by Pratt, Lulu
Back to my lonesome, I reached for my phone with excitement, eager to read the message.
And what is it that you wanted?
That was the question I was afraid to answer. It was just like him to ask boldly, rather than continuing to dance around the subject. My heart raced as I debated whether to be honest or mysterious. I knew guys liked to play the game of cat and mouse, but there never felt like a game needed to be played with Ford.
Although we were entering a new phase, there was nothing new about our relationship. I knew him, and he knew me, probably better than any guy I’d ever dated. We had a bond already, a rapport that made me comfortable despite the butterflies in my belly.
I’ll tell you the next time I see you. I pressed send with a grin on my face.
“And what are you cheesing about?” Jackie asked as she returned with the skirt suit folded over her arm.
“Huh? Nothing,” I lied, pretending she hadn’t caught me in the act.
“Yeah, I bet. Four letters long, starts with an F. Let’s go checkout so we can go,” she smirked, leading the way to the register.
It didn’t seem to matter where we were or what store we were in, Jackie always knew the way to the register, and today was no different. Together, we stood at the counter as the cashier took the security buzzers from each piece of clothing, remarking how cute the clothes were.
My phone buzzed just as Jackie handed the cashier her credit card. It was Ford again, this time he was even bolder. Where are you?
I’m at the mall with Jackie.
“Do you think we should check the sales in the basement?” Jackie asked.
“We already went down there!” I argued, watching the cashier chuckle.
“No, that was the first floor. They have all the really good deals down on the lower level,” she explained.
My phone vibrated again. Stay there. I’m coming to get you.
His boldness didn’t shock me. He had always been upfront about any and everything. It was one of the many things I liked about him. Now, being the attraction he was after, I felt like the most important girl in the world.
“How about you go down there and I head back?” I asked.
“What? Head back where? I drove,” Jackie inquired as she accepted the long receipt from the cashier with instructions about how to enter a drawing by completing a survey.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine,” I assured her.
Jackie crossed her arms as she looked me up and down like a parent. “Oh, I know what you’re up to.”
“I’m not up to anything,” I lied, unable to stop the smile from spreading.
“Yeah, I bet,” she laughed, reaching into her bag. “Go and put this on,” she handed me a bright red fabric with yellow flowers printed on it. I’d watched her purchase it a few stores back. It was a flowing maxi dress that floated as you walked.
“No, Jackie,” I pushed the fabric back. “I can’t take this.”
“If you think my best friend is about to go out with her crush in an old T-shirt and cut-off shorts, you must not know me well.”
Glancing down, I noticed my outfit for what felt like the first time. Usually, I didn’t care, but when it came to meeting up with Ford, I did want to look my best. Jackie was always there to help me out in that department.
“Are you sure? I’ll wash it and give it back,” I promised, accepting the soft fabric.
“Consider it a birthday gift,” she smiled.
I hugged her tightly, thanking her for yet another gift with perfect timing. Jackie squeezed me tighter, whispering in my ear. “You just make sure you be safe, and I mean that in every way possible.”
“What is with you and these sex-ed warnings?” I joked as she released me.
“Hey, it’s what best friends are for!” She laughed before walking away, struggling to hold all her shopping bags. Looking at the beautiful dress in my hand, I was grateful for my best friend’s shopping habits for the first time in my life.
Chapter 20
FORD
SITTING IN MY car, I felt like a fool. Since moving home, I’d felt like a fraud – living two lives. After lying to my best friend about getting a call from work, I left him at the restaurant we’d had a late lunch at. The look on Marshall’s face tugged at my heart. He was proud that I was some big shot at the airport, when, in reality, I was leaving to meet his sister.
I knew it was wrong, and I tried to convince myself to abandon the whole mission. My text conversation with Charlotte had taken on a life of its own. When she said she would only tell me what she wanted for her birthday in person, I all but darted out of the restaurant.
She was even wittier over text. I’d always loved her quick banter, but with the new chemistry brewing between us, it was only better. Still, things were escalating too quickly. It was up to me to be the responsible one and end things before we crossed a line we couldn’t return from.
I was just about to text her and tell her some weak excuse about why I couldn’t make it, when she walked through the door from the mall. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, bouncing with every step. The red dress she wore waved in the wind like a kite. Red really was her color, because she looked amazing.
I climbed out of my car, abandoning my plan to leave as she glanced around until our eyes met. The excitement in her eyes was all the assurance I needed. I knew I’d made the right decision to stay and meet her.
The world stopped when I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her soft body pressed against mine. She smelled just as sweet as I remembered, her petite frame fitting nicely against my own. We embraced as though we were long lost friends, and in a way, I guess we were.
“You look,” I paused, stepping back as I took in her flowing dress, “older.”
Charlotte laughed, her cheeks turning a bright pink as she glanced down at her Chuck Taylor tennis shoes. Even in the fabulous dress, she still had her own flair, something I really liked about her.
“You know, I’m an adult now,” she smiled, half twirling to show off her dress.
“I do know. If you don’t remember, I was there at midnight,” I smiled, noticing our fingers were still interlocked.
“Now that you mention it, I do remember a handsome bearded man beside me,” she squinted as though the memory was far and we both laughed, allowing our touch to linger longer.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested, unsure of where we would go. Charlotte agreed instantly and we continued down the street, smiling at each other.
This behavior was nothing like me, and for a second I wondered what anyone driving past would think. I knew I looked like a teenager, prancing along with googly eyes, but I didn’t care. Charlotte made me feel young, like nothing else in the world mattered.
Brushing the thought aside, I decided to focus on the present and enjoy the moment. Walking hand in hand, we passed boutiques, staring in the windows as Charlotte explained how the city had changed so much in such a short time frame.
“This used to be a bar,” I remembered as we came across a high-end boutique. From the front window, all the apparel appeared to be white. T-shirts and dresses alike were bland with little design and minimal décor.
“Oh, this is a fashion line from Tokyo,” she explained, pointing through the window. “The clothes are pretty expensive, but Jackie swears they are the best quality.”
“And what about this place?” I asked, nodding to a colorful store. The border of the store was lined in pink pinstripes painted along the concrete border of the store.
“This is another of Jackie’s favorites,” she giggled. “Their stuff is too fancy for me.”
She blushed again, looking into the store with dreamy eyes. Much like the dress she was wearing, the store showcased flowing fabrics in bold colors. Taking her hand, I led her into the store as she playfully objected.
“Hi! Can I help you?” a cheery woman asked as we entered.
“Yes, she would like to see the most beautiful dress you have,” I a
nnounced as Charlotte giggled, hiding behind me nervously.
“Well, I’m not sure we can top what you’re wearing,” the woman motioned towards Charlotte’s dress. “But I can try. Come with me.”
Reluctantly, she released my hand, following the bright-eyed woman to the back of the store. I followed at a distance, too far to hear their conversation. But from the look on Charlotte’s face, she was having fun, laughing and smiling as she glanced over her shoulder at me.
A display of cool satchels caught my attention. I’d noticed a few of the mechanics at work carrying them and thought it would be a better solution for all the paperwork I had to carry in my new role. Every day, I had a folder of forms to look over from the previous day and a report to analyze before the morning meeting. I’d been using an older work bag that was overdue for an upgrade. Lifting the black leather bag, I tossed it over my shoulder while glancing in the mirror.
“That’s from our brother store a few doors down. We just started carrying a few male accessories because we’ve found couples tend to shop here together,” a woman said in passing. Moving so quickly, I didn’t have time to tell her we weren’t a couple, or maybe I just neglected to admit it.
“Okay, don’t look!” The woman announced, drawing my attention back to Charlotte as she hid something behind her back on her way to the changing rooms.
Playfully covering my eyes, I waited for her to pass before continuing to peruse the rack of satchels. The black leather bag was the most professional, so I decided it would work as my replacement.
“You can come and sit here for the show,” the saleswoman announced. While she may have been a bit too cheery for my liking, it was clear she loved what she did and was pretty good at her job.
“The show?” I repeated while sitting in the comfortable cushioned chair.
The woman smiled and walked away with a proud bounce in her step. Left alone, I scanned my emails for a second, making sure I hadn’t missed anything at work. Typically, my days off as a mechanic meant I completely unplugged. Now I was never totally off the clock.
Being responsible for so many people meant my mind was always working, checking up with repairs and following up on promised deadlines. In a way, I liked the new pressure added to my position. It was far from too much. I liked answering for a team of mechanics I believed in so much.
I’d just responded to an email requesting an update on a scheduled maintenance when the door swung open. Out stepped Charlotte, wearing a short and flirty white and pink dress that moved freely as she swayed her hips from one side to the other.
“Well, what do you think?” The woman appeared out of nowhere as I stared at Charlotte in awe. She was so beautiful.
“I think we’ll take it,” I answered without thinking.
“Ford! We don’t have to get it,” Charlotte objected. “These dresses are really expensive,” she added in a lower tone.
“It’s a birthday present,” I smiled, standing to end the debate. Charlotte watched me for a moment before turning around. As she walked to the dressing room she grumbled about everyone spoiling her with clothing before closing the door behind her.
“Trust me, it’s worth every penny. Did you see that smile on her face?” The saleswoman asked while leading the way to the cashier.
I was walking through the door with Charlotte when I noticed I never even checked the price of her dress. Handing over my credit card without question wasn’t something I did, but when it came to her, price didn’t matter. I wanted to give her the world, even if it was only one dress at a time.
We were nearing the end of the street when we stumbled upon a movie theater. It was a staple from my childhood, though I’d figured it had long ago been destroyed.
“Of all the places to make it through all the changes, I didn’t think this would be one,” I smiled, glancing up. “Want to catch a show?” I asked.
“Sure,” Charlotte shrugged.
Together, we looked at the listings, though it was clear that none of them stuck out to either of us. The theater didn’t show the latest releases, but instead classics. If I were alone, I would’ve aborted the mission. But there was no way I was letting my day with Charlotte end sooner than necessary.
“What about the black and white silent film?” she asked to my surprise. I hadn’t taken her for the type to be interested in a silent film.
Nodding, I turned to the attendant. “Two for the silent film,” I said, handing over my credit card without an idea of the cost.
Being with Charlotte was free in that way. Nothing mattered but the smile on her face. Watching her grin as she walked through the glass door to the theater, there wasn’t an ounce of regret in my body.
Chapter 21
CHARLOTTE
IT HAD BEEN so long since I had been to the movies. As I followed Ford, I remembered the last date I’d gone on that included the movie theater. I began to question if that was what this was. Could I really be on a date with Ford? The concept seemed impossible. Even if we were hanging out alone, it wouldn’t qualify as a date. It couldn’t, could it?
He was my brother’s best friend, the guy I fantasized about for years, my big crush. But now he was escorting me through the theater as our hands held onto each other as they had for the majority of the day. He was holding the bag containing the dress he’d bought for me. Ford Delvey had taken me shopping! It all felt like a dream.
“Do you want any snacks?” he asked, bringing me back to reality.
Ford was so handsome, his T-shirt barely containing the muscles I so badly wanted to wrap my fingers around. Although he looked so relaxed in his outfit, I was grateful Jackie had given me the dress to wear. I felt feminine and mature walking beside him as the soft chiffon fell against my skin.
“Oooh, they have Nerds,” I lit up at my favorite candy from childhood.
“We’ll have a box of Nerds, please,” Ford tapped the glass countertop and the cashier quickly retrieved the candy. I giggled to myself, making a mental note to be careful about revealing if I liked anything.
It seemed if I looked at anything for too long, Ford would purchase it, no matter the cost. I still couldn’t believe he had bought me such an expensive dress. I’d overheard Marshall saying how much of an important position he had at the airport. I figured he must be making a lot to be so carefree with money.
“Want some popcorn?” he asked.
“Only if you do. I can never finish a tub.”
“One large popcorn and a large Sprite.” He finished the order, reaching for his wallet as the attendant gathered our items.
Thankfully, we were given a holder, because our hands never did separate. We were attached, and I wanted it no other way.
“It’s going to be hard to find a seat,” I whispered sarcastically as we looked up at the empty theater. We were the only people there, which wasn’t much of a shock. I hadn’t expected a large turnout for a silent black and white film in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. It was part of the reason I chose it, hoping it would give us some alone time.
“Here’s good,” Ford suggested as we made our way to two seats in the middle.
As though waiting for us to choose our seats, the theater dimmed instantly as we sat down. The first preview was for a movie I’d seen in high school, but apparently it would be playing at the theater the following weekend.
We watched in silence, awkwardly play fighting with our elbows over the shared armrest. The second preview appeared, which was another black and white film. As it began, I wondered if I’d made a bad choice, the idea of sitting in complete silence for two hours suddenly felt daunting. Just being so close to Ford left my heart pounding so hard I feared he could hear it.
“You know,” he leaned over, whispering. “We’re the only people here. We don’t have to pretend it’s a packed theater.”
A smile spread across my face at his decision, certain I’d made the right one. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to sit in silence,” I admitted as relief rushed ove
r me.
“I don’t think I could stay quiet. I’ve got to know about your new job,” he smiled.
“Oh, about that,” I looked down, the nerves returning.
“What? Did something happen?” Concern covered his face as he turned to face me.
“No, no,” I shook my head. “It’s just,” I bit my bottom lip, searching for the words. I’d been trying not to think of the pressure I would soon be under.
“Spit it out, Lottie. Sorry, Charlotte.”
“Next week, I start displaying my work,” I blurted out. It had been the source of my anxiety for days. After a few days of training, the program forced us into the fire.
“What’s the problem with that?” He looked genuinely confused.
“They say it’s for the toughest feedback we can receive – the customer’s true opinion. But, what if no one wants to buy my cakes?” I spoke about the fear that had been stirring in my stomach since I learned of the challenge.
“Are you kidding? Your fans are going to be lined up to buy your art,” he frowned.
“My art?” I smiled. No one else ever referred to my creations as art other than me.
“That’s what it is.” He shrugged as if it was common sense. “I’ll tell you something,” he leaned in. “I created an Instagram account just so I could follow your work.”
“Really?” I asked, feeling the heat in my cheeks.
“Yep. I couldn’t believe how good you were when I saw your page.”
“What’s your Instagram handle?”
“I’m not telling,” he shook his head seriously.
“What do you mean?” I shrieked, nudging him with my elbow. I quickly spun around and saw that we were still alone.
“It’s not like I’m going to post anything. I just wanted to see your posts,” he reasoned. Still, I wanted to know his handle. Ford wasn’t the type to post on social media – I was shocked he even created an account. I was flattered he joined just to see my page.
“Well, since you’re not going to post about your life, you’ll have to tell me in person,” I said. Ford’s brows furrowed together as he watched me closely. “Marshall told me you’re practically running the airport,” I teased.