The Dark Thrall Mating Olivia

Chapter Eighteen

"So, how was the baby today?"

"Good, I took her to the park. She went down super quick." I said, moving to stand and pick up some of the baby toys that were still on the floor. I put them into a wicker basket that I kept beside the couch.

"That's good. You know if you want to stay out late. I don't mind watching her. I can call Jose and sleep on the couch. She's a good baby and you deserve to go out and live a little." Gloria said, reaching out to rest her fingers on my arm. "You're a good mom, but you need to take care of yourself, too."

"I couldn't ask you to do that." I put my hand over hers, squeezing her fingers softly. She and Jose already helped me so much and I couldn't ask her to do that. "Besides, it's just a first date and they may not even like me."

"Olivia, they'd be crazy not to like a girl like you." She gave me a soft smile and I felt loved. I wished that things could have worked out differently. She would have made an amazing mother- in-law. "Though, if I were you, I would wear that short denim skirt instead of those jeans. Let them see how good your legs look."

I looked down at the jeans that I had put on earlier. Maybe she was right? "You don't think-" "What, that they'd love to see those long legs, to have those legs wrapped around them?" She teased and I blushed. "Go change, you've got time."

I nodded even though a part of me was worried that they would see my body and that they wouldn't want me anymore. Men like that looked like they did could have anyone they wanted. Not some chubby, rejected she-wolf with a kid.

"Get that look off your face. You're going to have fun tonight. Maybe even get lucky."

"You think so?" I asked, worrying my lower lip. It had been so long since I had gone out and had fun. Even before Everly, I wasn't one to party. But, sometimes late at night I missed going out. Even if it was to the movies or just a late-night run.

"I know it, now go change. And don't worry about Everly." Gloria ordered, pulling a book out of her bag and cracking it open.

I smiled to myself, making my way back to my room. The walls were painted pale pink with the light cast from the unicorn night light that sat beside Everly's crib. I crept over to the closet, grabbing my skirt. Trying not to wake her, I knew that Gloria wouldn't mind putting her back down.

It was just always so hard to leave her. She was at the age where she was starting to get upset when I had to leave. It broke my heart every time she lifted her hands out for me and I couldn't just drop everything and stay with her.

I stripped off my jeans, hanging them back up in the closet before pulling on the denim skirt. It wasn't something I would normally wear during these autumn months. But I found myself excited for Killian and Jay to see my body.

Even if I was nervous about it. I didn't know if things would even get that far, but a part of me hoped that it would.

I zipped my skirt up before looking in the mirror. Twisting around to see how I looked, Gloria had been right and the skirt was the better choice. I grabbed my boots and a black cardigan before heading back into the living room.

I slipped my sweater on as I walked back into the living room. Gloria had already made herself comfortable on the couch. She had pulled the knit throw off the back of the couch and spread it over her legs.

She looked up from her book, giving a low whistle. "See, so much better."

"It is, but I'm still nervous." I said, sitting across from her in the armchair. Pulling on a pair of black cowboy boots.

"You shouldn't be. I know you'll have a good time." Gloria tucked a bookmark into the pages of her book before sitting it on to the end table beside her.

"Is Jose not coming?" I asked, playing with the hem of my skirt.

"No, not tonight. He's going for a run with his friends, but that gives me time to catch up on my stories." She gestured towards the book beside her.

"Is that the new Jensen Spellmore book?"

"It is. I'm loving this one, it's so much more..." She paused, looking down at the cover of the book. "I don't know, personal, I guess. Did you want to borrow it when I'm done?"

"I mean, his other books were good, sure." A knock came at the front door, stopping me from saying anything.

I looked at Gloria, feeling those nervous flutters in the pit of my stomach. She smiled at me. It brought me comfort to know that she was okay with this. That my baby would be looked after while I was out. Standing, I smoothed my hands over my skirt. I walked over to the door, grasping the doorknob. I sucked in a breath as I opened it.

Jay stood on my porch. His dark blue hair was loose but held back by a few braids. I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through those strands. To see if they felt like silk because his hair looked like it would be soft to the touch. He had on a black long-sleeved shirt that seemed to mold to his body and a pair of leather pants. I swallowed hard as my eyes traveled down the length of him. How was it possible for someone to look so devastatingly handsome? "Olivia, you look... Beautiful." Jay said and I felt my cheeks heat up with warmth. "You look good, too." I said, biting my lower lip to try to hide my smile. My body felt overly warm just by being near him and I wondered if I should ditch my cardigan.