NYLON ~ CHAPTER TEN ~ I NEED A CHANGE

Emily stood in Hanna's kitchen downing a glass of water. She looked gorgeous in a slinky black dress with a pair of Hanna's platform pumps. Hanna appeared moments later wearing a long sleeve sheath dress with a short hemline. The girls took one last look in the mirror before Hanna grabbed her purse and found them a cab. They piled into the back and headed toward Kristen's loft in Soho.

"I'm nervous," Emily said.

"It's casual," Hanna replied. "No pressure."

"I haven't been on a date since before Alison was born," Emily reminded her. "Long before."

"Seriously, Em," Hanna laughed. "You are sexy and fun and intelligent. She'll love you and I promise you'll like Kristen too. It's me I'm really worried about."

"Why are you even going out with this guy?" Emily asked her.

"I need a change," Hanna replied, "and it gives me an excuse to set you up with Kristen."

"You're always thinking about others," Emily laughed.

"We're here," Hanna said as they pulled up in front of Kristen's place. Hanna texted her and a few minutes later her gorgeous friend was sliding into the cab next to Hanna.

"Hi," Kristen smiled locking eyes with Emily. The chemistry was so hot, even Hanna was starting to blush.

"Kristen, this is my dear friend Emily," Hanna introduced them, "Em, this is Kristen, the new face of our line."

"Nice to meet you," Emily choked out keeping her eyes locked on Kristen.

In no time all the girls had arrived at a bistro in Midtown where they found Dave already sitting at a booth. They filtered toward him and Hanna noticed the arrogant smirk on his face. She sighed deeply and braced herself for the nightmare she was about to endure.

Hanna slowly opened the door to her apartment and searched around in the dark for the light switch, turning it on before slamming the door shut. She dropped her bag on the counter and poured herself a glass of wine. It had been one of those nights. After her disastrous date with Dave she'd taken a cab home but she had a feeling Kristen and Emily were going to call it a late night. Hanna plopped down on the couch and clicked the TV on while she slowly sipped her wine and imagined all of the things she would have rather done instead of going on a date with Dave.

Her thoughts floated toward the thought of Caleb. They had spent a special night together but she knew she could never pursue a real relationship with him after having walked out on him all those years ago. She'd told him she wanted a casual relationship, if you could even call it that, and he had gladly taken up that offer without hesitation.

Hanna finished off her wine and set the glass down on the coffee table she'd fashioned out of an old trunk. She tiptoed into her bedroom and pulled open the closet standing on her toes to reach up to the top shelf and pull down a dusty hat box she had stored up there. Hanna laid the box down on her bed and flipped through the aged photos where old versions of her and Caleb stared back. They had been so in love and she threw that away. She didn't blame him for not wanting to her involved with her again but it still hurt that he had no interest in pursuing their relationship further.

Once she'd cried enough tears, Hanna placed the photos back in the box and headed toward her closet where she shoved her memories back out of sight. She couldn't handle a walk down memory lane any longer. At least, not if she was this close to Caleb without a chance of getting back together. Her thoughts drifted back to Wren and the way he wanted so badly to impress her all the time and be a source of stability for her. For the first time in almost a decade, she wanted a boyfriend and she wanted someone to fall madly in love with someone who adored her. She'd almost had that once before with Caleb but she was sure it would never work again.

I'm sorry this is so short but it needed to be done. I don't usually do this, but if I get five reviews by the end of the day, I'll post the next chapter tonight. The fate of this story is in your hands. Enjoy :)