Layla nodded. “It's perfect.” She clapped her hands and unzipped the back of her dress. “That was so easy! We just need some pretty sandals to go with it.” She moved to the door. “Get dressed and I'll show you the dress I picked.” Zoe didn't reply, she couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror.
She peeled the dress down and got dressed again before hanging both dresses on the hangers and stepping out of the dressing room. Layla was holding a warm orange dress, the color perfectly complimenting her skin. She held it up. “See? It's similarly styled to yours, just a different color.”
Zoe crinkled her nose. “Orange?”
Layla nodded. “You said wildflowers. Therefore, no color scheme. It will be great, trust me.” She stood and smirked. “How about a pretzel before shoes?”
“God, yes!” They walked to the register and Layla whipped out Calvin's card. “Wait, how much are these?”
“Cheap. They were on clearance.” Layla shrugged. “Calvin said don't worry about it. We still need to get some jewelry, makeup and shoes. We aren't done yet.” She put her dress up on the counter and the cashier smiled at them brightly, her overly white teeth flashing in her face.
“Hi, y'all. Find what you were looking for?” She rang up the first dress and put it in a dress bag. It rang up at $49.99. Zoe took a slow breath and let it out.
“Yeah, we are good,” Layla smiled. “Give me your dress, Zoe.”
She handed it over and the woman scanned the tag. It was only $79.99. She let out a breath. Totally reasonable. The cashier took the card as Layla handed it over, and within a few minutes, they were done. She had a wedding dress. “Layla, this is nuts.”
“Yeah, but it's fun. How many women can say they got swept off their feet by their high school crush?” She sighed and pressed a hand to her chest. “It's just so romantic.”
Zoe smiled. “It is romantic.” They walked back to the food court and she moved directly to the pretzel shop. Layla was rambling about makeup and shoes and she found herself nodding and just waiting patiently to get her mouth on a snack. She groaned as she bit into the salty treat. “So good.” They ate in silence and as she took the last bite she muttered, “Where to next?”
Layla threw her hands up and sighed. “Have you been listening to me at all, Zoe?”
She flushed. “Um, no, I'm sorry. I was starving.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “Fine. We are going to the shoe store over there. You need some cute sandals to go with this. Then we are going to the makeup counter at Macy's and see what we can get. We should go to Victoria's Secret and get you some pretty stuff while we are at it.”
“Um, should we be talking about lingerie?” Her eyes were wide.
“I'm not a virgin- I'm seventeen- and I know you and my brother are screwing. You need pretty stuff. It is just how it is.” Layla shrugged matter-of-factly.
“Okay.” She took the last drink of lemonade. “Lead on then.”
They went into the DSW shoe store down the mall from the food court and found a pair of pale pink sandals with pearls and sparkles that Layla deemed perfect. Finally, they hit Victoria's secret, which proved to be an incredibly awkward experience. She ended up leaving the store with a new strapless bra to go with the dress, matching underwear and a few pieces of lingerie that Layla insisted she buy. They were finally done and she was exhausted. It was bordering on six PM. They headed out to the car and began the long drive home.
Layla was silent for most of the ride, which was a welcome relief from her chatter. She finally broke the silence. “Are you happy, Zoe?”
“Yeah, I am,” she replied with a smile. “I'm really happy.”
“Good. I am glad.” Layla smiled. “I've wanted my brother to be with you forever. Do you remember a soccer game he had? I sat with you and Callie. She was such a bitch to me, but you talked to me the whole time.”
Zoe nodded. “I remember that. God, that's been so long ago, hasn't it?” She smiled softly.
Layla nodded. “It's been years. But I always liked you more than her. I guess he just had to grow up and see how awesome you were.”
Zoe blushed. “Thanks, Layla.” They were just a few miles outside of Major and her chest tightened. “You know? I think that I'll be glad to leave here for a while.”
“I can understand that,” she said quietly. “It gets old.” They finished the rest of the ride in silence, both of them in their own little world. She pulled up in the driveway and Layla climbed out, stretching her arms high. “Come on.” She pulled their dresses and shoes out of the back of the car.
Zoe shook her head. “I am gonna go over to my house for a little while. I want to get a few things of mine and my mom's. I just want a few minutes to myself, that okay?”
Layla looked at her curiously. “You sure?”
Zoe nodded. “Yeah. I'm fine, if that's what you are worried about. There are just a few things of my mom's I want for tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Layla said slowly.
“I'll be back in like thirty minutes. Does that make you feel better?”
“Yeah, it does.” She started toward the house. “Thirty minutes. Or I'm coming to get you.”
Zoe waved and backed down the drive, driving the few minutes to her old house. The place looked barren as she drove up in the drive. She shivered as she stepped out and walked up the porch. I'll miss this place, she thought. But there is nothing left here for me. She walked into the door and headed to her bedroom, pulling a couple of suitcases out from the closet. She started packing her clothes in them. She went to the basement and found a couple boxes to put her toiletries and some trinkets she wanted to save in. Everything else would stay. She dug in her closet, finding the box that held everything left of her mother. She sat down on her bed and pulled the lid off the small shoebox. She smiled as she found the silver and sapphire chandelier earrings her mother had so loved. She squeezed them in her hand and closed her eyes. She touched the pictures in the box and a smile kissed her lips as tears filled her eyes. “God, Mama, I miss you.” She lifted her prized quilt off her bed and folded it carefully before sliding it in the box.
She sighed and stood up, placing the shoebox into the big box. She slid the earrings into her purse. She heard a knock at the door and saw Layla standing there, her arms crossed over her chest. “You have been here forty-five minutes.” She came in the door and tapped her foot on the tile.
“Sorry, I got caught up looking at my Mama's stuff. Wanna see her earrings? I want to wear them tomorrow.”
Layla's face softened moderately. “Yeah. I'd like that.” She led her back to her bedroom and pulled the silver jewelry out of her purse. “Oh, these are pretty,” she said, holding them up and jingling them slightly. “They will be beautiful on you.”
Zoe sighed. “I guess I'm supposed to be staying with y'all the next couple days.”
Layla nodded. “I can help you tote this stuff back. I'm in Grams' car.”
“Okay.” Zoe replied. She zipped the suitcases and handed one to Layla, who toted it out the door. She took a last look around her childhood bedroom. This is it. Layla came back in and grabbed a box.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said softly, for the first time in a very long time actually meaning it. “I'm good.” She lifted her suitcase and followed Layla out, turning the lights off in the house for the last time. She locked the door behind her and put the keys under the doormat. As she took the first step off the porch, she felt like she was leaving her old life and all the pain behind. It's time for a fresh start. Layla had already started Grams' old Cadillac and was waiting patiently for her to get in the little rental car. She stuck the suitcase in the back and climbed in, starting the car.
They drove back to Calvin's grandparents house, Layla leading. Once they arrived, she parked and climbed out. “What should I take in with me?”
Layla shrugged. “Your stuff? Calvin has plenty of space in his room. We want you to be comfortable. Come on.” She grabbed a suitcase and
climbed up the stairs to go inside. Zoe picked up her suitcase and followed. Grams was asleep in the recliner and she moved quietly through the living room so she didn't wake her. Layla had already flipped the lights on in Calvin's room and was putting her suitcase down as she came in. “See? Plenty of room.”
The room was small, with a queen sized bed shoved against the wall, a plaid comforter in blue and green covering it, the room was spotless, no mess anywhere. A tall oak dresser was against one wall and had a small TV sitting on top. A desk with a computer was against another wall, the computer antiquated and yellowed with age. His closet was in the corner, and stood empty except for his uniform. She sat her suitcase down against the wall and looked around a few more seconds.
“Stay here, I'll get the rest,” Layla said as she went out the door. She sat down on the bed and waited quietly. Layla came back in with the box and sat it on the floor. “There, you're moved in!” She hung the dress in the closet and put the shoes on a shelf.
Zoe laughed. “It's nuts.” She shook her head. “I can't believe it.”
Layla leaned against the wall and said, “Why don't you get a shower and then come to my room and we'll talk some more about the wedding?”
“You saying I stink?” Zoe sniffed her pits casually. “Oh God, I do stink.”
“Get a shower, and then come to my room. I'll leave the door open. The towels are in the cupboard by the sink.” She headed down the hall.
Zoe stood and rummaged through her suitcase, finding some pajamas and underwear. She got her body wash and shampoo out of the box, along with her deodorant and razor. She walked over to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She pulled the pink shower curtain back and turned the water to warm before stripping her clothes off and stepping under the spray. She felt like so much had happened since her early morning shower. She washed what felt like days of grime off of her skin. She shaved her armpits and made sure her legs were satiny still. She scrubbed until the water started running cold and guiltily shut it off. I just drained the hot water heater. Oops. She stepped out and dried herself off, braiding her hair and using one of Layla's hair elastics to finish off the end. She pulled on her pajamas and padded across to Calvin's room and put her toiletries away and her dirty clothes in the basket. She moved quietly down the hall to Layla's room. It was a typical teenager room, posters of shirtless guys all over the walls, and an explosion of pink and orange. It definitely suited her.
She was in her pajamas and she was at her desk in a hot pink computer chair. She looked up and smiled brightly. “Hey! Feel better?”
“Yeah, thanks. Where's Calvin?” She rubbed her forearm and yawned.
“Who knows? I'm sure he'll be back later. Let's talk about wedding stuff. I mean, it's kind of obvious I'm in it.” She smirked.
“Yeah.” Zoe nodded. “You're my maid of honor.”
“Awesome!” She pumped her fist in the air. “Wait, isn't Amy home?”
“Yeah, but she won't be in the wedding. She screwed Derek.” She sat down on Layla's bed and traced one of the hot pink flowers on the comforter with her fingertip.
“Jesus, that dude gets around, don't he?” She shook her head. “Well, I have been on social media, and I've let everyone know what to be wearing and what time. Grams said the wedding is at four.”
“Oh, okay. How many people are we talking about being there?” She picked at an invisible piece of lint on the comforter.
“Um, probably most of Major.” She shrugged a cocoa shoulder. “It's a good thing. Let it happen.”
“Okay,” she agreed. It was too late to do anything about it. She yawned again. “What time is it?”
Layla looked down at the computer screen. “Almost ten.”
“I hate to say it, but I'm going to bed.” She rubbed her eyes. “I've had enough for one day.”
“Okay,” Layla smiled. “I'll see you first thing in the morning. You gotta get your license at nine AM! You know where your birth certificate is, right?”
Zoe nodded. “Yeah, I got it tonight when I was at the house. See you then.” She padded down the hall to Calvin's room and closed the door behind her. She pulled his comforter back and slid between the cool sheets. She curled up on one of the pillows and took a deep breath. The bed smelled just like him. Exhaustion overtook her and she closed her eyes, falling into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Chapter Nineteen – Monday Evening (Calvin)
“Dude, what are we doing here?” Calvin asked
“You'll see,” Tim told him as he exited his car.
Calvin shook his head. What is the fool up to? He asked himself as he looked up at the building he walked towards. As Tim pushed the doors open, Calvin was met with the sounds of bowling balls rolling and bowling pins crashing. They were at the bowling alley. Tim led him through crowds of people until the finally reach the back corner of the building.
“About time you made it here,” Calvin heard someone say to Tim.
“Yeah, well, we had to make a pit stop on the way here.” Tim explained to him. Calvin was finally able to see who Tim was talking to.
“Lucas? What the hell are you doing here, man?” Calvin asked him giving his friend a hug.
“Oh, you know, just chilling and celebrating a friend of mine's engagement.”
Calvin stared blankly at Lucas for a while before realizing what he meant. “Wait a minute, I see what's going on here.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to catch on.” Tim told him. “We didn't have much time to plan, we know how much you like bowling, so I thought, why the hell not?”
“Still, you had enough time to get this whole section of the alley? How the hell did you pull that off?”
“Not without help,” A voice came from behind Calvin.
Calvin didn't even have to turn around to know who was behind him. “Seriously, Pops.”
“Did you really think I would let you sit around all day while your woman was out dress shopping?” Pops walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “So, I decided to call up Jimmy and get him to free up this side of the alley for you, then I called Tim up and told him to get all your friends here.”
“When did you get a chance to do all that? I thought you were in the house all day.”
“We have cordless phones, Calvin, remember? I went outside and called Jimmy this afternoon after I was sure you two were engaged.”
“You people and your connections.” Calvin shook his head.
“Well, come on, man,” Lucas said, “You're only gonna be a bachelor one more day. Get your shoes and let's bowl!”
“Like I can't bowl when I'm married?” He grinned.
“Sure, but it's not the same,” Pops laughed. “Right now you still own your balls.” After a couple of games of bowling, they called it a night. It was getting late. Pops yawned. “I'm gonna head home. See y'all later.”
Lucas hugged him. “Man, I'm so happy for you. Congratulations. She's a good girl. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding.” He hugged his friend back and smiled.
“Yeah, man, see you then.” Lucas waved as he left the bowling alley.
“Want some greasy bowling alley pizza?” Tim asked as they put the balls away.
“Sure man, I could go for some food.” They ordered a pepperoni pizza from the counter and old Mabel, who had been there for the last thirty years, put the pizza in for them, promising it would be ready in ten minutes. They ordered two Cokes and sat down at a table.
Tim took a long drink of his Coke. “Man, it's hard to believe how much shit has happened in the last few days. It's crazy.”
Calvin leaned back. “Tell me about it. If you had told me I'd be coming home on leave and be getting married to Zoe Parker, I would have told you that you were nuts. But I think it's the best damn thing that's ever happened. I just... I'm happy, man.”
Tim nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. Both of y'all deserve some happiness.”
Calvin rubbed his forehead. “Once we get out to Colorado, I h
ave so much to do, sign her up for insurance, and find an apartment before I go. It's all just so fast. But I couldn't leave her here as just my girlfriend, her waiting for me to get the chance to come back. I knew I didn't want this to end.”
Tim smiled. “A rare case of a summer romance actually going into fall.”
“Yeah,” Calvin smiled. “I guess it is.” Mabel brought over the pizza and smacked the tray on the table. She tossed some napkins down beside the greasy pizza.
“Here y'all go. Enjoy.” She waddled back toward the kitchen and Tim shook his head as he lifted a dripping slice of pizza.
“To summer romances that actually stay hot long into winter.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Calvin laughed and picked up a slice. “To summer romances.” They ate the pizza in silence for a few moments before Calvin spoke up. “Hey man, would you be my best man?”
Tim touched a hand to his chest and rolled his eyes skyward. “My man, I never thought you'd ask!”
Calvin laughed. “Stop clutching your pearls and get it together.”
“Me and my pearls will be at the church tomorrow.”
“For the love of God, dress decent, man.” Calvin waved his hand at his now grease stained white polyester shirt.
Tim looked down and shrugged. “You forget who my cousin is, man. I'll be stylin'.”
Calvin shook his head. “That's what I'm worried about. No pimp hats or canes.”
“Damn it man! Ruin all my fun.” They finished the pizza and stood to leave. “Let me get you home. Sorry the bachelor party wasn't more tits and ass.”
Calvin laughed. “It's cool man, I'm happy. It was great. Thanks a lot.” They left the bowling alley and Tim drove him home. He walked up the driveway and opened the door gently. The house was quiet and he didn't want to wake anyone up. Both Grams and Pops had gone to bed and the only light he saw was from Layla's room. He knocked on the door gently.
“Yeah?” She called.
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