by Amy Baker
As luck would have it, it didn’t take me long to find exactly what I was looking for. A plum colored two-piece nightie that had black lace cups and black lace accents on the sides of the panties. The rest of it was silky smooth with a hint of shimmer. It was perfect. I hurried to the dressing room and tore my clothes from my body. As soon as I let the top slide over my head and down my torso, I knew I made the right choice. I looked in the mirror, fixed my boobs (Angela’s advice and the importance of balance never really left me,) and smiled. I was happy with my findings and decided in an effort to save time that I would just leave it on. I bundled up my clothes, put my boots back on and threw on my coat. No one would be the wiser. I went straight to the register and paid for the set and high tailed it out of the store.
Since Hugh had rented a place on the Upper West Side, I wasn’t as familiar with the territory as I would have been where I had lived previously. So I took out my phone to look up a location for the closest liquor store. As soon as I started swiping at my phone, it began to vibrate and sing. My body jumped at the startling sensation. I focused on the screen and saw it was Julia.
“Hey,” I sang with my inflection dipping lower at the end. Since I had to keep moving, I looked both ways as I jaywalked across the street.
“You could have said goodbye,” I could tell by the tone she was using that she wasn’t nearly as angry as she was leading on. I was guessing this was due to an overnight visit from Mason.
“You weren’t alone,” I answered as I trotted a little faster. “And there was no way that I was going to interrupt.”
Knowing that I had a point, instead of continuing with the fruitless banter, Julia started to giggle and got down to business. “Can you believe it, Dee?”
I chuckled back before I responded. “Uh. I think I pretty much called that one, didn’t I?” I bragged as I stepped onto the curb.
“Maybe,” she answered. Then I heard her sigh heavily and I knew it was due to the satisfaction she was feeling. Her entire demeanor melted as she began again. “He really is great. He’s kind, and cute, and he has this hidden passion that I never knew existed. It’s kind of intense. But the best part is I know he is only mine,” she admitted.
“That’s great, Jules,” I agreed. “Hold on one second.” I stared at my phone and pressed a few buttons to get back to my home screen. I needed to see exactly where I was going to get the champagne. Once I saw the location I put the phone back to my ear. “Okay. Go ahead.”
“Well. Now I just have to not screw it up.”
“Well you know what they say…the first step is admitting it.” I scoured the buildings for an address and walked feverishly at the same time. I spotted the liquor store on the next block and walked purposefully full steam ahead. “Just take it easy, Julia. Ya know, enjoy the ride,” I began to huff and puff from power walking.
“You’re right. I’ll try,” she relented. “Um, Dee, what are you doing?”
“Oh,” I answered quickly. “I am on a mission to surprise Hugh. I just picked up the sexiest undergarment you could possibly imagine and now I am getting champagne,” I squealed at the end.
“Is it crotch-less?” she asked.
“Uh, no. So, maybe it isn’t the sexiest you can imagine but it’s pretty nice,” I corrected.
“Cool,” she remarked. “Ooo, gotta go. Mason’s on the other line. But if you really want to make it memorable go back and get the crotch-less,” she advised.
I chuckled at her advice. Since when had she become the sex goddess? “Oh, okay, Jules,” I said with a hint of sarcasm.” There was no way I was going back to search out a crotch less negligee but I didn’t want to burst Julia’s bubble. She would be too distracted to remember anyway. “Call ya later.”
“Bye,” she hurried and disconnected.
I walked into Mooney’s Wine and Spirits like I owned the joint. I was running out of time and didn’t need to browse the shelves.
“Champagne!” I barked to the guy behind the counter. “What aisle?”
“Uh, do you want it chilled or are you planning on refrigerating it when you get home?” he astutely asked.
“Oh, good point, uh, I need it chilled,” I quickly answered.
“Back wall. Refrigerator,” he called out as I power walked to the back of the store. “To the left!” He yelled directing me from afar.
I found the refrigerator and grabbed a medium priced bottle of champagne. Gripping the bottle by the neck, I pumped my arms as I walked so I could make it to the register even faster.
Having been through this drill before, the employee snapped the bag before I got there and slid it in smoothly as I passed him the bottle. “$29.99,” he called out. I whipped out my trusty credit card and finished the transaction. “Good luck,” he called out as I made my way through the door waving my hand as a thank you back at him.
I checked my phone again and realized I was beginning to cut it close. I decided to play it safe and call Hugh to make sure he was still out looking for window treatments. I walked as I dialed hoping that my path wouldn’t cross his.
The phone had barely rung when his deep sultry voice had me biting my lip. “Hey. How’s my girl?”
“Pretty good,” I sighed. “Just checking in,” I sort of lied.
“Okay. Well I am literally stepping inside the store to buy blinds,” I quickly realized how accurately he was communicating his blow-by-blow because the sounds that were so indicative of city life began to dull with his entry into the store. It occurred to me that if I could hear all the commotion from the city through his phone then he could hear it through mine. Concerned with blowing my surprise visit too soon, I cupped my hand over the phone to muffle the surrounding noises. Thankfully, Hugh didn’t seem to notice one-way or the other. “Or is it shades?” he continued. His confusion with his options of window coverings was obviously monopolizing his focus. “What am I buying again?”
I shifted my hand off of the speaker before I answered. “Um. You’re buying blinds,” I informed him with a hint of aggravation. I think I even harrumphed unnecessarily as if his purchase was a no brainer. In an effort to distract Hugh from the New York City acoustics that shrouded me, I was sounding like a nagging wench.
“Oh. Okay. Are you going to run me over with the car if I buy shades?” he asked sarcastically in response to my over the top remark.
I had to pull myself together. I was going to blow the entire surprise if I didn’t calm down and stop panicking. “Ha, ha,” I exaggerated. “Very funny.”
“Are you okay? You seem a little out of sorts. Did you hear from Charles?” Crap. Hugh was getting suspicious. He knew something was bothering me and asked about Charles figuring that he was the reason I was acting so peculiar.
As I looked up, aggravated with my inability to pull off a simple surprise, I could see a cab barreling down 92nd Street. There was no doubt he was in a hurry and trying to make the green light. My eyes travelled ahead of his car where I found another cab stopped on the corner letting an older woman out of the back. He was blocking the road and any possible chance of the other cab making the light. Uh oh. I knew what was coming. I had lived in New York long enough to know the signs - an all out, full on, straightened arm so your fist is imbedded in the horn press. My head flew left and right looking for somewhere I could escape before the ‘horn blower’ reached the corner.
I cleared my throat hoping that in addition to my hand still cupping the speaker might somehow conceal any honking that might commence prematurely and answered Hugh’s question with a much softer tone. “No. Mnmn.” I hurried to the corner deli and pushed the door open to step inside just as the horn blower reached the corner.
“Oh. Well, don’t worry, Baby. I’m sure you’ll hear from him soon,” I could hear an elevator ding on Hugh’s end and knew he had stepped inside. “I might lose you. I’m getting in an elevator,” he warned me of our potential disconnection.
Well thank goodness for that.
“Oh. Okay. Well, c
all me later,” I suggested.
“Okay. Bye, Babe,” he was gone. I exhaled loudly emitting the stress of my narrowly missed discovery. But at least I knew he wasn’t in his apartment.
I exited the store and rounded the corner to head down the street of what I was hoping would be my new home. As I stepped in front of Hugh’s building I got a sudden feeling of déjà vu. It was as if this was meant to be and I was finally on the right track of my life. The building was quite nice. It was a stately brick with a green awning and gold lettering. I took a deep breath stepping closer to the door. This was it. I finally felt like I was home. I smiled at the thought and was met by a man who could only be described as ‘not Davis.’ He was older, grayer, and not nearly as welcoming. He had on a hat, which was just as ridiculous as Davis’ but the similarities stopped there. I lost my wide ass smile immediately.
“Can I help you, dear?” He asked with a large stick up his ass.
I swallowed hard before I began. His presence on a whole made me uncomfortable. And I knew at that very moment I was about to be met with a fair amount of resistance. “Yes. You have a new tenant. Mr. Matthew Rowen and I am, um, Mr. Rowan’s girlfriend,” I fake giggled trying to soften him up. I gave him a huge smile to bolster his impression that I was a friend. Not a foe.
“No, you’re not,” he answered curtly.
I saw his eyes follow my eyebrows, which slowly rose to my hairline. “I’m not?” I shook my head.
“No, you’re not. Mr. Rowen is married and she has blond hair,” he stated with conviction. “What game are you up to, young lady?” he queried in response.
“Are you sure you aren’t mistaken?” I asked innocently. “I am Mr. Rowen’s girlfriend,” I assured. I didn’t want to get too ornery since my last encounter with a person over the age of 60 landed me in the back of a patrol car.
“Listen. I don’t want to get in the middle of anyone’s love life. But I don’t want to see a sweet young girl like you get hurt. Mr. Rowen has a wife and a child. She was here last week,” he whispered. “Apparently they are moving up from Virginia and Mr. Rowen came up first to get them settled. Now you should go find yourself a nice, single man.” He turned me gently with his hands and escorted me to the outer doors.
I glanced down at his nametag and then back at his eyes. “Richard,” I asked and watched him nod that he heard me call his name, “that wasn’t Mr. Rowen’s wife,” I assured. We stopped so we could finish our conversation as I had apparently caught Richard’s ear. Maybe he was one of those doormen who liked gossip. “Just to be certain, was the little girl blond as well?”
He nodded again.
“Was her name Dolly?” I queried.
“Yes!” Richard responded. “She wasn’t shy in sharing her name which was the first indication that she wasn’t from around here. You need a crowbar and a sledgehammer to get a New Yorker to share any information,” he explained how he astutely concluded that Darcy and Dolly were out-of-towners. “Are you telling me the woman and child that came to stay with him were not Mr. Rowen’s family?”
I was already shaking my head before he finished. “No. They were his family. Just not his wife and child. That was his sister-in-law and his niece,” I explained.
“Well that explains a lot,” Richard looked somewhat relieved. “You know it was confusing. She introduced herself as Darcy Rowen so of course I assumed that they were married,” he clarified.
“Of course. That would be confusing,” I agreed. “But, listen Richard, I would like to surprise Mr. Rowen. He doesn’t expect me. Do you think it would be okay to keep it a secret? Between you and me?” I questioned with hope in my tone. I was pretty sure I had him. Richard and I had made a connection and his head was no longer shaking from side to side but nodding up and down. That was a good sign.
“Absolutely not,” he replied without a hint of uncertainty.
Oh. Well so much for our connection.
“Um, Richard. Please. I bought this champagne and, well,” my eyes dropped to the Victoria’s Secret bag that was dangling from my fingers. Richard didn’t know that my jeans and sweater were in that bag and the goods, so to speak, were already on my person. “I bought, um, s,s,some other things and I was hoping to surprise him when he gets back,” my lips tipped up at the corners hoping to convey my sincerity.
“Oh, of course. I understand,” Richard answered.
“You do?” I said with a hint of surprise.
“Yep. But I can’t let you into Mr. Rowen’s apartment without his permission. And I am guessing since you are here to surprise him that you didn’t get permission. Is that right, Miss…Miss?” He paused hoping I would share my name.
“Delilah,” I stated flatly feeling completely deflated. I had made it so far and now I was going to be derailed by an anal retentive doorman who was hell bent on keeping that 2 by 4 lodged up his own ass.
“I’m sure you understand for security purposes I can’t let uninvited guests into the building. Let alone into someone’s apartment.”
Of course I understood logistically. But emotionally his obstinacy was a pain in my ass. “There must be some solution,” I somewhat asked.
“Not unless you can get him on the phone and somehow get him to tell me that you are who you say you are without ruining your surprise,” he responded as if this was an impossible task.
But I was up for the challenge. “You’re on,” I responded with a jerk of my pointed finger. I took out my phone and Facetimed Hugh. I checked on Richard to make sure he was paying attention and found that his eyes were trained on my phone. Thankfully Hugh answered the call exactly how I was hoping.
“Hey, Baby. God, do I miss you,” he oozed. I smiled at his greeting and lifted my eyes victoriously to gloat at Richard only to find he still looked unconvinced. Really? My face fell and my mouth twisted. Of course, Hugh saw this and didn’t know what to make of it. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Um, nothing’s wrong, per say. But, uh, Honey, can I ask you a question?” I needed to coerce Hugh and I was just going to get straight to the point.
“Sure,” he answered, though he sounded unsure of where the conversation was going.
“Do you love me?” I stated without a hint of emotion.
“Uh, yeah?” Hugh answered slowly but he did so with a question. Obviously he was still suspicious and my calling to ask this specific question was only stirring his curiosity. “Junior, do you want to tell me what you are up to now or am I going to find out later?” he asked knowing I was up to something.
“No. I’ll tell you later,” I dropped the phone and disconnected the call. I stared back at Richard who still looked skeptical. I might just have to knock this man out and tie him up in the corner. “There. Happy now?” I asked.
Richard’s eyebrows were so close together that a huge V formed in his wrinkles. “Something is telling me that you are up to no good,” Richard responded.
Clearly Richard was still on the fence and since I was running out of time, I needed to be convincing. So I did what I had to do and opened my coat to show Richard what I was wearing underneath. “What do you think?” I asked sarcastically.
“I’ll buzz you in,” Richard quickly replied.
Since I didn’t have my own key, Richard had to escort me to Hugh’s apartment. He used his master key to let me in and pushed the door open so I could pass. As I stepped inside I gave Richard a tight smile knowing he was doing something that went against every fiber of his being. As expected, Richard didn’t return the gesture. But as guilty as I was feeling, I couldn’t expend any more energy worrying about compromising Richard’s standards. I had to get a move on if I was going to surprise Hugh. Once I was a comfortable distance inside, I turned to thank Richard who seemed to be in a hurry to leave me alone. “Thank you, Richard,” I called after him.
Richard was halfway down the hall when I heard his response. “Don’t mention it.”
I closed the door and leaned back against it. I scanned the apartment
from one side to the other taking it all in. I had to admit, Hugh’s new place was really nice. He made a lot more money than I did so he could afford a much bigger apartment. It was spacious and relatively new. The first thing that caught my eye was all the windows. I was surprised that it had taken Hugh this long to get blinds.
I walked around the sparingly decorated rooms just getting the lay of the land. The kitchen had light wood cabinets with granite countertops. The living area was a good size but was only furnished with a couch and a TV.
Typical guy.
I turned to look down a short hallway where I was assuming I would find the bedroom and bathroom. The carpet under my feet was beige and the walls, every single one of them, were cream. Blank slate. I turned to step into the kitchen. I was hoping to find champagne glasses but given the bare necessities in the rest of the apartment, I knew it was wishful thinking. It was unlikely Hugh purchased champagne glasses when he didn’t have an end or coffee table. My phone started to sing just as I opened one of the cupboards. I pulled my phone from my pocket and my breath caught as Hugh’s beautiful face filled my screen. I took a moment to admire his smile and then I answered the call.
“Hey, Babe!” I said excitedly still feeling the satisfaction that I was able to convince Richard to let me into Hugh’s apartment.
“Beige or white?” He asked in response.
“Uh,” I stammered. I turned to walk out of the kitchen to get a better look at the apartment assuming he was talking about his color options for blinds. “Hmm,” I scanned the barely decorated apartment before I answered. “I would go with white otherwise there might be too much beige with the carpet and all,” as soon as the words left my lips I cringed.
And sure as shit, Hugh picked up on my apparent clairvoyant insight immediately. “How do you know that the carpet is beige?” he asked with suspicion in his voice.
“What? I don’t! Of course I didn’t know the carpet is beige. I mean, I know now that you just told me but, um, no. How would I know that? I am all the way down here in Virginia,” I exhaled a burst of air almost spitting, insinuating that his suggestion was absurd. I knew it made matters worse but I couldn’t help the pent up nerves that had accumulated. I quickly continued hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I was just saying it might be a lot of beige with all those windows.”