Tear Down These Walls

by Sarah Kay Carter

  “Sure,” Trent replies, with a smile. “Watching a hot girl try on sexy outfits - I think I can handle that.”

  “You’re unreal,” Teagan giggles. She grabs her purse and looks at him. “Well, I’ll talk to you this weekend.”

  He gives her a quizzical look. “I can’t see you, but we can talk. Text me if you are bored.”

  “Aren’t you busy with work?” Teagan asks with a grin.

  “Yeah, well, that’s what I have employees for,” Trent laughs. “I’m not actually guarding anyone this week.”

  “Then why are you so busy?” Teagan inquires curiously.

  The smile on Trent’s face disappears, and he looks out the window. “I have family business.”

  “Oh, okay,” Teagan replies, hesitating. “No pushing. I’ll text you this week and bug you.”

  “Sounds good,” Trent says. “Drive safe.”

  “I will, thanks.” She leans over to kiss him on the cheek. Trent turns into her and kisses her gently on the lips. Teagan pulls back and looks at him, slightly in shock.

  “Have a good night,” Trent whispers.

  Gulping, Teagan murmurs, “You too, see you later.”

  “Bye,” Trent whispers softly, as she gets out of the truck.

  Teagan shuts the door and whispers, “What was that kiss for?” She shakes her head and walks to her car.

  * * * * *

  “You know, if you don’t text him, he texts you. If he didn’t hear from you, he called you this week to make sure you were okay,” Victoria says over the phone. “I’m telling you, you guys have something going on. He likes you Teagan.”

  “What is with you!?” Teagan exclaims. “It is not like that!”

  “Whatever, I have had boyfriends who didn’t talk to me as much as he talks to you,” Victoria states. “Just saying.”

  Rolling her eyes, Teagan groans, “Whatever.”

  “Tell me…honestly…you like him.”

  Teagan frowns, “I don’t know. I keep it out of my head. We had that incident in his bedroom, and I know he doesn’t want anything to happen.”

  “Wait a second….what incident in what bedroom!?” Victoria yells.

  “Ugh,” Teagan exhales, pulling her hair behind her ears. “Me and my big mouth. It’s a long story, but Trent dared me to pin him. I won’t get into how, but I got him pinned, and he flipped me over and kissed me.”

  “…AND!?”

  “And nothing. I kissed him back, and he jumped off me like I had leprosy.”

  “Oh,” Victoria retorts. “That’s not cool.”

  Shaking her head, Teagan says, “No, you have it all wrong. He wanted me, or wants me, but he doesn’t do casual sex or anything. He doesn’t want to ruin what we have. So, I can guarantee he doesn’t want me as his girlfriend.”

  “I don’t know….” Victoria starts out. “I still say he has a thing for you.”

  “Whatever Victoria,” Teagan groans. “You just want something to happen between us.”

  “Hell yeah!” Victoria exclaims. “You would make an awesome couple. He’s the only guy that has been on your radar for four years. Yes, I want something to happen. You do, too, even if you won’t admit it.”

  “AGAIN, WHATEVER VICTORIA!” Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. “Oh shit, he is early. I have to go!” Teagan hisses.

  “Okay, see you tonight,” Victoria replies. “At the commons at 7!”

  “We will be there,” Teagan says. “See you then.”

  Victoria shouts, “Bye!”

  “Bye.” Teagan hangs up and quickly goes to the door and opens it. Trent is standing there, looking as good as ever in a grey t-shirt and black jeans. Teagan’s heart melts for a second, and then she forces herself back into reality. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” he replies. “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah,” Teagan says. “Come in. I’m going to get a jacket.”

  Trent steps inside and sighs, “Yeah, it’s starting to get cool already.”

  “Wait until we go to Michigan,” Teagan laughs. “You’ll freeze.”

  “Probably,” Trent chuckles. “What prompted your friend to have her wedding in the late fall anyway?”

  “It’s what she always wanted,” Teagan sighs. “I don’t know.”

  When Teagan turns around with her jacket, Trent gives her a small smile. “You look quite beautiful today.”

  Teagan looks down at her outfit. In her white button down and blue jeans, she really isn’t wearing anything special. “Thanks,” she says hesitantly. Looking back up at him, she quips, “You’re gorgeous, as usual. That isn’t anything new.”

  He bursts out laughing. “Thanks.”

  “Come on stud,” Teagan emphasizes. “I have to buy some new outfits.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we need to make Justin want you more now than ever,” Trent states. “And then we are going to knock him into the ground.”

  “Right honey,” Teagan teases.

  “Yes darling,” Trent laughs right back.

  They leave and go to the mall. When they get there Teagan stops and says, “Where to go first?”

  “Macy’s,” Trent states without hesitation.

  She turns and gives him a look. “You think I can afford anything at Macy’s. You have got to be kidding me.”

  “We want you dressed to the nines,” Trent replies, looking at her.

  “Wonderful,” Teagan shoots back. She turns and points out the door. “Let me go sell a kidney on the black market, and then we can go shopping at Macy’s.”

  Trent gives her a look. “I got this. Just find something that you like.”

  “No. You’re not buying me clothes.”

  “Yes, I am,” Trent emphasizes.

  “No, you are not,” Teagan snaps.

  “Yes, I am,” Trent says sternly. “Relax, and go with it.”

  Teagan glares at him, “No.”

  “You can work at my office to pay me back,” Trent rolls his eyes. “If you feel the need.”

  Crossing her arms, Teagan spits out, “I’m not stepping foot into Macy’s, damn it.”

  “Oh really?” Trent replies, obviously feeling a challenge coming on.

  “Yes,” Teagan snaps. He looks at her for a second, and then he bends down and picks her up into his arms. She screams, “What are you doing!?”

  “Taking you to Macy’s,” Trent laughs as he pats her on the butt.

  Teagan bursts out laughing. “You’re such an asshole.”

  “Didn’t you say I was pushy the first day we met?” Trent retorts, looking at her with a grin.

  “Put me down,” Teagan sighs.

  “Hell no, I know better than that,” Trent says. “I set you down, you are bolting the other way.”

  “Trent!” Teagan yells. “Put me down.”

  He stops and looks at her. “If you bolt, I will throw you over my shoulder.”

  Smirking at him, Teagan says, “No, you won’t.”

  “Want to make a bet?” Trent asks. “I’ll take that bet.”

  “Ugh,” Teagan groans. “Fine, god, fine, I’ll go to Macy’s!”

  “Good,” Trent replies, setting her down. “I win.”

  “You suck ass!” Teagan laughs.

  Trent smiles, “I rule, and you love me. Don’t deny it.”

  “WHAT-EV-ER!” Teagan draws out, not missing that he said “love”. Not wanting to even address that issue here, she turns to walk to Macy’s.

  Suddenly, Trent grabs her and pulls her against him. “Are you mad at me?”

  “No,” Teagan retorts, playfully glaring at him. “But we have to meet everyone at 7, so we have to get this done.”

  “All right,” Trent chuckles, his voice relieved. He kisses her on the cheek and then takes her hand. “Let’s go.”

  They walk to the store. Teagan feels a little overwhelmed as she browses the clothes. “This stuff is really nice.”

  “Yes, it’s great quality,” Trent replies. “So, what do you need?”

&nb
sp; “Well, we are going out with the bride and groom on Thursday. I don’t know if the dipshit will be there. The rehearsal dinner is on Friday. Georgia says we can change into a different dress for the reception, and then Sunday we are doing the gift opening. Hopefully, he won’t be there.”

  “Okay, four outfits,” Trent says. “Dresses?”

  “Probably,” Teagan exhales. “He loved me in dresses.”

  “What is his favorite color?” Trent asks.

  She looks at him. “On me? Red.”

  “One red dress,” Trent says, looking around. “One little black dress, one beautiful Sunday dress, and one sexy dress for Thursday, just in case.”

  Teagan stops and gives him a look. “Have this all planned out do you?”

  He holds up one finger, “If he is there on Thursday, you need to make one huge first impression. If he isn’t, the little black dress is for the rehearsal because we know he will be there. The red dress is for the reception, and you want a very pretty dress for the gift opening. Sexy is not appropriate for gift opening.”

  “Whoa,” Teagan quips, impressed. “You do have this planned.”

  “Yes. I plan to screw with Justin as much as possible.”

  A wicked smile crosses Teagan’s face. “I like that.”

  “Come on,” Trent says, grabbing her hand. “We’re going to the designer section.”

  “Okay,” Teagan laughs, following him.

  They get there, and Teagan turns around in a circle. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Look around and see what you like,” Trent replies, leaning against a rack.

  “This is a little overwhelming for me,” Teagan mumbles, running her fingers through her hair.

  “Okay, outfit one, the sexy dress for Thursday,” Trent states, walking over to some top of the line dresses. Teagan follows him. He goes through the rack, pushing dresses to the side. “What size are you?”

  “I will pick out the dress,” Teagan snaps. “I’m not telling you my dress size.”

  Trent stops and looks at her. “Really?”

  “Come on,” Teagan whines. “Guys aren’t supposed to know these things.”

  “What? Why?” Trent retorts.

  “Because,” Teagan hisses. “I don’t know.”

  He looks annoyed as he clicks his tongue. “Just tell me your damn dress size.”

  “Ugh, it’s a 6,” Teagan snaps. “But sometimes an 8 because my boobs are too big. It all depends.”

  “Wow,” he chuckles. “What a horrible reason to have to buy a bigger dress.”

  “Shut up,” Teagan laughs. “You are such an ass. Usually it’s a size 6.”

  “That’s a small size,” Trent says. “You girls are bat shit crazy sometimes.”

  “Whatever,” Teagan groans. She turns to another rack and starts looking through the dresses.

  It takes a minute, but Trent finally asks, “What about this one?” He holds out a royal blue dress with one shoulder strap.

  Teagan turns around and smiles, “That is gorgeous! Oh, I want to try that on!” She grabs it from him and holds it up to her body. It comes down to her mid thighs. “Too short maybe?”

  “Nonsense,” Trent states, shaking his head. “You put this with a killer set of heels and your legs. Baby, you will be so damn sexy.”

  “Not too sexy?” Teagan asks.

  “This is for Thursday,” Trent says. “Not the wedding. You can be as sexy as you want on Thursday.”

  “Good point,” Teagan agrees. “I will try it on.”

  Trent starts to look around. “Now, we have three other dresses to get.”

  “Let’s look for the rehearsal dinner dress,” Teagan suggests.

  “Okay,” Trent replies. They walk into another designer’s section.

  “Oh my gosh,” Teagan gasps. “That is it!” She walks over to a dress hanging on the wall. It is black, fitted, with spaghetti straps. “It’s perfect!”

  Walking up to her, Trent looks at her, the dress and then back at her. “Darling, I’m not trying to be an ass, but are your boobs going to fit into that?”

  “We sure in the hell will try,” Teagan laughs.

  “All right,” Trent chuckles, as he grabs her size.

  “Why don’t I go try these on?” Teagan says. “Then we have two down.”

  “Okay,” Trent replies. “The dressing rooms are over there.”

  They walk to them, and Teagan inquires, “Do you want to see the dresses on me?”

  “Uh yeah, that’s why I’m here. I have to determine if it’s going to make him pop wood,” Trent states.

  “Did you actually just say that!?” Teagan exclaims.

  “Yup, I believe I did,” Trent replies, nudging her with his elbow. “Go, try the dresses on.”

  She shakes her head. “All right, wait here.”

  “I was hoping to come into the dressing room with you,” Trent teases.

  Turning around, Teagan says, “If my clothes came off, that would lead to nowhere good.”

  “Or someplace really good,” Trent quips, with a devious smile.

  “Pervert,” Teagan mouths. She grins and goes into the dressing room. She takes off her jeans and top. “Thank god I thought ahead and put on a strapless bra,” Teagan mumbles. She slides on the little black dress first. Having to suck it in a tiny bit, Teagan pulls the zipper up. “Okay, it’s a little tight through the chest,” she says, loud enough for him to hear.

  “Let me see,” Trent replies through the door.

  Teagan opens it and leans against the doorframe. “What do you think?”

  Trent grins. “That’s perfect.”

  “It’s a little tight through here,” Teagan says, pulling on the top of the dress.

  “Oh, no, no, no,” Trent states. “It puts the girls up front and center.”

  “Inappropriately?” Teagan asks.

  “Not at all, but dear lord, it makes me want to peel that dress off of you.”

  “TRENT!” Teagan yells.

  He puts his hands out, “What!? It’s the truth. If it makes me want to do that, imagine what it will do to him!”

  Thinking about it for a second, Teagan says, “Good point.”

  “Go try the other one on,” Trent instructs. “I bet the blue dress is even better.”

  She nods and shuts the door. Teagan strips off the black dress and slides on the blue one. It flows around her perfectly. It cinches at her rib cage, making her figure pop perfectly. Smiling, Teagan opens the door. She goes on her tiptoes. “Imagine me in heels.”

  “Oh baby, that is perfect,” Trent states “It will make every guy’s head turn.”

  “We want his head to turn,” Teagan giggles.

  “It will honey; it will,” Trent says.

  “Good,” Teagan chuckles. “Let me get my clothes back on.”

  Trent smirks, “Want some help?”

  Teagan’s jaw drops, and she laughs, “Will you stop!”

  “Never, this is too much fun!”

  “Shut up,” Teagan playfully snaps, as she shuts the door.

  A few minutes later, she emerges. “All right, two dresses down and two to go.”

  “We need to find a red dress,” Trent says. “As long as that isn’t going to clash with the wedding colors.”

  “No,” Teagan replies. “It’s all being done in autumn colors. Red will fit in perfectly.”

  “Okay,” Trent says. “Let’s go.”

  They start back out into the store. They walk around for a while, looking through dress rack after dress rack. The only sound between them is the scraping of the hangers on the metal racks. Finally, Teagan says, “Hey, I think this will do well for the gift opening.” She holds up a light purple, calf length dress. “It is very simple and elegant.”

  “I agree,” Trent says. “How about this for the wedding reception?” He holds up a deep red halter dress.

  “That…..is….gorgeous,” Teagan stutters, coming over to him. “Oh my god Trent. He will di
e. Is it too low cut?” She inquires. “It can’t be slutty.”

  “Go try it on,” Trent suggests. “I will tell you if it shows too much cleavage, though I say there can’t ever be enough cleavage.”

  “Look how far we have come,” Teagan snickers. “Not only are you fraternizing with me, but you are purposefully making comments about my breasts.”

  With a smirk, Trent says, “What did I say? Oh yes, well they are very nice breasts.”

  “God,” Teagan laughs. “Men….I tell you.”

  “Chicks do the same thing to wash board abs and a cute ass,” Trent snorts. “Don’t give me that shit.”

  Tilting her head to the side, Teagan says, “Well, I do admire you often, so I guess, maybe that is the same.”

  “What?” Trent quips, pulling up his shirt. “You admire this?” He teases her and runs his hand against his abs.

  “Trent! Put your shirt down!” Teagan giggles. “People are looking.”

  He grabs Teagan’s hand and puts it on his stomach. “Feel these rock hard abs. Do they turn you on?”

  Laughing hysterically, Teagan tears her hand away. “Knock it off!”

  “Admit it, my body is a huge turn on for you,” Trent teases. Whispering, he says, “Admit it, Teagan.”

  She leans into him and murmurs, “What makes you think any part of you turns me on?”

  “Ohhhhhh!” Trent yells. “Snap. Well, I guess I will just have to try harder.”

  “Oh dear lord,” Teagan exclaims.

  Trent bends over and whispers in her ear, “I can have you yelling out to god all night long if you want.”

  “TRENT!” Teagan snaps. “What has gotten into you?”

  “It’s more like what do I want to get into you?” Trent snickers. Teagan’s jaw drops, and she looks at him. He smiles. “I’m only teasing. I’m sorry. I am in way too playful of a mood today.” Trent puts on a straight face. “I will try and be more serious.”

  “Whatever,” Teagan groans. “I love playful Trent. Keep him around.”

  “Okay. I can do that,” Trent quips with a grin. “Let’s go get that dress on you.” Teagan rolls her eyes, and they walk to the dressing room. A few minutes later, she opens the door and looks at Trent. His jaw drops. “Teagan….oh my god….you are stunning in that dress.”

  “Really?” Teagan squeaks. “Does it plunge too far in front?”