Trophy Wife

by Bethany Lopez

  “Great,” I said with a grin. “I can’t wait until Friday!”

  I gave him a little finger wave and turned, being sure to put a little extra swing in my hips as I walked. When I was about halfway down the aisle, I turned to look over my shoulder, and when I saw him standing in the same spot, holding those strawberries again, his eyes on me, I blew him a jaunty kiss.

  When Noah dropped the bag of strawberries, I let out a delighted laugh and left him to go purchase my ice cream.

  6

  Noah

  “There’s a precious girl. Coochie coochie coo,” I murmured to my three-month-old niece as I rocked with her in an old wooden chair.

  “Dude, don’t talk to her like she’s an idiot,” my brother, Charles, said as he walked into the room holding two beers.

  “It’s baby talk,” I argued, glancing worriedly down at Suzy’s sweet, innocent face. “You know I don’t think you’re an idiot. You’re going to be a genius.”

  “I’m just saying, you don’t have to hit her with the baby talk. Simply talk to her like you would anyone else.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said as he placed a bottle on the table next to me and then sat down on the sofa. “You want me to talk to her as if she understands what I’m saying?”

  “Yes. Jamilla has read some studies about it and apparently it helps with their cognitive development. I don’t know … she’s the expert. But if she hears you doing that coochie shit she’s gonna bop you upside the head.”

  Jamilla was a child life specialist and one of the smartest women I knew, so if she believed I should talk to Suzy as if she were an adult, then that’s what I’d do. She was the subject matter expert, after all.

  “What brought you by?” Charles asked as he relaxed into the couch. “Not that I don’t always love to see you, big brother, but you’re not usually the drop-in type.”

  “Well,” I began, suddenly too embarrassed to explain to him why I was there.

  It was sad that my younger brother was the person I was going to for relationship advice. It should be the other way around, but that had never been our dynamic. Charles had always been the extrovert. The charming, handsome, always ready with a smile, big man on campus type. While I was more your, reading in the library during lunch, debate team, please don’t talk to me type.

  This had actually really worked for me during college. I’d gone to University of Texas at Austin, and once there, I’d found like-minded souls and a community of enrichment.

  “Uh-oh, you’re stalling. Must be something good,” Charles said with an easy grin. “Come on. You know you can say anything to me.”

  I nodded because I did know that. Charles was one of my best friends and the most honorable person I knew, besides our father, of course.

  I cleared my throat and said, “There’s this woman…”

  Charles leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs.

  “Go on…”

  “She’s, ah … well, she’s gorgeous. I’m talking beautiful face, ridiculous body, and this charming disposition, which really should make the entire combination illegal. I have no idea how she’s single, or why she’s interested in me, but apparently that’s the case.”

  “Wow, do you have a picture?” he asked, causing me to scowl at him.

  “How would I have a picture? I don’t go around snapping shots of beautiful strangers. That’s creepy.”

  Charles laughed easily and asked, “How’d you meet?”

  Suzy let out a belch and when I looked down, she had white stuff coming out of her mouth.

  “Is this normal?” I asked, worried.

  “Yeah, here,” my brother said, reaching over to grab a white cloth out of a basket on the table and handing it to me.

  I very gently wiped the curd-looking stuff off of her face, and when she closed her eyes, I settled back into the chair and resumed rocking.

  “What were we saying?” I asked, distracted.

  “You were telling me how you met this amazing woman.”

  “Oh,” I stated absently, and then proceeded to tell him about our encounters at the bar and the grocery store.

  “You’re right, she certainly is into you.”

  “It’s weird, right?” I said with a slight shrug. “It seems to go against nature, but there you have it. She’s been in a sort of active pursuit. It throws me off. But I did set up a date for Friday night.”

  “What are you planning to do?”

  “Well, I figured dinner and a movie would be too basic for a woman like her, right? And there are so many other possibilities where I would not end up in a positive light, so I figured why not do something I’m good at, so at least I’ll feel confident, even if I’m nervous about being on a date with her.”

  “So…”

  “Dancing.”

  Charles blinked and then grinned. “Is that what you told her? You were taking her dancing?”

  “Yeah. Why?” I asked.

  “Well, we live in the city. She’s a gorgeous, polished woman, who is single and sexy, and you said you were taking her dancing.”

  “So?”

  “So, lug head, she probably expects you to take her to a club.”

  “A club?” I asked, horrified by the prospect.

  “Yeah, man. A club. I bet you a hundred dollars that’s what she expects.” Charles chuckled and slapped his knee. “I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you show up at a country bar ready to show her how well you can two-step.”

  “I won a contest in college,” I murmured.

  “Yeah, I know,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “You really think she expects me to take her out dancing at a nightclub? Should I text her and tell her? I mean, when I give her the address of where to meet me, she’ll see what kind of place it is.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. Still, I mean it about the hundred bucks. I’m gonna go grab a beer, you need?”

  I glanced at the untouched bottle next to me and shook my head.

  When he walked out of the room, I looked down at my niece and asked, “What do you think, Sooz? Will she be disappointed by line dancing?”

  Suzy opened her eyes and blinked at me.

  Thinking of Charles’ earlier words, I shifted to reach in my pocket and pulled out my pocket-sized copy of Love Sonnets of Shakespeare and began to read aloud. I’d do whatever I could to help my niece’s cognitive development.

  7

  Summer

  “Oh my gosh, this has felt like the longest week,” I said as I threw my purse to the floor and sat down at the table.

  It was Thursday night, so Whitney, Margo, and I were meeting for dinner and drinks. Tonight, Margo had picked a hip new tapas place.

  “It really has,” Whitney agreed.

  “Why am I always the last one here? I swear I try to leave early to beat you guys, but it never seems to work out.”

  Margo simply smiled and lifted her drink at me.

  They were used to my perpetual lateness.

  “Anyway, I’ve been dying to see you guys. I feel like it’s been ages since last Thursday.”

  Whitney nodded enthusiastically, which was weird for her. In fact, she looked like she was about to explode.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, suddenly concerned.

  She nodded and bit her lip, then thrust out her left hand.

  It took a moment for me to realize I was supposed to look at it, since I was searching her face for a hint at what was happening. When I heard Margo say, “Hell, yeah,” I glanced down and couldn’t miss the giant, dazzling diamond on her finger.

  “No,” I gasped, reaching for her hand and practically yanking her out of her chair as I pulled the ring closer. “When … how … when?”

  “Sunday,” Whitney managed, the word coming out choked.

  “Sunday?” I screeched. “And you’re just telling us now?”

  “I wanted to tell you in person. Believe me. These have been the longest four days of my life,” she said wit
h a watery laugh.

  “Whitney,” I scolded. “This is the type of thing that warrants an emergency meeting! If you’d called, we’d have come over anytime, day or night.”

  “I’m sure she needed time to process, Summer. It’s a big deal,” Margo said, eyeing the ring warily as if it may be contagious.

  “What’s done is done,” I said with a wave of my hand, before catching Whit’s eyes and pleading, “Tell us everything.”

  “He did it at Sunday dinner, with Si and Stella, and his whole family around. It was sweet and emotional, and perfect.” Tears spilled over and I handed her a napkin. “Luca got down on one knee, and his mom started to cry. He asked me and then he asked Stella and Si if they’d accept him as a permanent part of their lives. It was unexpected and just, everything I didn’t know I wanted. I’m so happy…”

  She wept softly and I held her hand, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

  “You deserve it, Whit,” Margo said, reaching over to pat her on the shoulder. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you,” she managed.

  “Have you already started on the details?” I asked, practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of a wedding.

  “Well, I tried to say I wanted something small and unassuming, but was immediately vetoed,” Whit said with a chuckle. “There’s no way Luca’s mother was going to let me get away with that. And I get it. Luca hasn’t been married before and his family is massive. They want to celebrate.”

  “Yay! I mean, I’m sorry you don’t get your small affair, but I’m so happy you’re going to do a big wedding.”

  “You would be,” Margo joked dryly.

  I punched her softly in the arm and she winked in response.

  “I put my foot down about the dress. I’m not standing up for a second time in a big puffy number. I want something simple, elegant, and not white. Stella will be my maid of honor and Silas, one of Luca’s groomsmen, and I’ll walk myself down the aisle.”

  I waited patiently, hoping I knew what she was going to say next, my leg jiggling anxiously under the table.

  “And I’d love it if the two of you would be bridesmaids.”

  “Yes,” I shouted gleefully, while Margo stated much more softly, “Of course.”

  We ordered champagne to celebrate and chatted about the wedding over tapas.

  When things were winding down, Margo asked, “Did you tell Whit about Noah?”

  “Who’s Noah?” Whitney asked.

  “Remember the professor on the dating app who I accidentally deleted?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, he was at the same bar as Margo and me the other night.”

  “No way, really?” she asked with a smile. “How did that go?”

  “Margo scared the crap out of him and gave him my number.”

  Whitney shot Margo an amused glance.

  “It’s true. He was scared,” Margo said with a laugh. “But totally sweet and absentminded. Absolutely Summer’s type.” She turned my way and asked, “Did he call?”

  “No. But I ran into him at the grocery store and confronted him about it.”

  “I would have loved to see that,” Margo said with a grin. “I bet he didn’t know what to do. Good for you.”

  “We’re going out tomorrow night,” I told them, so excited I could barely contain the words.

  “Whoa, way to bury the lead. I can’t believe you held that in so long.”

  I nodded at Whitney, because I too was surprised I held on to the information and hadn’t spit it out as soon as I’d sat, but her engagement took precedence and I’d wanted to share in her excitement before turning the focus to mine.

  “We’re going dancing. I found the perfect dress at the shop and I’m getting a blow out tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I bet he’ll be speechless when he sees you in your club getup,” Margo said with a sly grin.

  We’d gone out plenty, so she’d seen me at my most, or least, dressed. I didn’t want to scare Noah away, so I wasn’t going to look quite so promiscuous, but the dress was short, and tight, and I hoped he’d feel something when he saw me in it.

  Specifically in his pants.

  Chemistry was a key element to any successful relationship. I knew I felt it when I was with him, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure he felt it too.

  8

  Noah

  I’d been so anxious for this date that I’d had a stomachache for days. And now that it was time to actually meet up with Summer, I was in a complete tizzy.

  Yes, that was an expression more suited to the baby boomer generation, but it was an apt description of how I was feeling.

  I’d gotten to the country bar a half an hour early. I didn’t want to be late, and if she happened to come early, I didn’t want her to have to wait outside alone. So, I’d figured the best course of action was to get there with plenty of time to spare.

  When it was fifteen minutes after we were supposed to meet, I began to worry she wasn’t going to show.

  Had the whole thing been an elaborate ruse? Was someone punking me, for lack of a better term? And if so, who and why? I couldn’t think of anyone I’d angered or anyone who hated me so much they’d want to see me suffer humiliation, but the world was an often times cruel place.

  I waged a war within myself … to stay or to leave.

  On one hand, if it was a joke on me, then the longer I stayed, the more ammunition I gave my would-be tormenter.

  On the other, if my imagination had once again gotten the better of me and she was simply late, I’d feel horrible if she arrived after I’d left.

  So, I stayed.

  At twenty minutes after the hour, an Audi came squealing into the parking lot and I watched as Summer emerged from the driver’s seat as if she were a mermaid breaking the surface.

  Encased in a form-fitting, short dress with a plunging neckline in a mossy green that I knew would complement her eyes perfectly, she looked like a goddess ready to meet her match.

  As I stepped from the shadows in my cowboy boots and Levi’s, I felt unworthy and woefully out of my league. When Summer’s gaze landed on me, her face blossomed with a happy smile and her eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement.

  It was enough to bring a fool to his knees.

  “Noah,” she called with an exuberant wave.

  Her guileless behavior was in such contrast to her definitively womanly appearance that it made me yearn to learn what made this gorgeous creature tick. I’d definitely never met anyone like her before, and I found myself utterly intrigued by her.

  “You look amazing,” I managed, accepting her outstretched hands and holding them briefly.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late. I swear, I try my best to be early, or at the very least on time, but it never seems to work out that way,” Summer said sheepishly. “I was having a hard time getting my hair right.”

  I looked at her hair, and although I thought it looked the same as always, I was a smart enough man not to say so. Instead, I said, “Well worth the wait.”

  Summer beamed at me before glancing over at the neon lights of the bar.

  “I’ve never been here before.”

  I fought a wince and replied, “It’s a country and western bar. After speaking with my brother, I realized I should have explained that when I asked you to come dancing, I meant line-dancing and two-stepping.”

  Summer’s mouth formed an “o” and some of her excitement dropped away.

  “I’ve never been. I hope I don’t embarrass you.”

  “Impossible,” I assured her. “And I’m a pretty good teacher. I promise you’ll get the hang of things in no time, and if you find you don’t like it, we don’t have to stay. Deal?”

  “Deal,” she said easily, showing me another side of herself.

  I was finding a new facet to Summer with each interaction and, so far, I liked them all.

  I offered her my hand and she took it with a smile, so I led her inside and watched her face
as the atmosphere hit her.

  Low lights, wood as far as the eye could see, and rustic décor. This place was the closest thing to Texas I’d been able to find, with the country music blaring and the peanuts on the dining room floor.

  The dance floor was crowded with people dancing along to the latest trend and the scent in the air was a mixture of grilled beef and beer.

  I loved everything about it, and when Summer’s face broke into an excited grin, I knew she was ready to embrace the evening.

  “You want a drink? Maybe something to eat?” I asked, leaning down to speak close to her ear since it was so loud inside.

  “A drink would be good,” she replied, so I bypassed the dining area and walked toward the long bar, lined with barstools and decorated with beer bottle tops.

  Summer hopped up into one of the chairs, causing her already short dress to slide farther up, giving me a glorious view of tanned, toned skin. It was enough to have my pulse racing and an internal struggle where I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the view.

  I cleared my throat as I settled onto the stool and searched desperately for the bartender.

  When he came over and asked what he could get us, Summer said, “Margarita, please,” while I practically begged, “Whatever you have on tap is fine.”

  I was suddenly parched.

  Summer chatted happily about the décor and how much she was enjoying the music. She didn’t seem phased at all that she was surrounded by people in jeans, cowboy boots, and plaid, or the fact that the women’s looks were tinged with jealousy, while the men’s were downright lascivious.

  She was a beacon in the darkened room, and I found myself mesmerized by the way her deep green eyes seemed to pull me in and how the tinkle of her laugh made me feel.

  From everything I’d seen so far, she was as beautiful inside as she was out, and for whatever reason, she was here tonight with me. It was surreal, and I vowed to enjoy every second of it, for however long it lasted.

  9