Come Together (The Cityscape 3)
Nov 19, 2012 1:08 PM
Curious, how many of the women at this boutique have you “worked with”?
Nov 19, 2012 1:10 PM
Two if you count yourself.
I gave myself a moment to fume. His answer wasn’t surprising – it was written all over her face – but I hadn’t prepared myself for it to be true.
Nov 19, 2012 1:12 PM
Why would you send me here then?
Nov 19, 2012 1:13 PM
Why else? Good service.
I almost threw my phone at the wall. ‘Good service’? Is he teasing me?
Nov 19, 2012 1:15 PM
You are walking a seriously thin line with that comment.
Nov 19, 2012 1:17 PM
Just being honest, my sweet. Don’t ask if you don’t want to know the answer.
Nov 19, 2012 1:18 PM
Look, I wouldn’t send you if there was anything to worry about. That shit’s done. All of it.
I inhaled deeply. I had a choice: chastise him for a past that couldn’t be changed and was likely to come up often, or accept that it happened, and in the end, he’d chosen me. My lips were twisted in thought when the girl knocked and asked if I needed anything.
I opened the door and smiled. “Yes. Lingerie. Bring the best stuff you have. Anything you think David would like . . . since you’ve worked with him before.”
“Certainly,” she stammered, reddening.
I giggled to myself when she’d left. Just because I was going to take the high road didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun.
As I stood at the register in my new blouse, I studied the girl. All the women I knew of in David’s past were beautiful, unsurprisingly. He could have any girl he wanted on her knees in a snap. So I decided I’d take it as a compliment that he’d picked me.
“Mr. Dylan called again,” she said as she packaged my purchases. “He wanted me to include this.” She showed me a small box with a ribbon around it. “He says you’re not to open it until tonight though.”
“Did you pick it out?” I asked.
“No.” She shook her head emphatically. “He knew exactly what he wanted, and we had it.”
I looked at her skeptically. “All right. Thank you, you’ve been very helpful.”
“Sure,” she said. “Maybe we’ll see you again.”
“Maybe not,” I muttered under my breath, but I attempted a smile.
~
In the passenger’s seat of our rental car, I bit my thumbnail anxiously. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Bill at all. Just the idea had my stomach in knots, and I was beginning to regret my chicken tacos at lunch.
“So why exactly am I carrying big boxes and David gets to hang by the car?” Gretchen asked from the back seat.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful,” I said again.
“Who cares?” she asked.
“You guys, seriously. I’m still married to the man, for Christ’s sake. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“I’m just teasing. It’s very mature of you.”
“Anyway,” I added, “you’ve seen these two together. They aren’t exactly friendly.”
“I promised to behave,” David stated, his eyes focused out the windshield.
“No. My answer is still no.”
“Don’t worry, David,” Gretchen said. “I took a kickboxing class in college.”
His jaw tightened, and I groaned. “Don’t, Gretch. We’ll be in and out in under twenty minutes, I guarantee.”
“I don’t want either of you girls in there alone, all right? Just stay
together.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Gretchen said to silence. “Oh, come on, you two, lighten up.”
I turned in my seat and smiled at her. “How are things with Greg?”
“I think I’m finally ready to seal the deal. God knows my vagina is ready.”
“You haven’t slept together?” David asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
“Not this time around. I want to make sure he’s serious before I give it up.”
“You must be going crazy,” I said.
“Last night he brushed against my boob, and I almost climaxed.”
David chuckled to himself.
“This is fun, both of us being in new relationships,” I said. “Are you guys doing anything for Thanksgiving?”
Gretchen rolled her eyes. “You know how I feel about holidays. They always sucked at our house.”
“Mine too,” I said. “David and I have no plans beyond Thursday.”
“Why don’t we all go somewhere?” David suggested.
“I love that idea,” Gretchen squealed. “Like where? Lake Geneva?”
“I was thinking somewhere warm.”
She groaned. “That sounds heavenly. I’m sick of winter, and it’s just starting.”
“Brian’s brother owns a beach house near Miami, and he’s letting him use it for the long weekend. He invited us, but I told him we were busy.”
Gretchen grumbled under her breath.
“Don’t like Miami?” David asked.
“Um, love Miami. Don’t like Brian.”
“Really? Why not?”
“No reason, really. Just that he acts like he’s God’s gift to women. And he wears way too much cologne. Liv, did I tell you he got huffy when I sent my steak back on our only date, even though I was very clear that I wanted it rare? He’s a bit arrogant, if you ask me. Thinks he’s all that ‘cause he’s hot, but, really, he needs to get over himself.”