Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Clodagh - Part 8
Taken from Sushi for Beginners - Marian Keyes
The pile of discarded clothes on Clodagh's bed grew higher. The tight black dress? Too sexy. The palazzo pants and tunic? Too glam. The see-through dress? Too see-through. What about the white pants? But he'd seen them already. The combats and trainers? No, she just felt silly in them. Of all the fashionable clothes she'd bought over the past two months, they'd been her biggest mistake so far.
For a moment the cloud of clothing anxiety cleared and she was inflicted with a sudden, unwelcome overview. What am I doing?
Nothing, she thought defensively. She was doing nothing. She was meeting someone for a cup of coffee. A friend. A friend who happened to be a man. What was the problem? This wasn't some Muslim country where she'd be stoned for being seen in public with a man who wasn't her husband or brother. Anyway, he wasn't even her type. She was just having fun. Harmless fun.
But she shook back her swishy hair, feeling exhilarated, buzzy, tingly.
Black trousers and a tight candy-pink T-shirt were what she eventually decided on. She looked into the mirror and saw herself through his eyes. His regard for her was endearingly obvious and she felt beautiful and powerful.
Coffee, she reminded herself firmly, as she swung out into the street. That's all. Where's the harm in that? And she pushed away guilt and anticipation that swirled nervously in her belly.
