Tripping On Love

by Carrie Stone

'Stop messing about; hurry and get ready.'

  Rushing from the room, I briefly caught sight of my beloved pearl drop earrings from beneath her golden hair. I thought I had hidden those?

  Throwing open my drawers and wardrobe, I surveyed my options. It was the one night I needed to look stunning. Carl's thirtieth birthday party was to be a big occasion. Everyone we knew would be attending. Including Will.

  My new body cinching red dress stared temptingly at me from its hanger. A whim purchase bought after the split. Not at all my style. Primary red, a low neck and clinging in all the right places, it had made me feel powerful and sexy in the store changing room. Yet it hadn't seen the outside of my wardrobe since. Tonight I would need to be confident and strong. I wanted to show Will that I was a new me. That I had moved on.

  Will was my handsome ex-fiancé of six years who had left me for a weasel faced tart, by the name of Amanda, coincidentally a childhood friend of Mel’s. Their friendship had come to an abrupt end last summer, when Amanda had openly told Mel that she wanted to fuck Will. Completely unaware of the conversation, I had been busy in the kitchen, cooking the three of us my signature dish. Had Mel informed me of this before frying the garlic, I would have happily added a touch of arsenic and watched as Amanda's spiteful face turned purple.

  It was only as it neared Christmas and Will had told me that he had fallen for someone else, in the form of Amanda, that Mel confessed to the snide comment and her reason for pulling away from the friendship.

  I'd been trying to mend my broken heart ever since.

  Reaching for the red dress, I carefully slipped it over my head. It was time to be bold. My long brunette hair fell against the silky fabric, as I gently manoeuvred the dress downwards, until it sat a couple of inches above my knees. It was tighter than I recalled, hugging snugly against my small waist.

  Mel appeared in the doorway holding out a glass of wine in my direction.

  'Wow you look stunning' she said eyeing me from head to toe. 'Will's going to kick himself when he sees you and realises what he's missing out on.'

  I shuddered at hearing his name. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I hardly recognised the person staring back at me. I looked sexy and domineering. Two things I would never have associated with myself. My trial make-up session aiming for the smoky eyed image, had worked. As had the previous nights fake tanning session. My bronzed limbs glowed healthily, accented by the bright tone of the dress.

  'Drink up, we've got to leave soon. Change the shoes too. They're far too clunky. Actually, I have just the pair' Mel said, excitedly rushing from the room and leaving my wine glass balanced precariously on an upturned book.

  Minutes later she thrust a pair of delicate, black strappy heels into my hand.

  'Try them; 1940's, partial dyed snakeskin and calf leather, size four.'

  I felt like Cinderella as I slipped on the magnificent creation. They fitted perfectly.

  'My goodness, I love them' I exclaimed, happily looking down to admire my feet. They made the dress look chic and classy.

  Mel knocked back the last of her wine.

  'Be careful with them, those shoes are worth £150 to me' she warned with a slight slur, reaching for her lipstick and adding a final layer.

  A Taxi horn beeped loudly outside the house. It was time to face the music. On this occasion, not quite so much in a literal way as I would have liked. I looked down one last time, mentally assessing whether it was worth potentially ruining £150 shoes, in order to kick Will hard in the bollocks for the pain he had caused?

  I smiled to myself, adrenaline coursing through me at the thought. Of course it was.

  CHAPTER SIX

  'Do you think they’re already here?' I asked, glancing sideways at Mel. We’d only just arrived at Carl’s house, but the party was well under way. I watched as Mel immediately helped herself to a large glass of wine. She was a woman on a drinking mission. If she carried on then tonight would end in a very drunken state, and that meant two things: tears and doner meat. I would have to keep my eye on her; my heels were definitely not made for walking around in the early hours, searching for a takeaway joint.

  'Who are you referring to?' she asked confused, her eyes starting to glaze over. Her attention shifted towards the makeshift bar area, where a scruffy bearded man was impressing a handful of onlookers with cocktail shaking skills. He had an air of University Professor about him. Very much Mel’s type. She groaned suddenly.

  'Please do not utter the names Will or Amanda again, or I will refuse to talk to you for the rest of the evening.'

  'Will and who?' I did my best to look innocent. Five minutes of talking on any one topic, and Mel's butterfly mind was already floating off to a new horizon. The ten minute Taxi journey discussing my emotions about the pair had clearly pushed the butterfly boundary.

  'Would you like a cocktail?' she asked, snatching my near full glass from my hand. 'We need re-fills' she said, indiscreetly pouring the remainder of the wine I'd been enjoying into a nearby pot plant.

  'That guy over there by the bar – he’s looking just the person to fill me up tonight' and with a smirk, off she sauntered to the bar.

  I watched in amusement, looking around casually and hoping to catch sight of someone I knew. It was less than a few moments of standing alone when I became aware that the person with their back to me had a very familiar shake of his head. Will.

  Breathing in sharply, my heart thudded, threatening to burst from my chest in shock. Spinning around in the opposite direction, I raised my hand to my forehead in a hope to conceal myself and walked away quickly, almost colliding into someone coming towards me.

  'Sorry' I lowered my hand from my face and looked up with an apologetic smile. Amanda stood smirking at me.

  I gasped, wide eyed as I took in her new appearance. The blunt haircut, a thick razored fringe flicking randomly, where she evidently hadn’t yet figured how to style it properly, made her face appear more rounded. Her make-up was applied thicker and more garish than I remembered her to wear it. Eye liner clogged in the corners of her eyes, and luminous orange lipstick accentuated lips, if they could be called that, which had seen copious amounts of Collagen. She vaguely resembled a trout.

  It seemed that Will's entry into her life had created as much of an impact on her appearance, as it had his departure from my life.

  Shaking with nerves, I tried to keep my voice in a calm and even tone of surprise.

  'Amanda?' I said, pausing for effect and furrowing my forehead ever so slightly in disbelief.

  She eyed me coolly and self consciously, my new image not lost on her.

  'Hello Elizabeth.'

  It appeared she also found it harder to talk through her absurd monstrous lips.

  Ignoring my racing pulse I smiled warmly, momentarily catching her off-guard. Judging by her upturned lip she was preparing for a showdown - unless the Collagen had suddenly taken retreat into one corner of her mouth.

  'Goodness, I almost didn’t recognise you for a moment there' I allowed my gaze to gently float up and down her body, fully aware she was unsure how to react. I stopped as my eyes met her face again.

  'Love the lips. Did you get them on special offer?' She blushed furiously as I continued with my condescending tone. 'Buy one procedure, get one procedure free? I wouldn’t have gone back for seconds though, if I were you. They’re rather too pronounced now, unfortunately.’ I watched as her cheeks continued to deepen in their crimson hue.

  'And let me guess - your hairdresser told you that a thick fringe would accentuate your high cheekbones?'

  Seizing the opportunity, I leaned in closer to her ear. 'I think she was trying to subtly draw attention away from your lips. Doesn’t work though, but bless her for trying.'

  Amanda stood open mouthed and speechless as I turned in victory, and slowly sashayed away, with as much sassiness as I could muster. Aware that my back was turned to her, I hunched my shoulders slightly, bracing myself for a possible outburst of attac
k. None came.

  The months of daydreaming what I would say if I had the chance of meeting Amanda filtered into my mind. I'd screamed endlessly at mirrors; furiously scribbled out faces on photos of resembling figures, and on one occasion shamefully decapitated my nephew's teddy bear, after Stella had offered it as an Amanda voodoo doll.

  I felt like I was on an emotional high. Thanks to her inspiring lips and hair, I’d been able to make as clear a dent in her pride, as she had in mine by stealing my fiancé. Admittedly without her new appearance to pick fault with, I would have struggled with knowing how best to react to the situation. But things had planned out perfectly. I couldn’t wait to tell Mel.

  I found Mel in the large kitchen, talking with friends. All ears pricked to attention as I excitedly relayed my confrontation with Amanda.

  Three consecutive, celebratory alcoholic shots later, news on the grapevine travelled back to us that both Amanda and Will had made an early exit from the party. Much to my relief.

  Mel had taken the celebratory shots for my Amanda victory a little too far. It wasn't long before she was rounding up those in the kitchen to dance the Conga. Too polite and perhaps a little too drunken ourselves to decline the rambling, crazy Latino, we formed a wobbly line and took cue as Mel pelted out song lyrics, laughing hysterically.

  It was somewhere between kicking out my left leg and bringing it back towards me, that I locked eyes with the man standing in the kitchen doorway, looking amused. I quickly scrambled out of my position behind Mel, to straighten my dress and act as if I had been caught in intelligent conversation, as opposed to making a tit of myself dancing.

  The man moved towards me and grabbed my waist without warning. I tried to resist as his firm hands fixed securely on my hips, but as I looked over my shoulder into his eyes I knew I’d never stand a chance.

  I blushed with embarrassment as he gaily proceeded to Conga with me around the kitchen, Mel and the others taking the opportunity to attach themselves to our newly formed 'train'. After much conscious laughter and three more leg kicks, we collapsed against the nearby counter top. His hands disconnected from my body and my palms began to feel sweaty at the sudden awareness that he was moving around, to stand directly facing me.

  'Well well, you certainly know how to move those hips don’t you' he said in a voice deep and sexy, with a hint of playfulness. I felt myself flush as I looked properly at his face for the first time.

  Sparkling deep blue eyes bore intently into my own, as if able to read my soul. A pronounced strong jaw gave him a rugged edge; yet the soft laughter lines around his mouth and eyes told me that he wasn't the moody, dark, stranger his looks depicted. Dressed in jeans and a white collarless shirt, baring a hint of a broad, tanned chest; he was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. Very much husband material. I held his gaze.

  'I guess that's because it’s not every day I get to dance around with a gorgeous man attached to me.' I bit down on my lip.

  Where had that quick and witty retort come from? Usually I was a tongue tied mess around any man remotely handsome and flirtatious. Even Mel looked impressed and raised a discreet eyebrow in encouragement.

  Laughing, he propped his elbow against the counter and angled himself in closer towards me, our sides almost touching.

  'I'm Edward, a business acquaintance of Carl's.' He reached out to take a sip of the glass of wine set down on the work surface. Wine. Not beer. A man with a finer taste for life.

  'Carl and I were in a business meeting earlier and he mentioned he was hosting a party this evening, so I thought I’d check it out. More so out of politeness than pleasure' he admitted with a small shrug of his shoulders. Good manners too, I noted.

  Teasing, he reached out to poke my arm. 'It's lucky I did though, huh. Or else I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of meeting such a lovely a woman as yourself.' Very smooth. He certainly knew how to charm. Perhaps a little too much so? I smiled despite myself.

  'Of course. Who wouldn't want to meet a catch like me?' I joked.

  Will's face flashed before my eyes, reminding me that there was certainly one person who didn't think I was first prize. I felt my happiness cloud over. Edward's intense eyes narrowed, catching my expression. A questioning look passed across his face.

  ‘So miss wiggly hips, where is your boyfriend tonight?’

  Unable to meet his gaze, I lowered my eyes. His intense stare was making me nervous. My aloof, quirky resolve was rapidly beginning to evade me, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed. Forcefully plastering a smile across my face, I was aware that it didn’t quite reach my eyes.

  'You mean the ex fiancé that traded me in for a more surgically enhanced model a few months back?' I said with as light and humorous a tone as I could manage.

  'He left already. So I'm here on my lonesome' I winked at him and took a large gulp of my wine. More so to calm the bitterness that had arisen in my throat, and was threatening to make an ugly appearance.

  Edward's eyes twinkled in my direction, unnerving me. He could see straight through me, not buying into my blasé comment. I blushed taking another gulp of wine.

  'Oh and whilst miss wiggly hips may have been intended as a compliment, I can’t help visualizing images of a baby elephant, so I would prefer if you called me Lizzie' I tried lightening the tone. 'Or Elizabeth, if you'd prefer to be formal.'

  'Lizzie it is then' he said running his hand up towards his wavy dark hair. Clean, manicured nails. One trait that most men overlooked. Time and again my mother had insisted that clean nails bore an insight to the person. For once I was willing to agree with her.

  He looked down towards his wrist watch, an understated Cartier, his jaw tightening in dismay.

  'Listen Lizzie, I know this is short and sweet but I only popped in for a quick look. I really hadn’t planned on meeting anyone and regrettably I’ve made other plans for this evening.'

  Regrettably? He certainly was a smooth talker. My heart began to dance inside my chest. I couldn’t tell if it was from excitement or disappointment.

  He lowered his voice a little, his eyes shifting in the direction of Mel and the others, aware that they were indiscreetly lending one ear to our conversation.

  'If you'd be willing, I'd very much like to take your number so I can call you sometime to arrange dinner or drinks?'

  His question hung between us and my heart dance sped up by ten paces in my chest. He was asking for my number. Mr charming but gorgeous was asking for my number.

  Thankfully in my speechless, shell-shocked moment, Mel stepped in, her hand already fishing in her bag for a business card. Edward caught my eye and an unsaid look of acknowledgement, that Mel had overhead, passed between us.

  'I have a spare card here' she finished writing and thrust a brightly coloured card towards Edward. 'Take this, I’ve jotted Lizzie's mobile on the reverse.'

  I smiled gratefully in her direction, amazed at how quickly she had managed to sober herself, discreetly using eye movements to suggest leaving us to speak alone.

  Mel got my hint and turned to walk away, before changing her mind.

  'Oh and I’d just like to point out that not only is Lizzie stunning, but she’s in high demand.' She looked squarely into Edward's eyes. 'Take that as your cue not to delay calling'. With a girly giggle and notably flirtatious flick of her hair, she grinned in my direction and headed towards the conservatory door.

  Edward looked on amused, placing the card in his wallet. I couldn’t help noticing the black Amex card also accommodated in the sleeve. Surely he wasn’t able to also tick the extremely wealthy box on my wish list. There had to be a catch.

  'Right, I’d best head off then' he said, closing his wallet and returning it to his pocket. 'It was a pleasure meeting you' he leaned in awkwardly to kiss me briefly on the cheek. Strangely he smelt familiar and my heart skipped a beat as a jolt of electric seemed to pass between us.

  He backed away quickly – almost too quickly, picking up his glass and draining the remainde
r of his wine. Lifting his hand, his intense gaze once again met my eyes.

  'I'll be in touch.' And with that, he was already walking out of the door and out of my life, before I could say another word.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Monday morning came around sooner than I had anticipated. The excited high that I had felt since the impromptu exchange with Edward had vast deserted me. Sleepily reaching across to turn off my alarm clock, I envisioned Edward’s face and felt myself stir far quicker than any cup of coffee could encourage.

  I had spent the previous week on tenterhooks circling my mobile like a bird of prey, waiting for him to make contact. There had been nothing. I picked up my mobile now, illuminating the screen to check for any missed calls or messages. A drunken background image of Mel and I greeted me. I sighed sadly. For the eighth day running, no blinking icons or notifications from Edward had materialised.

  Setting about my morning routine and grateful for distraction, the previous week of conversation with Mel began to float into my thoughts. She had taken great delight in thinking up daily scenario’s and reasons for Edward's evasiveness. I smiled to myself as I recalled her top four theories on the matter;

  1. Edward had lost the business card with my details after removing it too many times from his wallet to re-live the moment he had met me. Strong winds had subsequently snatched it from his grasp and flew it into the nearest drain. Lost forever.

  2. He had been involved in a near fatal accident after leaving the party and was now in hospital in a semi conscious state calling out ‘Lizzie’. The nurses had no idea who Lizzie was or how to make contact with her.

  3. He had been called away on urgent business to a small village, in an area where mobile coverage didn’t exist. However, he was spending every moment thinking about how he would make it up to me when he returned.

  4. His psycho ex had threatened to kill me and he was now involved in a government mission to protect me from gruesome death, whilst being under strict instruction by head of operations, not to contact me and put me in further danger.