"We want every single detail about your date, Ellie." Talia waggles her eyebrows and places takeaway coffee cups on our desk. Jordan walks in with a bag of pastries and unpacks them onto the desk. The pair sit down and look at me.

I take a deep breath and tap my fingernail against the desk. I don't know if I want to admit how freaked out I was about a man touching my leg, the fact I enjoyed it, and how I stupidly agreed to go slow with him. In hindsight, it's very much a good idea.

Talia nudges the coffee cup towards me and I roll my eyes. She tucks her blonde, frizzy curled hair behind her ear, and takes a sip of her own coffee. Jordan munches on her pastry, much like a box of popcorn. I much prefer them to be the center of attention.

"There's nothing to tell, really." I shrug. "He came over and we had wine and built Lego flowers since one of his hobbies is Lego. We chatted about things and he left because it was late and we were tired."

Jordan's mouth drops.

"Are you serious, Ellie, is that it?" Jordan frowns.

"Any steamy makeout sessions at least?" Talia asks.

I take a sip of my cappuccino and swivel around in my desk chair. Jordan slaps the desk and pouts.

"We want all the good details!" She demands.

"We kissed a couple of times and they were pretty good." I dreamily grin. "The kind of kiss that makes your toes curl and your stomach flutter. His lips were so soft, his touch gentle."

"Phew, there we go. There's no way you two drank wine and just chatted about things." Talia wipes the imaginary sweat from her forehead and relaxed into her chair. "How you both didn't have sex is beyond me. I don't know how you can go so long without it."

"Did you guys really not have sex, or is this one of those I don't kiss and tell scenarios?" Jorden seems shocked.

"We were making out on the couch and he tugged me to straddle his waist, and everything was going great. His hand inched up my thigh and I panicked and pulled away, and it ruined everything. He was so sweet and said we could take things slower."

"Aw, that's cute." Talia smiles. "Green flag there."

"It was late, so he hurried home after that." I bite my lip.

"Red flag." Jordan shakes her head.

Talia shoots her a glare before returning her sympathetic gaze.

"What happened? Why'd you panic?"

"I think it's been so long since I've been intimate with somebody, I panicked. Craig was the last person I slept with after having Noah. Pregnancy really changes your body. I have stretch marks everywhere and my tummy wobbles now. I'm certainly no spring chicken."

Talia walks around the desk and spins my chair aside so she can place her hands on either side of my shoulders. She leans down and looks me directly in the eyes. I slide down the chair a little to put some space between us.

"You listen to me, Miss Ellie Rhodes, you are one smoking hot mamma."

"Thanks."

"I want to hear you say those words."

"I'm a smoking hot mamma?" I raise an eyebrow.

Talia shakes her head with disappointment.

"Say it like you mean it."

"I'm a smoking hot mamma."

Talia exhales a loud, frustrated sigh.

"Just the fact you were able to grow a little human is amazing, Ellie. Plus, you had the strength to birth this child from your lady bits, and raise him as a single mother. There's not many people who have the strength or energy to do this, so you're a fucking, smoking hot mamma. Wear your stretch marks with pride."

"You're right." I nod. "I am a smoking hot mamma."

"See, there we go." Talia grins. "Daniel sounds so sweet, you could be dressed in a garbage bag and he would still look at you the same way."

Her comment brings a smile to my face.

"Daniel said I don't realise how beautiful I am." I sigh.

"Green flag! I like him." Jordan nods. "What about the underwear situation? Did you find something cute to wear?"

"I found a pair of black lacy underwear at the back of my underwear drawer. Pre-pregnancy underwear so they were a bit tight around my thighs, and did nothing to conceal my stomach."

"We urgently need to go shopping," Jordan states.

"I have underwear."

Jordan rolls her eyes.

"Trust me, a good pair of sexy underwear will do numbers for your confidence."

"I second this," Talia says. "It doesn't have to be crazy, just a cute pair of underwear that you feel sexy in."

"We could take a long lunch break and go shopping for underwear. Perhaps you'll feel sexy and confident for your next date."

"I don't know. He hasn't messaged me since our last date." I bite my lip and watch their reactions. Jordan frowns while Talia shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

"Daniel could be waiting for you to message him. He could be worried after you panicked. Just casually message him and see what happens," Talia suggests.

"He could be giving you space," Jordan adds.

"Do you really think that?" I sigh.

"Just message and if he doesn't message back, then you'll know for sure."

"Okay." I nod.

"You should message him now, and not wait too much longer," Jordan comments.

"What if I've left it too long?" I bite my lower lip.

"It's only Monday morning. You could have been busy with Noah on Sunday, so he wouldn't expect you to message him then," Talia explains.

"It's a good point." Jordan nods.

"Okay, I'll message him now."

I find my phone and message Daniel before tossing it back in. I shove the bag under the desk with my foot and focus on the document in front of me. If the phone sits on the desk with me, I won't be able to focus on anything but the screen waiting for a reply.

"I think we should take an extended lunch break today and go shopping." Jordan smiles.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

"We can help you find some confidence-boosting underwear.".

"It's a great idea." Talia grins.

It's a terrible idea, but once those two put their minds on something, there's no backing down.

* * * * *

Jordan and Talia are like two kids set loose in a candy store, and it's terrifying.

"How cute is this thong? Red is very sexy as well." Talia grins.

"There's no way I'm putting a string between my ass cheeks, there's just no way."

Talia bursts with laughter while Jordan rolls her eyes.

"Thongs are comfortable."

"So are my granny panties." I laugh.

"What about this?" Jordan holds up a maid's outfit, feather duster included. I'm horrified. I wrinkle my nose and shake my head. I'm already role-playing confidence and it seems I'm terrible at it, so I don't want to try anything else.

"What's wrong with it?" Jordan gasps.

"There's some bikini-cut underwear over this way." She links her arm through mine and pulls me away from Jordan and her handful of outfits and corsets.

She picks up a couple of dark green and purple lace panties which look cute, but they feel scratchy against my fingers.

"I've had enough now."

Talia pouts and I force on a feeble smile.

"Thank you so much for your help. It's certainly been an eye opener."

"What about-" Talia shoots Jordan a look and she stops midsentence.

"We should really be getting back to the office anyways. How about you stay and have a look yourself and we'll see you this afternoon with a finished project proposal."

"Hey, don't promise things we can't deliver." Jordan glares.

"I hope it's finished, we're due to present that to the client tomorrow."

"Of course, it'll be finished." Talia fake smiles.

"Oh, yes, of course!"

"Just promise you'll stay and have a look. Maid outfits and red thongs aside, the underwear should be comfortable and sexy for you. Damn what anyone else thinks."

"Thank you both for helping."

Talia grabs Jordan and pulls her out of the store. Once they're gone, I leave and wander about the shops until I find another store with is marketed towards curvy women. I head to their underwear section and sigh with relief.

Their version of sexy underwear includes high wasted underwear with soft silky material and touches of lace. I grab a couple of pairs before heading to the checkout to pay. It's then I see the message Daniel sent hours ago.

I unlock my phone and a new message from Craig appears. He's asking to have Noah on Saturday for a family function, which is fine. I text him back before opening the message from Daniel.

'Hey, how are you? Are you free by chance to catch up on Saturday?' - Daniel.

'Hi, I'm good thanks. Noah may be going to his father's for a couple of hours on Saturday, so I may be free then.' - Ellie.

Daniel instantly replies and it brings a big, giddy smile to my face.

'Let me know when you're free. I was thinking about ice skating for our next date.' - Daniel.

'I will do! Ice skating? I've never done that.' - Ellie.

'Neither, but I drove past an arena and thought it would be fun to do with you.' - Daniel.

I want to squeal with excitement, but I manage to contain it. I shove my phone into my bag and head back to the office.

He's so good, but why do I keep waiting for the ball to drop?

* * * * *

Are you enjoying the story so far? I'm thinking we get to meet Craig in the next chapter!