, kissing her. Not just any kiss, but a kiss out of a movie. She’s dipped back, leg in the air and holding on to him while he kisses her with all the love he feels.
“You look absolutely beautiful, Brooklyn,” Fitz says, standing right next to me.
I look away from Poppy and Nate and smile at him. “Thank you. You look amazing,” I say, reaching out and touching his tie. He has on a white button down shirt, with a black tie and black dress pants. He looks unbelievably sexy.
“I can clean up sometimes,” he says, winking at me. “I’m so glad you allowed us to spend your last night with you.” This time he pulls me in for a hug and I gladly return it. “After last night, I thought I’d seen the last of you.”
We break apart and I smile. “Nah, you guys are stuck with me,” I say, smiling as I make my way to my seat. Before I reach it, he is there pulling it out for me. “Thank you.” I sit down and he sits right next to me.
“You look great tonight Brooklyn,” Ralph says, sipping his beer. Out of a glass of course.
“I agree,” Ethen says, nodding while checking me out.
“They both look stunning,” Nate says, pulling out Poppy’s seat.
“Thank you all,” I say, smiling, loving their kind words.
Most of dinner has just been talking about the band and what’s next. What I’ll be doing when I get home and how my visit was. It’s all bitter sweet, because listening to the talk about their next tour coming up, makes me wish I was going with them. I’d love to see what they do and what it’s like on tour. When we talk about what I’ll be doing back home, well it’s boring and I just say, the same as usual. What else can I say? That’s how it will be.
“So, since this is Brooklyn’s last night, I want to get a group picture of all of us, so next time the waitress comes in, I’m telling her to take it,” Poppy says, pulling her phone out of her purse.