“I love that idea.” My face lights up.
“Hey babe,” I say to Trent. He turns around with a goofy mask on that looks like some sort of werewolf.
“Let's get out of here and head to the thrift store,” I say laughing.
“I see nothing here I want to wear and neither does Andrea,” Amy says toward Matt and Trent.
“You're sure about this? What are we even going to find at a thrift store?” Matt asks confused.
“We can get creative. Come on, Mom and Dad have the girls for a bit. I really don't want to be stuck to a few options,” Amy tells him with a hand to her hip. Love the sass in this girl.
“If we don't find anything there, we can always come back and see what we want to do,” I tell them both, trying to be agreeable for everyone.
Trent walks up smiling after putting the mask away. “Whatever you want to do, sweetheart, is fine with me,” he says giving me a sweet kiss.
“Thank you,” I whisper against his lips.
“Come on Matt, let's see what we can find there. Never know, we might strike gold and put the party to shame,” Amy says, squeezing her husband’s arm.
“Alright, but I really hope we find something worthwhile,” Matt says a little grumpily. I feel like we just pulled him out of the big toy store before he got to play with what he likes. Some boys never totally grow up.
***
Pulling down Telegraph over to Ford Road, we head to The Salvation Army. Hopefully we can find something creative to wear. I've heard they are pretty great parties, but this will be my first one so I want to leave a good impression on Trent's family and colleagues. Some may already see me as a little loose since we haven't been together long and I'm knocked up. I don't really care though. We know what we have means more than that, so I don't care what anyone else thinks. Let them think what they want to.
Parking, we all jump out of Amy’s minivan and head in. Trent grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles sweetly as we walk in together, winking at the bright smile I give him. He makes me so happy, and he really is just downright irresistible.
Once inside, Amy pulls me over to the women's section while the guys go check out...well whatever they are going to check out.
“Alright girl, what do you think?” Amy says, holding up a pair of high top tennis shoes.
“I think we just took a step back in time,” I tell her laughing. “We could always work an 80s theme.”
“Oh my God! Yes, that's a brilliant idea,” she says, grabbing my face and kissing my cheek dramatically.
I pull back laughing, letting out a little snort from her excitement and over the top gesture. She really is a lot of fun, I love being around her. She just has this “let's do it” attitude that I love.
I've always been on the shier side, so it's fun to have someone to bring the fun out with.
“I guess 80s it is,” I tell her, clapping my hands and thumbing through the racks of clothes. Noticing that some of these items literally cost a few dollars makes me so much more relaxed in my browsing. I can custom fit any of these items for a costume.
Pulling a few big sweatshirts off the rack, I hold them up to me. I really like this gray one and this white one. An idea of what I want to do pops in my head.
“Amy, I think I'm going to go with the Flashdance theme costume. Is that 80s enough for you?” I ask while holding up the gray sweatshirt.
Her mouth drops as she runs over. “Holy crap, yes! That's perfect! Now I gotta figure out a good 80s film to follow after since you went that route. I knew this was a great idea.”
I get a great idea. I'm just not sure that Amy will go for it, or how sexy she's wanting to dress.
“What would you say to dressing like Lisa from Weird Science?” I ask Amy with my hands together up to my chin. I'm gritting my teeth waiting for her to answer.
Her eyes get big and her mouth opens and closes. “That's pretty great, and she was pretty as hell! Not sure Matt will let me go dressed like, well what would I be dressed like?” she asks with a pondering look.
I think hard about what would make people know it was her. Oooh, this will be good.
“Remember when she dresses like the gym teacher in the movie? You don't have to make it as sexed up as she does to pull it off,” I reassure her while having the perfect vision in my head.
“Let's go see if we can find some black leotards. We can get tights ourselves,” I tell her while grabbing her hand to drag her over.
“Let's get you a tank top and we can get those iron on letters to put on for the Phys. Ed. part of it. And those high tops. We both need those, so let's find our sizes next,” I say as I thumb through the random racks of clothes for what I need.
Both of us are set with our shoes, leotards, sweatshirts, and a few bigger pair of pants for me to wear when I get bigger and can't wear my own. The guys come up to us grinning. They both look at each other and then back to us with worried looks on their faces.
“We found our costumes,” I say smiling. “Did you now, sweetheart?” Trent pulls me close.
“Yep, we decided we are going with an 80s theme,” Amy says on a little excited hop.
“Oh, is that so?” Matt says on a nervous laugh.
“You two wouldn't be planning to try and pull us into your little scheme would you?” asks Trent, winking down at me.
With a sly look and an idea in my head, I look over to Amy. She nods her head adamantly.
“I do believe we just may be able to pull you in with us,” I say, looking up to Trent and squeezing his waist.
“I have the perfect costume for you, handsome. How about a little Risky Business?” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.
“You mean...you mean like Tom Cruise? That one…that Risky Business?” Trent asks, squinting his eyes.
“That very one,” I say, kissing him sweetly and then pulling back to look up at him sweetly. I bat my eyelashes at him to get him to concede.
“And what would be the 80s costume you have chosen?”
Laughing, I answer simply. “Flashdance of course.”
Giving me a pointed but heated look, he leans down to my ear. “You're trying to kill me, aren't you?” he says as he brushes his lips against my ear making me shiver.
“I am just thinking of you in a long button down shirt, sunglasses, underwear, and socks and I am fanning myself over here,” I say, stepping back and fanning my face with my hands. Damn hormones are making me a walking disaster, especially around him.
“Matt, since Amy is dressing as Lisa from Weird Science, I think I have the perfect idea for your costume,” I say, looking to Matt. Amy gives me a confused look and I don't think she has quite caught on yet.
“Well,” I say to enlighten them while clapping my hands together. “Remember when Gary and Wyatt made Lisa in the movie? They wore bras on their head?”
Amy’s face lights up at the idea in my head.
“Oh my...yes! I love it, Andrea. Maybe we can get one of your friends to catch on with this idea to go with our costumes, honey,” she says to Matt.
“So all I have to do is wear a bra on my head? Heck ya, I can do that,” Matt says, laughing and high fiving Trent. Trent just laughs back. “Seems easy enough.”
“Alright guys, let’s go grab the things we can for your costume.” I grab Trent’s hand and pull him down the aisle.
This party may just be pretty fantastic after all.
“TRENT, I’LL BE having a lunch meeting today in the conference room. You're more than welcome to join,” Uncle Henry says, poking his head in the office.
“Okay, I'm just going over this case here for Mr. Lee and trying to keep myself up to date with everything so that I can assist you better,” I tell him.
“I actually think this meeting would be pretty helpful then. We are meeting about that case. I could use your smarts here too and that gut instinct you have so well that makes you perfectly cut out for this job.”
“You just let me know when you are ready, Uncle Henry, and
I will be there,” I say with a mock salute.
Walking into the big office for this lunch meeting, I'm not sure what to expect or why this is even being held. It sounds important and has my curiosity definitely peaked. I sit down next to Uncle Henry and grab myself a sub off the platter on the table.
“We are just waiting for Mr. Avery to join us. I think he's important for our side of this case,” Uncle Henry informs me.
My eyebrows draw together in confusion, I look to him. “Is there something wrong with the case? Or are you just needing extra alliances to make sure it goes smoothly?”
“Well, I guess you could say both. Something is off with this case. I feel it. I know you have really just started with this one and I hope you can form a better opinion and feeling from this meeting. I'm going to need you with me on this one, Trent. I don't want anyone else to know too much about it. It's a delicate situation I think.”
Nodding, I take a bite and chew on that little tidbit.
The door opens and a tall guy about late 20s to early 30s steps in. He looks like he could be related to our family. Definitely got some Italian blood and our darker features.
“Ahh, thank you for joining us, Mr. Avery,” Uncle Henry says while standing to shake his hand.
“Please, call me Carter. The pleasure is all mine and I’m glad to be an alliance to each other,” he says, shaking back.
“This is my nephew Trent. He is my right hand man here while he finishes up school,” he says, patting me on the back.
Carter moves over to me and sticks out his hand. “It's good to meet you, Trent. Glad to have another man on board for this,” he says as I shake his hand firmly.
“Likewise,” I say. “Although I'm not entirely up to speed, I'm sure this meeting will help with that.”
“That it will. I am a homicide detective for Wayne County. I have been keeping some tabs on this case for some time now and watching from the sidelines, so to speak. This case with Mr. Lee goes very deep and into some deep pockets of some not so great people,” he informs me. “There seem to be many roadblocks right and left from where the men he's been involved with are concerned and the chain of command keeps changing. Any help we could give to each other would be both beneficial to your case and mine.”
Nodding, I let him proceed.
“Mr. Lee has been on our radar for quite some time. He runs some shady things behind the facade of his jewelry store. We think he is doing some of this business for the Vega family, the Mexican Cartel.”
My face must give away my shock to this revelation because he nods his head and continues.
“He was taken into police custody for his involvement with the prostitution side and that's where you guys have come in as his legal counsel. We believe he could be in danger, as the Cartel wouldn't want any of the other things to come to light with all of this. I have been shadowing him. He doesn't know this of course, nor does he know who I am.”
I guess I should have looked, I mean really looked at Mr. Lee’s case. I figured this was cut and dry when he got out on bond.
Speaking up, I have to ask the question plaguing me. “So where does this leave us as his counsel? I mean, I am sort of blown away by all of this. Uncle Henry, were you aware of any of this,” I ask hesitantly. I'm not really sure I want to really know the answer to that.
“I did have my suspicions, yes, but how deep I had no idea,” he tells me while shaking his head.
“As long as you don't let anyone else know this information, you are both fine. I wanted to bring you in to knowing more about your client because we can help each other. I know you are wondering what you can help me with. Well, it's simple. Stay just as ignorant on the outside as you have been with regards to Mr. Lee. Just go with what he tells you. In the meantime, I will keep you updated as to where this is turning with the Cartel. If it goes bad, and I hope we can control the situation so that doesn't happen, but if it does then I want you protected,” he says this so pointedly like he is talking about going to dinner or a movie.
I am floored right now. Running my hand through my hair, I stand and pace the room.
Turning and placing my hands on the back of my chair, I angle myself to Carter. “How exactly are you shadowing him?” I ask.
“I am integrating myself with you guys. I will be a friend or associate to anyone who questions why I am around. I will also be spending time following Mr. Lee or another detective, possibly my partner, will when I am with you. I don't want my identity known or this will blow it all, do you understand?”
Nodding to Uncle Henry, who in turn does the same, we both take a deep breath.
“Go about life as normal. I will check in and meet with you here and there as I have more information. I don't know what will come down with all this and being informed is the best way to be when you are involved with this client,” Carter explains.
“I will be in touch Henry,” he says, shaking my uncle’s hand. Turning to me, he does the same and turns to walk out the door.
***
I'm almost done getting ready for the Halloween party and can’t wait to go pick up my girl. I let her get ready at her place and told her I would pick her up since her costume is going to take a whole lot more to get ready than mine will. Plus, I'm not going to be drinking tonight anyway. It's a party, of course you will.
She can't and I won't make her feel that I can't support her by having a good time with her sober. I'll do my best.
I still can't believe we are going to have a baby. I am actually looking forward to Andrea getting a little bigger so I can see the bump that is our baby. It's so unreal right now when she still looks the same. She has a radiance about her that's different, but I've always seen that in her. God, her being by my side is going to help me move up that ladder. People will see me as a serious up and coming attorney, a family man.
I do love her, I do. My love will grow with time, the plan is solid. She's just naive enough for me to keep my life going without many hiccups. I'll provide for us both very comfortably and we will be happy.
My phone rings. Smiling, I grab it as I'm getting my shoes on and grabbing my keys. I answer it quickly without looking. “I'm on my way, sweetheart. Miss me already?”
“Yes, I've been missing you for a long time now Trent.”
Marissa.
“What do you want Marissa?”
Annoying giggles that grate on my nerves come through the line. “Wait, you were coming to get me? I was just making sure I would see you tonight at Henry’s party.”
“Uh yes, I will be there. He’s my family and I’m there every year. I will be there with Andrea and I'm not sure it's such a great idea you are there.”
A maniacal laugh comes down the line. I sit and wait for her to calm down as my blood pressure rises. This girl has some serious nerve.
“My patience is running thin, Marissa. I am on my way to pick up Andrea for the party and I am really hoping that you don't feel the need to crash my uncle’s party. Wait, let me rephrase that. If you are considering coming to the party tonight, I would advise against it.”
“Oh Trent,” she says as if I just said the cutest thing.
“Of course I will be there...it is something I attend every year as well. Remember? This was our big night as a couple. You would have a few drinks and take me away to spend some time giving me a good ride,” she says breathlessly as if the memory has her turned on right now.
“Cut the crap, Marissa! I don't know what game you're trying to play at but you know that won't be happening. This is my life and I won't have you fucking it up for me. I made it very clear where I stand with you and that my relationship with Andrea is everything to me and what I need. She has given me something I didn't know I needed, a life and love that's real and raw. Something you would know nothing about. I'm just a good time to you. A game. Right now your feathers are ruffled that you aren't in her position. You never will be and I'm making that clear. You aren't the wholesome girl that portrays the doting wife and mo
ther. That's what I need. You suck good cock, sweetheart, but that's all you're good for. You keep that little fucking mouth of yours shut and I'll feed you my cock when I can, nice and rough like you love it. Are we clear?”
There is sighing on the other end of the phone and a long pause. “Okay Trent, have it your way. You will see the error of your ways soon enough and come back where you belong. I will just wait...oh and let the story unfold shall we say,” she says on a giggle.
“And stay away from Andrea. She told me you cornered her at school. She didn't want to tell me. I had to get it out of her and I promised I would leave it alone. But I am warning you, Marissa, tread very carefully.”
“Trent, darling, I don't know what you mean. I simply congratulated her. She is so hormonal that she made something out of it that it wasn't. What a silly girl. I will leave her alone, Trent, it isn't her I want.”
And with that the line goes dead.
***
Andrea leaves her house when I pull up. She looks beautiful and literally takes my breath away.
My perusal of her starts at the top of her head and follows down to her shapely legs.
Her dark hair is pulled to the side in a ponytail with some sort of headband over her forehead and wrapped around her head. She is smirking at me, knowing exactly what I am doing and what she does to me.
Her gray sweatshirt hangs off one shoulder, where the strap of a black leotard shows underneath. Going lower, I see she has some shimmery looking tan tights on making her legs shine like a beacon for me to touch them. Her leg warmers go up her thighs and end about mid way. God, she is spectacular. And she is all mine.
Pulling open the door to my truck, she climbs in and kisses me sweetly. “Hey there, handsome, get your fill in on my walk to the car?” she asks, smirking while her cheeks tinge red.
“Oh, sweetheart, I've just begun to get my fill of you. These tights are like a light in the dark calling for me to touch and conquer,” I tell her as I rub my hand up her thigh.
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