Fantasized by You

by Steph Nuss

  “Two, actually,” I added, smiling. Elly didn’t know her gown was ready, and I’d brought it as a surprise for her to try on in front of us all. She hadn’t had the normal experience of trying on a gown in a store in front of all her family and friends, so I was going to give it to her today.

  Elly put the shoes back in their box carefully, and started working on Bayler’s gift.

  “This is from Bayler,” Elly laughed, after reading the card with the naked man on the front. Tossing the tissue out of the bag, she peered inside and covered her face with her hands. “Ohmigawd.”

  “What is it?” Grandma Ceci asked.

  “Yeah, what’d she get you?” Janice asked.

  Blushing a deep shade of red, Elly poured the contents of the bag onto the table, and we all inched closer to see. Spread out on the table were a variety of different lubes, for both his and her pleasure, as well as a pair of vibrating panties with a remote control, and two silk scarves.

  “Bayler!” Mom gasped, mortified.

  “What?” Bayler laughed, shrugging her shoulders. “Their honeymoon and the rest of their sex lives are just as important as their wedding day. Am I right?”

  “Amen to that, sister,” Janice said, nodding.

  “Where was this stuff back when we were young?” Grandma Ceci laughed, studying one of the packages of lube.

  “I know,” Janice said, picking up the panties. “They didn’t have any of this fun stuff when we were getting married.”

  Charlotte picked up the scarves and laughed. “Being tied up can be fun once in a while!”

  Oh, dear god! Now I know way too much about my baby’s grandma.

  “Okay!” Elly interjected, eyes wide and cheeks red. She quickly stuffed all of the items back into the bag and smiled at Bayler. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome!” she said, proudly, as we all—with the exception of Mom—laughed. “Just don’t tell me how everything works for you guys. You’re marrying my brother; I don’t wanna know!”

  Laughing, Elly nodded and put the gift with the others. “I’ll be sure not to.” She looked around at the table at all of us, smiling. “Seriously, thank you, everyone, for the gifts and celebrating with me this weekend.”

  “You have one more gift,” I said, standing up from the table, feeling slightly dizzy. “Your something old. I’ll be right back.”

  Imani excused herself and helped me wheel the rack of dresses in from the hallway. The dresses were all zipped up in their garment bags, so nobody could see what was in what. Imani set up the tri-fold mirror and stand, and then we walked back into the kitchen where I grabbed a cracker and gave myself a moment before heading back out to be Jen Harper, the designer.

  “Are you okay, H?” Imani asked, searching my face.

  I nodded quietly and took a sip of the ginger ale Bayler had in the fridge. Both the cracker and ginger helped calm my nausea.

  “Okay,” she said, keeping her thoughts to herself.

  Walking back into the ballroom, Imani took a seat at the table with the rest of them and they all gave me their undivided attention as I stood next to the rack of dresses. “As most of you know, I’ve been working on a very special wedding dress for Elly.” I glanced over at Elly and watched her wipe away a tear. “She hasn’t seen it yet, so this will be the first time she’s tried on her actual dress since she tried on her mom’s.”

  “Ohmigawd, I can’t wait to see it!” Tessa exclaimed, squirming excitedly in her chair.

  “I know!” Paige said, putting her hand over Elly’s.

  “I brought the bridesmaids’ dresses as well, and Mom’s and Charlotte’s dresses.” I grabbed Elly’s dress first. “Elly, are you ready?”

  “You’re not going to show it to us first?” Grandma Ceci asked, impatiently.

  “Nope.” I shook my head. “You have to wait to see her in it.”

  Elly got up and followed me into one of the guest bedrooms. I hung the dress on the back of the door and she stood there, staring at the black bag.

  “Elly?” I asked, moving into her line of sight.

  “I just can’t believe you have my dress in there and that I’m going to try it on today,” she said, blinking back tears. “It’s just a little overwhelming, I guess.”

  “That’s understandable,” I said, smiling. “No more thinking. Let’s just put it on.”

  “Okay,” she nodded, as she started to undress. I unzipped the bag and heard her gasp from behind me when I got the whole thing out. I turned around, holding her dress, and the smile on her face brightened. “Ohmigawd, it’s so unbelievably gorgeous, Harper; it looks almost identical to the Vera dress.”

  “Just like you wanted.” I helped her into the dress, and when she was all ready to go, tears threatened again. She looked extraordinary, and I loved that underneath all the modern tulle and the organza scalloped skirt, a piece of her mom was with her.

  Elly looked down at herself, since there wasn’t a mirror in here, and she looked back up at me with tears streaming down her face. “Thank you so much for doing this, for making this dress so special for me and for putting everything together today.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, I let my tears fall, too, and hugged her. “You’re going to be my sister soon. There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do for you.” Holding her, I let my emotions run wild as we cried happy tears together.

  “Same here,” she said, breaking away from me. We dried our wet cheeks with our hands and then laughed at each other. “Okay, I think I’m ready.”

  “Does everything fit all right? Any changes or adjustments you want me to make?” I asked, slipping into designer mode.

  “It’s perfect,” she said, shaking her head.

  “All right, let’s go show them.”

  She led the way into the ballroom and I watched proudly as everyone turned to admire the whimsical work of art that was her wedding dress. Their jaws dropped at the sight of her floating toward them like an angel in her peach, strapless A-line gown with its veiled Chantilly lace and asymmetrical tulle bodice that fit Elly like a glove, and the soft organza scalloped skirt with its small slit in the front hidden by layers of veiled tulle, seductively showing the perfect amount of leg for her wedding day.

  “Ohmigawd, you look so beautiful!” Tessa cheered, jumping up. She helped Elly onto the stand in front of the mirror, and everyone else quickly gathered around to get an up-close view of her.

  All of them oohed and aahed over her, and I stood back to let them. She looked like a bride, but there were a few things she was missing. Grabbing three of her bridal shower gifts, I walked back over and stood in front of the mirror, smiling up at Elly.

  “Your something borrowed,” I said, handing the headpiece to Mom. Elly had her red hair braided to the side, making it easy for Mom to place the piece into her hair, tucking in any fallen strands.

  Mom stepped back with damp eyes and shot Elly a smile of approval, something Elly and the rest of us had been waiting for since they’d met last year. “My son is one very lucky man.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jennings,” Elly said, swallowing hard.

  “Please,” Mom said, running her eyes over Elly’s dress again. “Call me Lucy.”

  Elly nodded respectfully, trying to contain her relief over Mom’s verbal approval. Then she glanced back at me, so, I continued, lifting up the blue Rene Caovillas.

  “Your something blue.” I handed Paige and Tessa each a heel and they lifted up the skirt of Elly’s dress so she could step into her wedding shoes.

  After they got them on, they lowered her skirt, and we all admired the dark blue heels peeking through the slit in her skirt. They were the perfect height, and the dark color created a beautiful, mysterious contrast to her peach gown.

  “They look perfect with your dress,” Paige said, gazing up at Elly.

  Another momentary wave of nausea passed through me as everyone nodded in agreement with Paige, but I took deep, measured breaths in an attempt to keep the vomiting a
t bay. I swallowed back any dry heaves of morning sickness, and then continued on without making a scene. Thank god.

  “Your something old,” I smiled, waving my hands over Elly’s dress. “The base of Elly’s gown is her mom’s dress. She wanted to use her dress and put a modern twist on it, and since it was in pristine condition, I was able to use most of her dress as the base of Elly’s.” I lifted up the final gift I had in my hands: the garters Charlotte made. “And, finally, your something new.”

  Charlotte knelt down and slid the elastic lace onto Elly’s thigh, and then stood back up with tears streaming down her face.

  “Char …” Elly whispered, taking her hand.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said, placing her other hand over her chest.

  “It’s okay,” she said, soothingly.

  “I just wish she could see you right now. Your mom would’ve loved all of this—your dress, all of your somethings, and everyone here. She always said if she had a daughter, she wanted her to use her wedding dress, and you did.”

  “I know.” Elly smiled, swallowing hard. “I wish she could be here, too.”

  Nodding, Charlotte let go of her hand and quickly dried her face with the tissue Janice handed her. Everyone else went back to admiring Elly, but Charlotte quietly walked over to me and immediately gave me a hug. “Thank you, for making my best friend’s dream come true, even though she’s not here to see it.”

  I nodded silently, trying my best to comfort her.

  She pulled away, smiling, and cupped my cheeks. “I hope we get to do this for Maverick and you some day.”

  “I’d love that,” I said, just as hopeful as her.

  Tessa clapped her hands, turning our attention back to Elly, and then she raised her glass in the air. “To the future Mrs. Carter Jennings!”

  “To Mrs. Carter Jennings!” we cheered, toasting along with her.

  “Let’s see the other dresses!” Bayler said, walking over to the rack, Tessa and Paige following closely behind her.

  Elly walked over to me, moving carefully in her wedding gown. “Is it okay if I stay in this a bit longer? I’m not ready to take it off yet.”

  “Of course,” I laughed. “You’re the bride. You can do whatever you want.”

  “Then can I please see you all in your bridesmaids dresses?” she asked with a smile. Then she pointed at Charlotte with raised brows and laughed. “And I definitely need to see this lady in her dress. She lied and told me she didn’t want a dress.”

  “Well, she has a pretty amazing son I can’t say no to,” I confessed, shooting Charlotte a wink. I moved over to the rack and handed out everyone’s dresses, and then threw mine over my shoulder. “Okay, everyone, follow me. Time to try on our dresses!”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Maverick

  Saturday night, I invited the guys over, just like Harper had suggested. They would be a welcome distraction from worrying about her in Texas. I’d gotten a text from her earlier today with a picture of her and my mom smiling, wearing their dresses for Elly’s wedding. They seemed to be having fun, but there was something about Harper that was off; I just couldn’t quite put my finger on what. Maybe it was because she was sick and was trying to cover it up, but she looked different. Her smile didn’t reach all the way up into her eyes like it usually did, and I could tell she was tired.

  “Damn,” Fletcher said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I knew Harper had a lot of money, but this place is huge.”

  “Yeah.” I brought my beer bottle up to my lips and tipped it back. The other guys hadn’t arrived yet, so it was just Fletcher and me, seated in the living room drinking beer and waiting on our pie and wings to arrive along with the others. Axel was sprawled out on the floor at my feet.

  “So, are you all moved in yet?” he smirked, teasing as usual.

  “We’re not living together,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I mean, most of my clothes are here, but—”

  “Do you want to move in with her?” he asked, in a more serious tone.

  Staring back at him, I thought about it for a moment. I was practically living here already. When she was gone, I still slept here, just so I could sleep in her bed and fall asleep with the scent of her on the sheets. When she was here, I was here, because I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I considered her place my home now, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about us officially moving in together. “Yeah, I do.”

  Fletcher took a drink of his beer. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”

  “Do you?”

  Resting his ankle over his knee, he threw an arm over the back of the couch. “I know I may not have the best track record with relationships, but I know you. You’ve always been the guy who does everything at his own speed—a Maverick Jones horsepower, if you will. So, whatever goal you have, whatever you want out of life, you make it happen. Nothing is ever too soon for you, man.”

  “Thanks,” I said, gazing down into the brown bottle. “That means a lot.”

  “I can be heartfelt sometimes,” Fletcher said with a shrug.

  Laughing at him, I shook my head. This was the guy I went to college with, and I liked how he hadn’t changed much since. We’d spent a lot of time talking about a lot of things, and this was how our conversations always went. We had a few brief moments of seriousness and then we were back to giving each other a hard time.

  “So, how’s life going?” I asked, taking another drink of my beer.

  “Oh, you know …” he laughed, nonchalantly.

  “No, I don’t know. You’ve been strangely quiet about your bedroom shenanigans lately, which isn’t like you.” I smiled and kept on pressing him. “Did the Fletcher Haney finally get turned down?”

  Fletcher was never turned down. He was a charmer who could charm the panties right off women whenever he wanted, but he never slept with a woman more than once. He had a strict, and I quote, “hit it and quit it” rule that he lived by religiously.

  “No,” he said, flustered, shaking his head. “I did not get turned down.”

  “Then what gives?” I downed the last few drops of my beer.

  “I think I met someone,” he said, sounding confused.

  Choking on the hops, I coughed and pounded my chest with my fist and then set the empty beer bottle on the coffee table in front of me. “What did you just say?”

  “I don’t know,” he sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. “I can’t stop thinking about the woman I took home on New Year’s, and believe me, I’ve tried. I’ve tried hooking up with other women and I physically can’t. It’s like she put some fucking curse on my dick or something. Has that ever happened to you before? Because it’s never happened to me and it’s starting to freak me out.”

  “Uh, that’s only happened to me once, but I was really wasted at the time,” I said, somewhat startled by his confession.

  “Well, I haven’t been drunk, and I still can’t.”

  “So, who is she?” I asked, intrigued by the idea of a woman breaking Fletcher.

  “That’s just it! I don’t know!” he exclaimed, tipping back the rest of his beer. I handed him another and he continued. “I’m pretty sure she gave me a fake name because nobody names their child Jane Doe.”

  “Jane Doe,” I repeated, instantly amused. “Also known as a dead woman.”

  “I know. At the time, I thought it was really funny,” he said, uncapping his beer. “Now, I just wish we would’ve used our real names.”

  “Wait, what name did you use?”

  “John Smith.”

  “Real original,” I deadpanned.

  “In my defense, she was insanely hot and that was the quickest name I could come up with.”

  Laughing, I opened another beer. “So, what now?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, deflated. “I’ve tried looking for her at my club, since that’s where we met, but she hasn’t been back.” He wiped a hand over his face and looked over at me solemnly. “I actually asked her to stay that nig
ht. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want a woman to leave afterward.”

  “And she left anyway?”

  He nodded. “She left, and I’ve spent the last two and a half months thinking about her. How fucking pathetic is that?”

  “It’s not,” I answered, honestly. “Feeling something for someone isn’t pathetic. I know you usually don’t do relationships, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. I may go after the things I want, but I’m also a true believer in things happening for a reason. If you’re meant to see her again, you will.” I stretched out my legs. “We’re all changing, Fletch. Elly’s getting married. I want to move in with Harper. So, if you want to be with this chick, be with her. She will ruin you and make you the greatest person you’ve ever been in your entire life. Change doesn’t make you weak; it makes you better. And there’s nothing pathetic about that.”

  “I think she’s already ruined me,” he joked, gesturing to his groin.

  I laughed and shook my head. “Yeah, I don’t know what to tell you to do about that.”

  *

  The next day, after the guys and I won our pick-up game of basketball against some older guys at the gym, I walked into Harper’s place, knowing she was home already. She’d texted me just as we were finishing up our game, saying they’d landed and that she couldn’t wait to be home. I couldn’t hear her at first, and when I turned into her bedroom, I found out why. She was sprawled across her comforter in a pair of floral leggings and a black shirt, fast asleep. Her purse was tossed on the bed next to her, and she hadn’t even taken the time to remove her shoes. She looked completely worn out.

  I kicked off my tennis shoes and slid off her flats. She looked so peaceful and comfortable, I didn’t want to disturb her, but every part of me ached for her, to lie next to her and caress her, to kiss her and welcome her home by consuming ourselves with one another. Slowly, I crawled onto the bed and stretched out beside her. She was positioned in way that made it look like she literally collapsed onto the bed and immediately fell asleep.

  Brushing my hand across her face, I moved a strand of hair out of the way so I could admire her more clearly. Her soft pink lips were closed and full, and I wanted so badly to cover them with mine. Her breaths were even and deep as I continued running my hand over her. I scooted closer to her and wrapped my arms around her so that we were spooning and I could breathe in her berry scent. I gently kissed her supple neck and she stirred with a faint moan and turned toward me.