Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone celebrating today has fun.

Happy reading!

8

I growl in frustration as I look through my closet later that evening, getting ready for my date with Edward. Or I would be, if I could find something I actually liked to wear.

"Everything, okay?" My mom pokes her head into my room, taking in the wreckage. Most of the clothes I owned were strewn across my bed haphazardly.

"No," I sighed in defeat. "I'm over thinking and freaking out a little." The excitement over tonight was still there but was currently being overshadowed by nerves and anxiety. "I feel like I want to throw up." I run my fingers through my hair, taking a seat on my bed. Dating hadn't been a priority for me in a long time, I didn't know what I was doing when it came to guys and love, anymore. I felt inept. The last relationship I'd had was over three years ago; and that one only lasted a few months.

Mom comes fully into the room, taking a seat beside me, running her hand over my hair. "It's okay to be clueless, but I think you'll be fine. What you've told me about Edward makes him seem like a nice guy. You don't have anything to worry about. And if you throw up, just make sure not to do it on his shoes."

I released a half-hearted laugh, looking over at her, admitting the one thing that made everything that much worse. "I really like him, mom."

She smiles softly, "I hadn't been able to tell." I groan. At first, she hadn't been able to get me to tell her anything, but once the dam broke, I couldn't stop telling her things. "Sometimes, you just have to jump and hope you won't crash when you land. You've always been overly cautious, and I think what happened between your dad and I is part of that, but sometimes you just have to give yourself a push, even when it's the last thing you want to do."

"Have I mentioned that I really hate it when you're right?" I hated that she seemed to know me better than I did.

She pressed her forehead against mine. "I think I've heard that somewhere. Do you want my help finding something to wear?"

"Yes, please."

An hour later, I'm dressed in the black cotton dress with a brown belt at the waist that my mom picked out. It was casual, but also appropriate should we be going somewhere on the nicer side. She'd talked me out of wearing heels, just in case, because I tended to be a little clumsy when I was nervous, and she didn't want me to do a face plant on the way to his car. How was it that moms always thought of everything?

"I'll have my cell, so call me if you need me." I put my wallet and phone in the small cross-body bag I was taking tonight.

Mom sighs, rolling her eyes. "I'll be fine on my own while you're gone. I'm not as much of an invalid as you think." She grunts as she stands, and I shoot her a look with a raised brow. My mom has always been an independent person, it was hard for her to admit that she was at a place in her life where she needed assistance. "Don't look at me like that, who's the mother here?"

"With the way you act? Me." I teased, and she laughed.

"I don't want you to worry about me tonight." She comes over, fixing my hair so it falls smoothly around my shoulders. "Kate is right across the hall if I need anything. You just have fun, okay?"

I bite my lip, nodding. I was still going to worry, though. It was ingrained in me at this point. I tried to hide how much, but considering her comment, she knew. She always knew, it was her superpower.

"I mean it, Isabella Marie. I don't want you to think about me for one second tonight."

"I already said I wouldn't." I defend, but she raises her brow at me.

"Yes, but your face said another."

I sighed. "You know what it was like when I was a teenager and I told you not to worry?"

"Fine." She grumbles. "But you focus on that handsome man more than me."

I nod with a smile. That I could do.

A knock on the door sends my heart into a free fall.

"Mom, I love you…"

"But you want me to make myself scarce?"

I nod. "I'm sorry."

"No, I get." She starts heading down the hall. "Too soon for him to meet your decrepit, old mom."

"Shut up!" I call, laughing as I make my way to the door, the sight on the other side taking my breath.

See you next time!