by M. A. Lee
As I slid the dress over my body, I refused to look at myself in the mirror stationed inside the dressing room. If this was the dress for me, I would know as soon as I stepped out of this dressing room.
Finally, after what seemed like forever of buttoning and tying straps, I opened the door and stepped in front of them. I swear, I almost felt a tear roll down my cheek as I took in the sight before me. The off-white gown hugged my curves perfectly and made me look like a majestic ocean queen. The dress was made for me and from the way everyone stared at me in the full-length mirror, I knew this was the one.
“Oh Lauren,” mom cried as she stood and began complimenting the dress. “You look absolutely beautiful,” she stated.
“I love it,” Mel smiled.
“Me too, it’s perfect,” I agreed as I fought back my tears.
After a few more discussions and compliments from other future brides, mom paid for the gown and we began our search for a dress for my mom to wear.
After another hour, we were exhausted and starving. We went to have a quick snack at a nearby bakery where my wedding cake would be made and discussed more wedding details as we ate.
Hugging Mel and my mom goodbye, I made plans to meet up with Mel again that evening for some girl bonding time. I really missed seeing her every day and our time together was limited. Sometimes a girl just needs her best friend. Even if our guys have to come too.
“I will see you tonight at Wild Thing’s,” I called as Melanie got into her car.
LATER THAT NIGHT, I stumbled out of my bedroom as I tried to put on my six inch black heels.
Isaac was patiently waiting for me on the living room sofa as he texted with someone on his phone.
When his eyes left the phone, he stood and let out a loud whistle. “Damn baby, you look sexy,” he said as he slowly stalked over toward me.
Placing his hands on my hips, he pulled my body to his. My thin, black dress fit tightly against my skin. Isaac’s hands caressed the side of my waist as his eyes drank me in.
“Thanks,” I agreed as I kissed him.
“We need to hurry or we will be late,” I added as I slipped on my other heel.
“Maybe we could skip going out tonight,” Isaac said seductively as he tried to slip the straps of my dress off my shoulder.
Playfully slapping his arm, I wiggled out of his grasp and began walking toward the front door. “Don’t worry baby, you can peel this dress off of me later,” I said with a wink.
Closing his eyes, Isaac shook his head like he was trying to contain himself. “Fine. But, we better get there fast or I don’t know if I can control myself,” he smirked.
I smiled as I opened the door and threw the car keys at Isaac. We both got into my car and drove downtown. We parked in the crowded parking lot and scanned the area for any sign of Cole or Melanie.
Mel: Hey, we have a table on the patio. Got here early.
Me: Great. We will look for you. We just parked in the parking lot.
We walked through the heavy wooden doors of the bar and pushed our way through the people standing around talking with friends or watching the band play on the large stage. We spotted Cole and Melanie sitting at a small table with a great view of the stage back inside the bar. I was so happy they had selected a table outside. As we approached the outdoor patio, I couldn’t help but remember the first time I met Isaac at this same bar for our first date. It was also a double date with Cole and Melanie.
As I reflected on that night again, I became lost in the memories.
“SO REMEMBER THAT GUY Isaac?” I asked as I stood and curled my hair, sitting on top of the bathroom vanity. I was casually dressed in a pair of denim blue jeans and a flirty lavender top as I watched Mel through the vanity mirror. It had been a week since her little incident at the tattoo parlor and I had given the situation very little thought. Well, that is a lie. I had thought about Isaac every moment of the day since that night.
Watching me closely and realizing I was up to something, Mel walked into the bathroom. “Yes, I remember him,” she stated flatly. “I wish I could forget about the night we met Cole,” she added, continuing down the hall to her room.
“Well, he called and asked me out tonight.” I said, winding a strand of my hair around the base of the iron.
“Fun,” Mel shot back sarcastically, as she began sorting through her basket of clean laundry.
I paused in the mirror, and I could see her watching me from where she stood. “Well,” I began as I put down the iron and began teasing through my long locks. I needed sexy hair to really get Isaac’s attention. “He asked if I wanted to double date for the first night. You know a way to break the ice in case we end up hating each other.” i said, smiling at Mel as I started now applying my mascara.
“He said that?” Mel asked, placing a pair of running shorts in her dresser drawer. She was clearly interested even though she didn’t want to admit it.
“No, he didn’t exactly say that, but I am sure that is what he meant. Or, maybe his friend, you know the cute one who helped you, maybe he likes you,” I added as I tried to formulate the right words to say. I really wanted to go out with Isaac and he had been such a gentleman on the phone, insisting that he take us both out to make sure Mel was ok.
Laughing, Mel threw the now empty laundry basket into her closet. “I doubt that,” she replied.
Ok, she was going to difficult. I knew how to make Mel listen to me.
I walked into Mel’s room and began sorting through her closet. She sat on her bed and watched me with curiosity.
“What are you doing? “Mel asked.
“Looking for something for you to wear,” I said, my back still to Mel as I continued to push around my outfits. Mel had a great body, but she didn’t flaunt it enough. I needed to take this girl shopping and soon.
Arching her eye brows, Lauren looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Why would I need to change?” Mel asked.
“You can’t go on a date wearing sweat pants.” I sneered, pulling a black sequence tank top off one of her hangers. Finally, something cute in her closet.
“Here, try this one,” I said as I threw the shirt at Mel. Taking the shirt, she quickly laid it down on the bed beside where I was sitting. Jumping up, she rushed over to me where I was now looking for a pair of jeans and pumps.
“I don’t think so,” Mel started, rushing in front of me so that she was blocking her view of her closet. “I am not going on a double date with two guys we don’t even know.” she hissed, standing my ground.
Damn, I hate how stubborn she could be sometimes. But, I can be more stubborn than she can even imagine.
Pushing her aside, I selected a pair of tight skinny jeans and then a pair of black heels that were mine but would look great on her. Tilting my head, I offered her my pitiful pouty lips that usually won her over.
“This is why I didn’t tell you last week when they set up the date,” I stated as I began messing with Mel’s hair. Maybe I was being a little deceitful, but I had known Mel forever. I needed to just throw this news at her last minute so she couldn’t think of a reason to back out.
Swatting her hands at me, Mel stepped back, almost falling inside her closet. “I am not going on a date. I can’t believe you hid this from me for an entire week.”
Alright, now she was mad. But, she was going with me now. I really needed to see Isaac again to make sure my feelings were real. I had talked to him several times but I was desperate to see him.
“Oh, come on. You would have said no right away.” Holding her hands, I began my last tactic to win her over “Please, Mel? I really want to go and I don’t want to show up alone. It will be fun. We will get free drinks and if you don’t like the guys, we will leave, I swear.” I was smiling at Mel now; I could sense she was about to give in.
Inhaling a sharp breath, Mel rolled her eyes and flung herself back to my bed. She sank into her plush, lavender bedspread and groaned. “Fine.” She said sharply. “But, if I want to leav
e, I am leaving.”
Squealing, I jumped up and down and clapped as Mel listed all the things that needed to get done before we left.
We only had an hour before we had to meet the guys at a local campus bar.
“We look hot.” I mused as we checked ourselves one last time in the hall mirror before exiting our apartment. After thinking about this date for the last few days, I was dressed in a pair of tight skinny jeans and a very revealing fire red tank top. My black heels gave me an additional two inches to my already five-foot- five frame. I grabbed my purse and cell phone and then began walking out the door and to my Honda Accord.
When we arrived at the bar, I spotted Isaac instantly. I parked my car and then threw an arm around Mel’s shoulder as we walked through the small parking lot. A bright neon light shone on top of the bar, screaming the name, ‘Wild Things.’ The patio was already packed, and as we got closer, I could hear the thumping of music from a live band playing in the back. Waiting for us, Isaac had texted me and told me they had secured us a table inside the bar, but would be waiting outside for us. When I saw him, my heart stopped and my breath faltered.
“What’s wrong?” Mel asked as she noticed my sudden change in breathing and movement.
“Look at Isaac,” I said as I drew her attention to the guys. Sure, Cole looked nice too, but Isaac had on a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a navy blue colored shirt that made him look like the perfect combination of sexy and bad boy.
If I never believed in love at first sight before, I did now. The way my heart skipped a beat and my stomach dropped just looking at Isaac, I knew I was in trouble now.
AS MY HEAD DRIFTED back to the present time, I smiled and sighed at the fond memory. Just like that night, the weather was warm, but had a nice breeze that made the temperature perfect for a summer evening. We sat down and we all began chatting and catching up on our week and mine and Melanie’s wedding planning.
Isaac was noticeably quiet throughout all of the talking and I was growing agitated with him for being on his phone so much.
“Hey, we are out with our friends. Can you please not text and be obsessed with your phone all night?” I whispered in an angry tone.
Looking at me, Isaac half smiled. “Sorry Lauren. I will put my phone away,” Isaac offered.
“Are you texting Smalls?” Cole asked as he noticed Isaac putting his phone away.
“Uh, yeah,” Isaac said.
I squinted my eyes and looked at Isaac for a moment. His response was strange and almost like he wasn’t telling the truth.
“The Shop is fine. Smalls and Kat will let you know if anything happens or if they need you. Man, you need to relax and enjoy your time away from work,” Cole added as he threw his arm around Melanie’s shoulders.
“You are right, sorry guys,” Isaac said. Finally, the band started to play, and I was thankful for the distraction.
“Hey, remember our first time here together,” I said, trying to bring the conversation back to fun times.
Everyone smiled and nodded their heads yes.
“I remember dancing and Mel looking hot as hell as she tried to kick Brody’s ass,” Cole said with a smirk.
Covering her face with her hands, Mel laughed from the embarrassment she felt in that night.
You know, I never asked what happened after we left,” Mel asked.
Glancing at Isaac, he offered me a sly smile as we both remembered the events from that night. After Cole had agreed to take Mel home after her encounter with Brody, Isaac and I had stayed a little while longer at the bar before we left and spent the night laying under the stars in a nearby park.
“We just got to know one another better,” I said as I reached over and squeezed Isaac’s hand.
Thinking about that night made my heart swell as I realized how much I loved this man sitting by my side. “Want to dance?”
Isaac stood and offered his hand to me and together we joined a crowd that was growing near the stage. Everyone was dancing and having fun. Cole and Melanie joined in too as we all began to dance around to the 90’s cover band. They were playing a fun rendition of “Right Stuff,” by New Kids On The Block.
Everything was perfect as we danced and sang along with our friends. Only, I couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that Isaac was distracted by something else all night.
3
Lauren
After our late night out, Isaac had woken early the next day and went to work. It was a Saturday, the tattoo shops busiest day, but Isaac never arrived before noon on a Saturday. He had claimed he needed to go over the books and work on the schedule for the upcoming week. They had hired a new artist and he needed to get him on the schedule.
I spent my afternoon going over table centerpieces for the wedding reception. I had selected an adorable design from Pinterest: glass mason jars painted with an antique white paint and filled with plum, silver, and cream colored roses. It was simple, yet country chic. Melanie ended up venturing over too to help me out. When we were all finished, I tried to place all of the boxes of decorations in our storage closet. As I began moving items around, I found a box of Halloween costumes.
“Mel, you have to see this,” I yelled as I pulled out our Peter Pan and Tinker Bell costumes from our first Halloween together.
Laughing, Mel mused over the memory. “You guys looked hilarious. And, Isaac in those tights,” she smirked.
We began reminiscing about that night as we sorted the boxes.
WE WERE AT APPLEBES’S, and Mel and I were finishing up a girls day. Cole and Isaac came to see us with bags in their hands.
Cole handed Mel the bags to sort through as he and Isaac anxiously waited for our reactions.
“Let me see that?” I demanded as I pulled the costumes from Mel’s hands. I began inspecting the outfits and to my surprise, and Mel’s, it was a Peter Pan and Tinker Bell costume set.
Now Cole and Mel were the ones laughing. Isaac, who looked wounded, paid careful attention to my now dumbfounded expression.
“Do you not like it?” he asked, his voice sounding defeated.
He was so cute as he looked nervous. “It was all they had left. I thought you would look hot in tights.” He added.
Laughing, Cole examined the bags too. “Hey, I hate to tell you, but I think the tights are for you man,” Cole said as he laughed so hard he was almost crying.
“What?” Isaac shrieked, as he looked at all of us. “No way, I thought the tights were for Lauren.”
I began to laugh too, so hard I had to hold my stomach because it hurt. “It’s ok, Isaac you will look great in tights.”
Isaac glared at Cole, Mel, and myself.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I kissed Isaac on his cheek. “It’s ok baby,” I said. “I think you will look great. This was really sweet for you to do.”
His face blushing, Isaac tried to look like he was not absolutely mortified about the idea of wearing tights with his costume. I was now realizing Cole knew all along what the costume entailed, he was just messing with his buddy. Isaac, who had multiple arm and back tattoos, would be rocking his green Peter Pan costume, tights and all at his party on Halloween night. I didn’t think I could love this man anymore, but knowing he was about to make a fool of himself just for me, somehow strangely made my heart flutter.
AS WE CONTINUED LAUGHING remembering Isaac in green tights, we finished putting away the boxes. Mel left and promised to return again to help with the reception gift bags.
I decided to surprise Isaac at his shop. He had been there all day and it was almost dinner time.
I had tried to text him all day to see if he was busy, or if he wanted me to bring him something to eat, but he never responded.
After Melanie left for a date night with Cole, I packed away the centerpieces we created and hopped into my car and began to the drive to the shop.
As I pulled into the shops parking lot. I saw Smalls.
“Hey,” I waved.
“Hey, if you are looking
for Isaac, you just missed him. He said he had some business at Cole’s shop,” Smalls stated as he got into his large truck.
“Thanks,” I said as I waved again.
That was weird, what business would he have back at Cole’s auto body shop? I drove the short few blocks over to the shop and when I pulled into the lot, I parked my car, a shiny silver Honda Accord, and glanced at my phone for the time. It was past seven and Cole should have already closed the shop for the evening. What could they be doing here? I noticed Isaac’s Ford Truck sitting around back. However, I also spotted a sleek, black BMW parked near the back entrance too.
Maybe he was with another client? Maybe Cole had a customer who wanted some work with Isaac? I thought about turning and leaving, but I decided not to. I wanted to surprise Isaac and more importantly find out what this business was all about.
The front door was locked so I began walking around back. After I had reached the back of the shop, I began to hear loud voices and arguing.
“I told you to pay up or we would have problems,” an angry voice bellowed.
The pure terror that voice caused sent shivers down my spine. I stopped dead in my tracks, not sure what to do next.
“I told you, I would take care of everything. Your guys said they would pay me this week. You will get your cut on Friday,” Isaac stated in an eerie calm voice.
“Do I need to send someone over here to make sure you follow through?” the man stated with a threat lacing his words.
“No, I told you. My friend Cole can’t know what I’m doing here. Trust me, I will take care of it,” Isaac stammered.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Who was Isaac talking to? Who was paying him? Everything around me began to spin as dark thoughts rushed through my mind.
“I told you, Isaac, if you were going to allow this to happen in your friends shop and take a large cut of my profits, you better pay up on time. If not, we will have some issues to discuss,” the man growled again.