


 She stared at herself in the mirror as she removed her previous dress, a look of dissatisfaction on her face as she looked at her curves. She wasn't thin by any means, her body more curvaceous and not quite up to the beauty standards set by the media. Her hand moved over her stomach as a sigh escaped her. Was a date even worth it? Her past dating experience clearly stated it would all be futile to hope for anything yet... Autumn removed the dress from the hanger and slipped into it, making sure to do the buttons before she once again looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was pretty but not really her style, with a shake of her head she slipped out of it and put it back on the hanger. 
"Mom, can you get that purple one from earlier?" A moment later the dress was poking through the thick cloth curtain and Autumn couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips, her mother knew her well that was very much evident. "If you like that one, I'll pay for it and then we can go to the salon...I'll even pay for them to do your make-up. Then I'll drop you off at the restaurant." Autumn shook her head, there was no point in arguing with her mother. She'd already decided and from experience Autumn knew to just give in. Worst case scenario she had a free dinner, she just needed to keep in mind not to expect anything to come of the date. 
"This is the one, I'll be out in a mi-"
She stared at herself in the mirror as she removed her previous dress, a look of dissatisfaction on her face as she looked at her curves. She wasn't thin by any means, her body more curvaceous and not quite up to the beauty standards set by the media. Her hand moved over her stomach as a sigh escaped her. Was a date even worth it? Her past dating experience clearly stated it would all be futile to hope for anything yet... Autumn removed the dress from the hanger and slipped into it, making sure to do the buttons before she once again looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was pretty but not really her style, with a shake of her head she slipped out of it and put it back on the hanger. 
"Mom, can you get that purple one from earlier?" A moment later the dress was poking through the thick cloth curtain and Autumn couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips, her mother knew her well that was very much evident. "If you like that one, I'll pay for it and then we can go to the salon...I'll even pay for them to do your make-up. Then I'll drop you off at the restaurant." Autumn shook her head, there was no point in arguing with her mother. She'd already decided and from experience Autumn knew to just give in. Worst case scenario she had a free dinner, she just needed to keep in mind not to expect anything to come of the date. 
"This is the one, I'll be out in a mi-" "Don't take it off, just give me the tag dear, no need to change out of what you'll wear to the date." Her mother all but sang as her hand stuck through the curtain. Autumn sighed and closed her eyes, carefully removing the tag and doing exactly as her mother had instructed. She gathered her old dress after, carefully folding it before slipping out of the changing room to meet her mother at the register. "Here dear, a bag for your old dress. Now, let's get going... No time to spare!" Her mother hummed as she ushered her from the store. 
Two hours later and Autumn was stepping out of the white BMW Sedan, her nerves as tight as a taut rubber band being pullet at both ends. Her heels clacked against the sidewalk as she turned to wave goodbye to her mother. "Remember, tell them you're there to meet Mr. Wright... Maybe he'll be Mr.Right." Her mom gave her a wink before pulling away from the curb, ultimately leaving Autumn to stare dumbfounded at her mom's terrible joke. One deep breath and then another and Autumn turned to head inside. The place screamed of money and she wondered what it was that this guy did, though she supposed if her father was associated with his own then perhaps he was in the same line of business though she knew better than to assume. 
The maître d' offered her a smile as she entered which she returned in kind. "Name?" Autumn's hands clenched against her dress as she spoke. "Wright?" She hadn't meant for it to come out as a question but it had. "Right this way Miss." As she followed the older gentleman she couldn't help but wonder what was to come, nor could she help the butterflies that seemed to only grow with each step she took towards the table. Was he already there? Would she have to wait?
"Don't take it off, just give me the tag dear, no need to change out of what you'll wear to the date." Her mother all but sang as her hand stuck through the curtain. Autumn sighed and closed her eyes, carefully removing the tag and doing exactly as her mother had instructed. She gathered her old dress after, carefully folding it before slipping out of the changing room to meet her mother at the register. "Here dear, a bag for your old dress. Now, let's get going... No time to spare!" Her mother hummed as she ushered her from the store. 
Two hours later and Autumn was stepping out of the white BMW Sedan, her nerves as tight as a taut rubber band being pullet at both ends. Her heels clacked against the sidewalk as she turned to wave goodbye to her mother. "Remember, tell them you're there to meet Mr. Wright... Maybe he'll be Mr.Right." Her mom gave her a wink before pulling away from the curb, ultimately leaving Autumn to stare dumbfounded at her mom's terrible joke. One deep breath and then another and Autumn turned to head inside. The place screamed of money and she wondered what it was that this guy did, though she supposed if her father was associated with his own then perhaps he was in the same line of business though she knew better than to assume. 
The maître d' offered her a smile as she entered which she returned in kind. "Name?" Autumn's hands clenched against her dress as she spoke. "Wright?" She hadn't meant for it to come out as a question but it had. "Right this way Miss." As she followed the older gentleman she couldn't help but wonder what was to come, nor could she help the butterflies that seemed to only grow with each step she took towards the table. Was he already there? Would she have to wait?



















An hour later...
Their conversations had flowed effortlessly and while they had contemplated dessert Autumn had opted out of it though she wasn't quite ready to call it an end to the evening just yet. Her mother had dropped her off so she was without her car which meant she either needed to call for an uber or ask her date for a ride. Autumn knew which one her mom had wanted her to take so with the last sip of her wine for the evening she leaned in, her eyes warm as she glanced at Michael, her cheeks rosy. "Shall we split the bill?" Honestly she preferred it that way but she knew that some guys found it offensive while others expected her to front to entirety of them. Bad dates after bad dates taught her that lesson, though she didn't think Michael would be that way.



