A NEW DAY by Michelle T © 2000 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR She and Kevin sat there, in shock, silently for several minutes, not looking at each other. "I have to get dressed." She said and walked over to the closet. "Hey," he said following her slowly, "Let's not dwell on this. Just because he said what he said, doesn't mean we are going to jump in bed and fuck each other silly just for the hell of it and I think you know that." She turned and looked at him, "I know." She said quietly. "Ok, I've got to go, AJ and I are going out for a few drinks. Brian and Nick are keeping Kim and taking her for pizza, so don't worry about her, ok?" he said hugging her from the back. "Thanks, Kev and thanks for wanting me to stay with you. I still don't feel good about it, but I'm not going to argue with you anymore. I appreciate your offer." She said turning and hugging him back. "I know you do. I love you, you know? We're all going to be fine. We'll work everything out, I promise, ok?" he bent down and kissed her cheek. "Ok. Go, have fun!" she said pushing him away, "I love you too." After Kevin left, Michelle sighed deeply and turned her attention back to the closet. She pulled a black linen suit from the hangar and warily eyed a silver halter she'd bought in Miami last week. She never wore anything like it before. She never had the figure to wear something so revealing, but after losing thirty pounds in the last year and a half, she had decided to buy it after the saleswoman insisted she looked great in it. She went over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of black panties and headed to the bathroom. When she was dressed in the slacks and halter, she eyed herself in the mirror critically. Her long hair fell a few inches above her waist, hiding most of the nakedness of her back. The wide strings of the halter fell an inch or two below her hair. She felt nice, but was nervous, thankful the short jacket would hide the bareness. She moved back out into the bedroom and stood before the large mirror over the dresser, deciding how to do up her hair. As she clumsily held the brush in her right hand, the door opened. AJ stood there with his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. "Holy Shit! You look awesome!" his eyes raked her from head to toe. He slowly walked over to her and noticed the bare back. He gently lifted her hair and whistled softly. "AJ, please, you're embarrassing me!" she said happily. "My god, Howie is one lucky mother fucker!" he said watching her in the mirror. "Need help with that?" he asked indicating the brush. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled back at him. "I told you, you were good for my ego!" she replied handing him the brush. "Now, what shall we do with this mop?" he said holding her hair in his hands and sighing and rolling his eyes. "AJ," she said laughing, "You are a riot! I thought I'd just clip up the sides." She said handing him two clips. "You trust me to do this right?" he asked surprised. "Of course, Silly. Now hurry up before I'm late." She watched as he gently brushed her hair back into place. "I thought you were going out with Kevin?" "I am, I'm just late as usual. He's hanging with Howie in my room anyway," Michelle looked up quickly at that. AJ caught her look. "What's that for?" "Nothing, its complicated. You do a good job, maybe when your voice is old and weak, you should consider opening a salon." she teased. "Yeah, okay, and you can be my shampoo girl, but I'll be the only one allowed to do the dye jobs, got it?" he put the brush down and surveyed his work, "Excellent, if I may say so!" "Thank you, Sexy!" she said turning and picking up her jacket and sliding it on. As she reached past him for her small handbag, she caught his look. "What now?" "You totally don't need that jacket. Take it off and be proud of what you've got!" "No way, I've never worn anything like this before and I'm extremely self-conscience." "Why?" "Why what?" "Why haven't you worn anything like that before and why are you self-conscience?" "Oh, AJ, please, where was I going to wear something as beautiful as this before. To the local barroom with Rob? To my boring little office? By the time I quit there, I'd been wearing jeans and sweatshirts almost daily. And, beside the fact, I haven't been this size since I was seventeen. After being pregnant with Kimberly, I never lost the weight until recently. One of the benefits of being depressed." She said looking back at him, catching his concerned expression, "AJ, I was kidding about that one, there is no benefit to being depressed!, I'm sorry." "Oh, Michelle, will you ever cease to amaze me?" "Uhh, let's hope not, eh? I've got to go. Thanks for your compliments and your help." She said reaching up to kiss his cheek.