by Jolie Day
“Can I help you?” a saleswoman asked, barely masking her disdain.
I had been staring at a mannequin wrapped in a chic little dress—one I could imagine looking super cute on me. I turned to see a young, impatient-looking associate tapping a pen on the clipboard in her hands. I never understood why they walked around looking so official with headsets. What kind of fashion emergency could really happen in a store like that to require a retail worker to need such accessories?
“Yes.” I smiled meekly. “I was just wondering if…”
She shifted and sighed, already irritated with me before I even asked my question. I wanted to ask if she thought I could pull off the dress I was looking at, but judging by the way she eyed me from head to toe, I had a feeling she wasn’t too sure that I could pull off anything in the store. I sucked in a deep breath and pictured the way Lisa always blazed into these kinds of boutiques as if she owned the place. She didn’t take shit from anybody, and I wasn’t going to, either.
“Yes,” I repeated, more confidently this time. “Do you have this maybe two or three sizes bigger?”
“Mmm, no, darling.” She lifted a brow. “I don’t think so.”
“Really? Are you sure? Could you check?” It was a wrap dress, and I knew the sizes varied. I could even go a size smaller.
She swayed with a cocky sort of arrogance, took a few steps closer, leaning in to say, “No offense. But you’d probably have better luck at Lindy’s Boutique down the street. They tend to carry a lot more sizes for women like you.”
I wasn’t sure if the emphasis on “you” was real or if I projected it, but either way, her tone and pitying expression made it clear I couldn’t count on her help. I felt my cheeks blaze red, followed by a burning sensation behind my eyes. I would not cry in front of this woman. I wished more than anything that I had Lisa’s confidence, and I’d managed to manifest it for a moment, but it was fleeting. Suddenly, I felt like that same nerdy girl being bullied back in high school all over again.
“Thank you.” I nodded before quickly darting out the front door.
Thank you? I was kicking myself as I headed down the block. The girl was a total bitch to me, and I actually thanked her for it?
Hell, no.
I stopped dead in my tracks and turned on my heel.
I was not about to thank somebody for treating me like shit. Not only that, but I would also ask to speak to a manager. I was so done being pushed around by people who thought they were better than me because of my size. And I wasn’t even that damn big. I’d learned to love my curves a long time ago. My size was not that freaking big. So what if I didn’t look like a model on the front page of a magazine? I had curves and boobs. She could kiss my plus-sized ass.
I pulled the door open to a shocked-face Miss Priss. “Excuse me, Miss, but—”
“Please, save it. I need to speak to your manager. I’m sure you have one of those, right?” I treated her to a sickly-sweet smile. “What’s your name. Oh, wait. I see it on your name tag: Natalie Banks.”
“What could you possibly need with my manager?” She appeared aghast at my request.
“Well, Ms. Banks. There’s this little thing called customer service, and you suck at it. You’re also quite rude. While I may not be a perfect size, I am still a person. And I would like to ask your manager if your shop carries the size I requested since you seem unable to fulfil your duties as a salesperson.”
She opened and closed her mouth, dropping her clipboard to her side. “I, I…have no idea what you’re speaking of. I—”
I kept my tone as sincere and professional as possible. I hoped this situation may teach her a lesson or four. “An apology and your manager would do. Thank you, Ms. Banks.”
“I…I am truly sorry if I offended you.” Natalie brought her clipboard to her chest, and I could see her bottom lip trembling. “If you’d like, I will assist you, unless you would rather have my manager do so.”
I felt my heart soften at her fearful expression. Yes, she’d behaved like a bitch, but I could be a bitch, too. A bigger bitch, in fact. But now, seeing her shaking like a leaf in front of me was not the right time. When I was younger, I swore I’d never stoop so low as to hurt someone in return just because they’d hurt me. I was a true believer in good karma. “A little bit of kindness goes a long way,” my grandmother Thelma had always told me. Tears were welling in her eyes, and at that, I felt I’d made my point. I didn’t want the woman to get fired. I’d only wanted her to see me. Not my size. And not to judge me.
I nodded. “That would be wonderful. Thank you, Natalie.”
She shook her head. “No, thank you, Miss…”
“My name is Elaine.”
She smiled, appearing grateful for my change of heart. “Come along, Elaine. Let’s find you something gorgeous to wear.”
And so, we did. One of the most notable items being a red and black dress I couldn’t stop staring at. I left with a few super-cute wrap dresses (that I loved!), several blouses in a variety of colors, pairs of pants, jeans, even underwear that fit me. Unfortunately, bras were off the table, but I could order those online with Oliver’s laptop, seeing as mine was lost in the fire. Or I could use my phone. In the meantime, though, I’d just grab a few from a local shop to tide me over until my new ones were delivered. I also got a cute, pink shirt for Lisa (she loved pink and rocked it!), and a pair of fluffy house shoes for Oliver. I bought matching ones for myself. I seriously thought of pink furry bunnies, but I figured Oliver wouldn’t wear them. It’d be freaking funny, though, if only for the pictures I’d take!
I thanked Natalie profusely (for real this time), and she handed me her business card on my way out. After our little chat, she’d been such a huge help, I’d definitely be going back.
I settled on a park bench with my bags in tow, sucked in a deep breath, and dialed the number I was dreading the most.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Elaine! Great to hear from you! It’s been long enough. I’ve been worried about you.”
“I just called you last week.” I sighed. “Listen, Dad…I need to tell you something.”
His voice dropped to a dead-serious tone. “What is it? Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I promise you I’m safe…and I’m fine. Okay?” I said slowly. “I need you to tell me you understand before I say anything else.”
“But Laney…”
“Dad! I know how you are. So, please. Just say you’re hearing me when I say, ‘everything is fine.’”
There was a long pause before he finally replied, “Okay. I’m hearing you. Now…go on.” I could hear the tension in his voice as he tried to contain his freak-out before he even knew what was up.
“There was a small…very small, tiny…insignificant,” I squinched my fingers in the air as if that would help. He couldn’t even see me, “fire in my apartment,” I blurted the last words out in a jumbled mess, hoping he both could and couldn’t make them out.
“What was that? Honey, I couldn’t—”
“My apartment caught fire, and I lost everything,” I croaked, ripping it off quickly like a Band-Aid.
“Laney! Are you okay? Are you safe? Oh, my God! Come home! I knew you should have stayed here all along and—”
“Dad! Dad! Listen to me. Remember what I said? I’m fine. I’m okay. I’m safe. I wasn’t even there when it happened, and I’m staying at Oliver’s.”
I heard him exhale over the line. “Phew, okay. I’m glad you’re with Oliver. He has always taken such good care of you.” There was a suggestive rise in his tone—one that I was all too familiar with. My dad had been banking on the two of us tying the knot since high school. That dream had yet to come true for either of us.
“Well, actually, Daddy, I would say I’m taking care of myself just fine. But yes, Oliver is a good friend, and everything is all right. I just wanted to let you know what was going on, and I’ll call you back later.”
I tried to get off the phone as qu
ick as I could, but of course he put me through the ringer before he would let that happen. Was I eating? (Had he ever seen me not eating when I was supposed to?) Had I heard from NYU yet? (I wished! Soon, hopefully!) He wished I wouldn’t work so much (same, but I truly loved it). He wished I would just come back home to live until Oliver and I came to our senses and walked down the aisle. (Universe, hi there, it’s me. Yep, still me. I know you’re probably kinda busy, but can you listen to my dad on this one? Only the walking down the aisle part, though. Thanks! Bye.) My head was spinning by the time I was finally able to hang up, and I swore I heard him spring one final question as I disconnected the call. One that I would pretend I was oblivious to. “Are you and Oliver sleeping together?” Dear God in heaven. Glad I hung up.
I was feeling amazing by the time I made it back to Oliver’s apartment. The call to my dad had gone much better than expected, even with his interrogation. And the shopping! Who knew it would be so freaking exciting? I couldn’t wait to tell Lisa what happened when she returned from her trip. It was so freeing and exhilarating. It felt like finally, something was going right for me. My confidence had soared today. I’d stood up for myself, and I was proud of the outcome. But, after the long day I’d had, I wanted nothing more than to curl up on Oliver’s big comfy couch with a glass of wine and laugh at stupid movies with my old friend.
I smiled just thinking about it as I unlocked the front door with the extra key he’d given me. “Oliver? You home? It’s me,” I called out as I stepped inside the dim-lit foyer.
I could hear music faintly playing in the background, and there was a delicious smell of garlic and onion wafting from the kitchen. It carried with it the reminder that I hadn’t eaten anything today but a grilled chicken salad and that ice cream cone. Hopefully, he had already cooked something for dinner. My stomach growled.
“Oliver?” I yelled out again, strolling to his bedroom door. I knocked and flung it open without thinking, barging in on him under the sheets of his bed, making out with what my friend Lisa had coined a “Triple T.”
Triple T’s were all he seemed to have any interest in—Tall, Tan, and Thin. Basically, the opposite of me in every way. And as far as I could tell, he was trouble with a capital T—especially for somebody like me.
“Oh, my God. Shit! So sorry!” I quickly slammed the door shut and rushed back into the kitchen to try and recover from my embarrassment. What was I thinking bursting into his room like that? Of course he’s not alone!
I heard his bedroom door swing open.
I turned to the sound with a smile that quickly vanished. My mouth dropped as Oliver came out wearing nothing but a towel loosely wrapped around his waist.
A perfect déjà vu moment. Dick tent included.
“Laney.” He smiled warmly. “You’re home. How was your day?”
“Uh…it was…I, uh…” I was ill-prepared to be hit with the image of his half-naked body yet again. For a brief second, I decided to let myself enjoy it. He was the one flaunting it around all the time. I’d barely been there a whole day and it was already the third time I had seen him without any clothes on except for impossibly tight boxers or a towel.
“It was fine,” I said tightly, hardly able to fake a smile anymore. “I’m just really sorry about that, and…I’m really tired. So…yeah, have a good night.”
Without looking at him, I handed him the gift I’d bought: our matching house shoes. “Oh, I got these for you.”
“Uh, thanks, Laney.”
I turned for the hallway leading to one of the spare bedrooms I’d changed in that morning. I knew if I stood there one second longer, I’d end up snapping at him. Don’t you ever wear clothes? I should have gotten him a damn robe! Giving up on my wine and a movie couch fantasy, I slipped back into his shorts and T-shirt, then climbed into bed.
After using my phone to express-order a few more basics to be delivered the next day, I pulled the covers over my head and tried to fall asleep before the tears began to spill down my face.
I’d had some bad days crying over Oliver in past years, but this one really sucked.
Two nights.
Two different women.
Neither of them me.
6
Oliver
I was left standing there like a dumbass with the spare helmet in my hand next to my bike in the parking garage. Laney’s steady steps away from me broke out into a sprint around the corner. Why the hell was she running from me like that?
I scratched my head for a moment and shook it off, tucking the extra helmet back into its compartment before putting on my own and climbing on, starting the engine. Women. They’re all crazy. I never could understand why Laney always seemed so afraid of everything. Afraid of going out, afraid of motorcycles… Was I crazy to think she might actually be afraid of me?
I parked my bike outside Humphries Properties and slipped through the back entrance into my private elevator. Only my father, my brother Miles, and I had access to it, aside from Damon. Loved Damon to death, even as grumpy as he was. He still liked to join us for long motorcycle rides, which was more than I could say for Laney, who wouldn’t even humor me on the back of my bike for a short ride through the city.
I took the elevator up to our private floor where Miles, Damon, and I had our offices. I nearly jumped when my chair swiveled around in front of me, revealing Miles sitting at my desk, waiting.
His hair was thicker and darker than mine, and his blue eyes carried an eternal devilish spark—hinting at the mischief he constantly seemed to be scheming in his head. Plus, a charming smile to match his personality. He was an even bigger ladies’ man and wild card than I was.
“Good morning, big brother.” He grinned, kicking back in the chair, propping his feet up on my desk.
I let out a sigh, eyeing his leather shoes. “Hey, that desk was custom made.” I pointed, raising my eyebrows. “Your feet. Do you mind?”
“Sorry, I get a little careless when I’m in such a good mood.” He stood and walked across the room, helping himself to my bar cart.
I flicked my wrist to check my watch. “It’s nine o’clock in the morning. Shouldn’t we save drinks for after lunch?”
“Normally, I’d say yes.” He twisted the cork off an expensive bottle of bourbon. “But this deal we’re signing today is making us another million. I figure why not start celebrating early?”
“Because we haven’t even signed the papers yet,” I reminded him as I settled in behind my desk. “And if you start slurring your words in the final run-through, there might not be anything to celebrate.”
“Oh, come on. I know you think I count my chickens before they hatch, but this is a done deal, and you know it.” The cork popped, followed by the trickle of dark amber liquid into two glasses.
He had a point. As the Chief Financial Officer of our family’s billion-dollar real estate business, I’d always been the more cautious one. It was my job to keep an eye on the bottom line and to never count on anything unless we had it in writing. But the commercial plots we were unloading in three days were pretty much a done deal, as he said. It was a quick and easy million.
“Fine,” I obliged him, taking the crystal tumbler from his hand and clinking it to his. “Cheers to what should be a successful business venture.”
Miles stretched out in the chair across from me and started to prop his feet right back onto the opposite side of my desk. One stern look from me made him think better of it.
He put his hands up in mock-surrender and dropped them to the floor. “So, that club last night was something else, huh? So was that hot chick I saw you sneaking out with. She had a nice ass in that mini-dress.”
I cringed at the thought of Nadine, remembering the angry texts of hers that I’d forgotten to respond to. I would have to sweet talk her if I stood any chance of getting her back into my bed to finish what we started.
“She would have been something else, but…hey, do you remember Laney? From high school?”
�
�Laney? Elaine Carter? Yeah, of course.” He nodded and took another sip. “You were always hanging out with her. Aren’t you two still friends?”
“Roommates now.” I took a long swig of my drink. “Her apartment caught fire. I offered one of my spare rooms for her to stay in while it gets sorted out.”
“Damn.” He clicked his tongue. “Tough break. What’s she up to these days, anyway?”
“She works at Linzar, basically curing cancer. It’s all a bit over my head, but it seems like she’s really successful. At this rate, she’ll have her PhD by the time she’s thirty.”
Just as my mind wandered to Laney’s rolled-up T-shirt, her beautiful naked breasts, I stopped myself as the memory of her dancing around in my kitchen flashed in my head. It took me a moment to catch on to the skeptical expression Miles was shooting my way.
“What?” I shrugged innocently.
“Nothing. That’s just…impressive.” He quirked his lips into a smug smirk, like he knew something I didn’t. “Must be pretty stimulating to have a nerdy, scientist genius lounging around your place. Like a seductive sexy teacher or something.”
I tried my best to unhear the words, but once they were out, they weren’t going back in. “Stimulating? Seductive? Okay, man. That’s enough. Shut the hell up.”
I felt guilty for sounding so surprised. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see it, but words like that were far from my mind when thinking about one of my best friends. I mean, yeah, those kinds of thoughts had crossed my mind (especially after seeing her half-naked on my couch). Okay, and that little stunt I’d pulled in the kitchen this morning when I knew she was checking out my dick. I’d let her. Fuck. I couldn’t help myself. But in the end, how dumb would I be to risk our friendship?
“Last time I saw her, she looked completely different than how I remembered her in high school.” He shot me a smartass grin. “It’s funny. That Amber girl you used to mess around with, the one who used to tease her about her weight? Yeah, she’s changed so much I almost didn’t recognize her, and not in a good way.” He grimaced. “But Laney’s looking better than ever. Beautiful curves. I’ve always had a weak spot for her.”
