by Lisa DeBells
Cocky bastard, I knew he wouldn’t let up with the wise cracks now, about how I’m going soft and gushy like a bride on her wedding night or that I’m, shockingly so, getting in touch with my feelings that my cock would shrivel up and drop off because I’ve become a woman.
“Yeah, man, anything. You know that.”
“Can I go through your contact list before you go deleting the numbers of your bevy of beauties?” And he cracked up laughing, throwing himself back in the big cushions of the lounge, like he was the funniest fucker in the world.
I chucked the closest item within reach, a pillow, at him for good measure. The man that always fucked around had lost his edge. I couldn’t help laughing at the transformation in me. “But then that would leave only my phone number, man.”
Chase stayed for another hour, talking about the next few meetings we would be having. I needed to get ready for work. We were having a twelve-hour tattoo marathon to raise awareness of breast cancer, something that was extremely close to my heart. It was the disease that took my mother from me when I was fourteen.
It would run from four p.m. Saturday to four a.m. Sunday. All hands were on deck, and I was ready to tattoo my dark heart out.
Chapter Two
Eden
I looked over my shoulder giving myself the standard once over in my floor-to-ceiling white, gilt framed mirror. Craning my neck to see if my butt looked as good in this dress as the young sales lady had drooled to me earlier in the day, checking that it looked, in her words, amaze-balls!
My body was ensconced in a black body-contour dress. It was stretchy, much like spandex and hugged every sculpted curve of my body snugly. This dress was like wearing a second skin; it had taken five minutes and several curse words to zip myself into it. Not because it didn’t fit me; my physique was slim and toned, thanks to my home-away-from-home called; ‘the gym’. My sanctuary, where I escaped to almost everyday.
The low-cut back of my dress sat securely at my waist. I did a little twirl to face the mirror once again and wow, I was almost mortified at the amount of boob that was escaping the dipping neckline of this sexy dress. I tried to push the girls back down to no avail. These babies had a mind of their own.
I was seriously thinking about getting changed, but knew when I turned up at Ariel’s not in this dress, she would march me straight back to my apartment and squeeze me into it herself. The fact that we lived in the same apartment complex was reason enough to just wear the damn dress and get tonight started.
If I were being honest with myself, a little thrill coursed through my veins. It was there, just under the surface. I wanted desperately to get one hundred percent back to my old self, and going out tonight was the final challenge. Ariel totally had my back; we were like a dynamic duo of opposites. Where she yinged, I yanged, in looks especially. Where I was light, with blond hair and green eyes, she was dark, her fine elfin features exuding a sexy innocence to her grey eyes. There wasn’t a man who didn’t want to jump into her hot little pants. Something she did quite regularly.
Knowing my best friend would be with me tonight made me feel a little braver and ready to cross the abyss. So, I took a deep fortifying breath to center myself. I could do this; just because I had been humiliated by Anthony didn’t mean I should avoid going to the club, that we had regularly frequented, again. I rolled my shoulders back, optimism filling me.
Flicking my long hair back from my face, I smoothed my hands down the front of my dress and plucked the sky-high heels I would be dying to pull off in a few hours. I tugged the first one on doing a little jumpy balancing act whilst trying not to fall over. I relented with the second and held onto my dressing table to slip on my stiletto. I wiggled my toes that peeked out of the strappy shoes, admiring my freshly-painted pedicured toes that I’d had done earlier today. My nails looked hot in the latest shade of the season: red, the bloodiest shade of red I could mix. As the owner of one of the hottest and up-to-the-minute beauty bars in Hollywood, it was inevitable that I produced my own line of cosmetics after my successful skincare products. This was my passion and my goal that I had achieved all before the age of twenty-four. I was being hailed as the youngest and hottest female entrepreneur to hit the beauty industry. I had celebrities endorsing my products, being environmentally friendly and organic helped, and I didn’t even have to pay them. Thanks to social media and pop-up shops, my company, Eden White Organics, was a household name. I was a household name!
For me the balance of success and failure was a very thin line, like a tightrope. I walked the business line. That line was comfortable, not easy, but with one foot ahead of the other, I forged a solid road to success until that rope didn’t quiver beneath me. I had firmly anchored myself and my name on the who’s hot list in Hollywood.
Then there was the relationship line. This rope was paper thin and scary. I tried not to look down as I carried the weight of the balancing pole in my hands, always so unstable. I could never predict when the line would jiggle out from under me. I struggled on that rope only to eventually catapult off and land back on my butt . . . again.
Break-ups were hard, especially when you were the one left crying into your pillow, alone. I should know; of all the relationships I'd had it was either the other party not wanting to commit, moving onto the next pretty thing, or even more humiliating, thinking I was a booty call. Just because of the three Bs : blond hair, blue eyes, and big boobs. Some girls would think I had it all, but when I came home at night, my house was empty, big and empty. I didn’t even own a cat . . . maybe I should have!
I was no pushover, and I always picked myself up, putting the pieces that had been shredded back together with a little help from my friends. Thank goodness for Ariel. We had been friends since grade school. Our families were close, mostly due to us spending our teenage years living at each other’s houses. She was like my sister, my only sibling, and closer to me than any blood relative I had.
Ariel was carving her name out as a serious actress, having started out as a child star. She worked on her craft, taking every small bit part she could get her hands on. I stood by her when the knock-backs took their toll on her. Ariel had a tough exterior, and it took a lot to tear her down. You would never tell by looking at her that she had hit rock-bottom and vowed that she’d give herself one more year to crack the big time. A year of chasing the more serious roles instead of ditzy rom coms.
And what a difference 365 days had made. "A star in the making," she had been hailed by the industry bigwigs. I was ecstatic that finally everyone could see what I already knew: that Ariel was talented and hardworking, shaped by her past to become the woman she was today. Of course, only I knew of the events in her past that made her strong and fiercely protective of those she loved. Secrets I would take to the grave.
I had resolved to give up finding “the one.” If I never found the other half of my soul I would be okay. I guess some people aren't destined to find true love, so I had stopped looking. Or maybe it just didn’t exist for me. Tonight would mark the first night of the rest of my life of living to the max, taking every opportunity to be the best version of myself. And to prove that no man by my side was required to make that happen.
I ran a slick line of lip gloss over my full lips and puckered them together, making a little popping sound with my lips as if putting the exclamation point on my thoughts. I intended to paint the town as red as my lips tonight, and I dared anyone to stand in my way.
******
I took the lift down to the fifth floor to my best friend’s apartment. The carpeted hallways muffled the click-clacking sound from my stilettos that had echoed in the lift I had just vacated.
I knocked on the door and waited for the five-foot two-inch package of craziness that was about to greet me. I didn't have to wait long. The pattering of stiletto-clad feet got louder, and then I was greeted with the ethereal beauty of Ariel Harper, wrapped from head to toe in a white halterneck sheath dress that tapered in at her tiny waist, accompanied
by a black belt embellished with a beautiful crystalline buckle. The material flared out and flounced mid-thigh, showing off her shapely legs. To take the floaty edge off the dress, Ariel wore black leather six-inch booties.
She had always been great with the small details, managing to make a T-shirt and jeans look fashionable with a designer bag or statement necklace. She was a trendsetter of boho-chic that made designers beg her to wear their label on the red carpet, or chilling out at a music festival. Either way, Ariel Harper wearing your design meant money in the bank.
"Hey sexy lady, I. Love. This. Dress," Ariel squealed, and pulled me in for a tight hug.
"Boys will be dropping at your feet tonight."
I walked into the kitchen groaning. "The last thing I want is to cause any sort of commotion, I'm going out to have a good time with you and the girls. You know I'm not looking for a man, boy, or some brat that wants to jump into my pants." I paused and watched Ariel closely as she digested what she already knew. I don't think she heard a word I said as her loosely curled bangs brushed her forehead because she was shaking her head and smiling smugly.
"Mmm-hmm, we will see. Either way, I will not let you out of eyeshot, okay? I got your back, baby," she said earnestly. I was instantly relieved. I knew Ariel meant well, she hadn't pushed me to go out until now, and that was exactly what I’d needed.
"Good. Now that we have that sorted, you look amazing, as always," I said as she did a little twirl so that the floaty skirt of her dress fanned out around her upper thighs. My mouth dropped open as I caught a glimpse of her lacy underwear.
"Why, thank you babes," she said cheekily.
"Oh my God, Ari, do not spin like that while we are out. In fact, no bending of any kind, either. I think you need to put some boy shorts on under that dress. It’s dangerously short. Your cheeks are on display."
"Oh, Eden, it’s not like people won’t be looking anyway. Might as well make it worthwhile," she said and winked at me.
This is what concerned me: Ariel, being the crazy party girl she is. Tonight could very well end up being a total disaster or the most fabulous night ever. Either way, I was keen to get it started just so I could get it over with.
Ariel had popped the top of some Crystal champagne and was already passing a glass into my eager hand. “Here, I got the good stuff.” She’d distracted me.
"You are incorrigible, girl, but I love you anyway." It wasn't meant to come out so serious. I smiled down at her and sank the whole flute of the sweet, crisp liquid. Ariel was only too happy to fill it back up for me.
"Love you too, Eds. You know I will always be here for you, just like you have done for me." She bumped me lightly with her shoulder. "We are gonna dance our asses off tonight! Come on, we got hearts to break."
I downed my last sip of bubbly, enjoying the way the bubbles tickled my nose. I had my best friend with me, an amazing dress, and I was primed with two glasses of the finest champagne. How could tonight not be just as amazing as I expected?
********
Getting around in LA on a Saturday night wasn't easy. By ten p.m., most taxi services were overworked, and pre-booking a ride was something you had to do days in advance. As this night out wasn't planned until the day before, when Ariel had begged me to come out of my self induced confinement, I’d decided to book us a town car to get us safely to our venue and back. Basically, this vehicle was ours for the night, so if we decided to bar hop we wouldn't encounter a transport issue—not to mention that I would be incapable of driving due to my need for alcohol consumption to get though tonight.
Waiting inside the lobby of our building, Ariel and I sat idly in the black leather lounges that served as a meeting or waiting area. Tommy the doorman would let us know when our car was here.
"Eds, you really do think of everything, don't you?" Ariel eyed me suspiciously. "I just wonder if you hired the car just in case you decide to make a quick getaway."
I didn't met her eyes straight away, choosing my words carefully so as not to upset my best friend. Because in the back of my mind, I did have the safety net of leaving when I wanted, even if Ariel wasn’t ready.
“Ari how do you manage to know exactly what I’m up to?” I said, shaking my head incredulously.
“You will be fine. I’m with you, Gia and Sammy are meting us there. The she-wolf pack sticks together; you know that.” Ariel opened her bedazzled clutch and dug into it until she pulled out a small compact. I nodded, and pursed my lips in ascent. This is true.
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about: us she-wolves.” I watched her top up her already shiny lips with another slick of gloss. She automatically handed me the mirror compact. “It’s just a ticket to Recklessville when we all get together, especially Gia. OMG, remember the night when we got kicked out of Rogue’s?” I gave my face a quick once-over in the mirror, and smoothed my already immaculate hair away from my face.
Ariel was laughing as she said. “That was the best night ever. Since when should dancing on the bar get you kicked out? Have they not seen Coyote Ugly?” Her mouth slacked open in a duh look.
I had to admit, it had been a funny night that ended with us all piled into a cab and off to the nearest twenty-four hour frozen yogurt parlour, where we had a competition to see who could eat the most flavours. “Okay, okay.” I placed my hands palm-up in defeat. “That night was hilarious . . . I can only hope for the same level of madness tonight.”
Tommy was making quick strides in our direction. “Miss White, Miss Harper, your car’s here.” We stood up and walked towards the opened doors that Tommy was politely holding open. He was in his late fifties, and was of the old school with impeccable manners.
“Thanks Tommy, have a good night.”
“G’night ladies. Stay safe.” He tipped his cap at us as we walked past him and out into the fresh night air.
Spring was without a doubt upon us as I flicked the collar of my lightweight seasonal jacket. I waited for Ariel to catch up to me. I wanted to see her reaction when she saw the vehicle I had hired for tonight.
“OHHH EMMMM GEEEEE,” Ariel let out gleefully on cue. She ambled quickly over to the stretch limousine with her jaw dropping open, and then half turned back to me with the look of “seriously” dripping from her exotic features. That wasn’t the best part; Gia and Sammy were already cozied up in the luxurious vehicle. On cue the driver walked around to open the door for us. Giggles of delight escaped my lips and matched that of our friends. With excited grins, Ariel and I climbed effortlessly into the limo and exchanged hellos, air kisses, and tight hugs with our friends.
“Eds, you leave nothing to chance. This is amazing.” Ariel gestured to the bar that took up almost an entire side of the interior, where another bottle of Crystal was chilling.
The bar was carved from dark wood grain and lit up with tiny strobe lights that twinkled enticingly all the way along its edge. Several glasses were recessed into the timber so as not to spill a precious drop of our bubbly drinks. “Maybe we could party in the back all night, its large enough and the bars fully stocked.” I was half serious.
“I’m soooo happy your back, Eds, tonight is going to be fantastic. The girls are back together,” Gia said in earnest. She pulled me in for another bear hug that almost caused me to tear up. Gia was the one that took on all of our problems when one of us was going through something. Whether it was a break-up, a make-up or a promotion at work, Gia felt it ten fold and always wanted the best for you. I held our friendship in the highest regard. It was difficult to pick your way through the fakes in an industry that was so fickle, and relied on popularity and who was hotter than the next up-and-comer. But Gia had proved that she didn't care about my celebrity status, giving me sage advice even when I didn't agree with her opinion. It didn't stop her from telling me the truth, and I loved her for that.
"Yeah, this is good. I didn't think I was ready to get back on the horse—"
"Oh, you go girl. I hope it's a stallion baby girl, uh-huh." Sammy
grinned at me like a smug Cheshire cat; she never missed an opportunity to tell it like it was with her quick wit, while Ariel and Gia tried to stilt their laughter. Meanwhile I was a tiny bit shocked at Sammy’s implication from about four seconds until I burst out into huge guffaws of laughter, giving them the green light to let go.
"You kill me, Sammy. Have I told you girls just how much I have missed this?" This little group we called the she-wolf pack in jest, really lived up to its name. It felt good to be out on the town. I was with my best friends, and we were tight—which I’m sure any one of us would throw down if we needed to defend one another.
Ariel popped another cork. Gia let out a little yelp of surprise that had Sammy telling her to calm her tits down and me dilligently filling up everyone’s flute. These girls were my home, where I was meant to be in life.
The drive downtown wouldn’t take too long, so I had a twenty-minute window of opportunity to catch up on what the girls had been up to lately. I had been living like a hermit, working when I had to, forcing myself to the gym and shopping for the essential break-up foods like chocolate-chip chunk cookie-dough and boysenberry-ripple ice-cream.
“I have been assigned as a junior assistant for a very messy celebrity divorce,” Gia began, leaning forward as if this information was for our ears only.
“Oh, honey, that sounds juicy, do tell.” Sammy was ready to stir Gia up. We all knew she couldn’t give us any details, other than what was known to the public.
“Sammy, you know the drill, my lips are sealed.” And she made a little zip motion with her fingers, twisted the pretend lock and threw away the key. “Although I can tell you this—”
She was cut off by an eye-rolling Sammy. “You just said.”
“I know what I just said. Now do you want some juice or not?”