I didn’t care to know about others but, shopping will forever remain a mystery to me. It’s even harder to shop when you’re poor and have to busy stuff within your budget. Then you keep seeing every damn hot outfit ever created. Every pretty accessory calling out to you, to take them off the showcase. But they turn out so expensive, you’ll be homeless for months if you give in to such temptation.
Max and I would be flying out in a few hours from now and I was in a dire state of panic. I needed a dress for our date since I’d worn all my old ones to work. I wanted something sexy and cheap, and I wasn’t finding any of these dresses remotely sexy or even cheap.
What the fuck am I going to do? I don’t have enough time to dash into another boutique. I’ve wasted enough time already.
Huffing, I flicked through the clothing rack, trying not to drown in the pressure. The exotic line had some really pretty dresses, the sexiest I’ve ever set my eyes on but they’re all a little above a thousand dollar and goodness knows that no matter how rich I become tomorrow, there was no way I was gonna splash a hundred dollar on some dress. As I wandered down the line, back to where I started, my phone started to ring. Blowing out an exhaustive sigh, I whipped it out and beamed when I saw Cora’s name shining on the caller ID.
“Hey, babe,” I smiled. “What’s up? How’s Manhattan?”
“Still the same. Turns out that Dad is swinging by just fine so I might return sooner.”
I pressed a palm to my chest in relief. “Thank God, Cora. That’s great news.”
“I know right? He’s been chatting nonstop since I got here, which is so soothing considering the fact that he had us all scared. He’ll be discharged on Saturday, so I’ll take the first plane back on Sunday morning.”
“Great. Finn can’t wait to see you,” I chuckled. “He’s having a good time with Ma. I never thought they’d hit it off so well.”
“Me neither. What are you up to?”
“Well,” I smirked, leaning my back against a shelf. “Your girl’s shopping.”
“Really?” She spluttered, surprised. “What for? I thought you said you don’t have money.”
“Calm down, Cora. I’ve also got startling news which will serve as a suitable explanation.”
“News?”
“Yes, news. Mr. Sturm news,” I giggled as I began flicking through the dresses once again.
“Oh my fucking goodness!” she howled in excitement. “Go on. Spill every damn thing.”
“You know that night your sleepover at Terry’s was truncated because your dad fell ill and you were sad? He caught me at the club when I went to see this guy called Sky Walker, who I thought was him. We ended up having a steamy moment at the back seat of his Aston Martini, then got into a huge fight afterward. He was disappointed in me despite how many times I apologized.” I paused to catch my breath.
“So what happened next?”
“That day you left, I took the day off and he thought it was because of our fight. We patched things up and he invited me to his house last night. Long story short; we’ve been having the best time of our lives fucking literally everywhere in his huge, cozy room.”
“You, bitch!” she screeches. “You finally broke your two years celibacy.”
I flipped my hair, feeling proud of myself. “It was worth it. I can hardly walk as we speak but I’ll manage. He’s taking me to Manhattan for a date he promised me five years ago and we’ll be back by Saturday morning. I’m shopping for the dress I’ll wear to the date because all my clothes aren’t fancy or slutty enough, you know?” I blow out through my last breath, my mouth hurting.
“This is huge, girl, but wait a sec,” she pauses for a moment. “You told him about Finn, right?”
I paled, scratching my hair. “Er. No. I don’t think it’s the right time to do that.” I winced.
“Elaine, what do you think you’re doing? The longer you keep prolonging this, the harder it’ll get for him to accept Finn.”
“I know that, Cora. Believe me, I’m terrified on what his reaction would be. I just want him to know me, the fun me, before I tell him we have a son together.”
“That reason isn’t valid enough.”
“It is. I wish you could see things through my perspective. Once I let out that I’ve got a son, I’ll automatically turn into an old hag in his eyes. The dynamic is going to change and he’ll loathe the day we crossed paths.”
“You’re exaggerating the outcome. If he truly loves you, it won’t matter. Quit expecting the worst at every given turn.”
“I’m trying,” I murmured sadly. “Alright, I give you my word for it. I’m going to tell him when we get back on Saturday. Cora, when last have I gone out on a dream date with a guy I truly like in a while?”
“Been a long time,” she mused, successfully distracted.
“Do you think it’s safer I wait till Saturday? I mean, it seems highly unlikely that we won’t hit it off on our date night but what if we don’t? Would it matter anyway?”
“No. It won’t. But I doubt that. You guys love yourself way too much that your chemistry can’t just die off like that even if either of you wants it to. I mean, you two even fought but there you are, shopping for a dress to go on a date with him.”
“Well, I found nothing,” I blew out a deep breath, turning full circle as I scanned the dressing line one last time. “I give up on this place. There’s literally nothing good enough anywhere.”
“You know you can borrow a gown from my closet, right? I mean, you always say I have good stuff. You don’t have to spend on a gown when I have exactly what you need at home.”
I frowned. “I already borrowed a gown last night, which… I’m still wearing. Never mind, I’ll find something at last.”
She sighed. “Elaine.”
“I know it doesn’t matter, Cora, but I just don’t want to, okay? You haven’t even worn those dresses yourself. It’s insensitive for me to wear them before you.”
“It doesn’t matter, dear. We’re not strangers or friends. We’re sisters. Our bond is stronger than blood sisters so get your arse home and select something from my collection.”
I huffed in defeat, strutting out the door onto the burstling street. I glanced sideways before walking across the street towards where I would flag down a cab. “Alright. I’ll send you photos of what I’ve chosen later. I’ve got to run now. Got approximately…” I consulted my watch. “Ten minutes before Max calls.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Have fun, but not too much fun. Tell Finn that I say hi!”
This is heaven, I thought to myself as I plopped down on the seat beside Max’s which is close to a window. I glanced up, sighting him far off as he fused about in the overhead luggage compartment.
The more I thought bout this, the more surreal it felt. I’d never flown first class before and I was sure I stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone around me went about their businesses, either reading or listening to music with their earphones on as though it wasn’t such a big deal to afford such a luxury. Max was wearing the brand new brown chinos and a black suede jacket which I had picked out for him after we had, yet another thrilling sex marathon. My butt was hurting and I couldn’t even sit still. He stood, checking and rechecking our luggages, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he exuded such a prominent aura like one who owned the damn plane. He screamed wealth, despite my attempts to make him look casual.
I let my eyes roam down to the blue, thin dress I’d finally settled for and exhaled a sigh. I swear to God, I looked nothing like anyone here. I didn’t exude money. I didn’t exude confidence. I felt like a heated potato, lucky enough to be in a plane. My eyes watered in admiration as I stared at the man I had come to love and adore. He winked as he approached, falling into place beside me and I moved my head to rest it on his broad chest.
He placed his hand around my back, stroking my hair and the world seemed to shift around the both of us. It had been happening a lot these days… the world fading away to leave just the two of us lazing about. In bed. In the shower after we’d orgasmed. In his garden. Now. He shifted my hair and pressed a kiss on my forehead.
“We could’ve taken third class, you know. This isn’t necessary. It’s just a two day trip.”
His laughter rumbled, reaching deep into my soul. “The last time I checked, sweetheart, I never complained.”
“You don’t have to,” I yawned, suddenly sleepy. “I can feel your pockets bleeding from here.”
“You’ve never been any more wrong.” His guffaw, the last thing I heard before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.