Chapter Two
“What do you think, Jules?”
Melissa twirled in her figure hugging blue dress that had a slit right down the side, and a daring v-cut. She looked absolutely stunning, and Julie grinned broadly at her. “You look fantastic Mel. Ned isn’t going to be able to take his eyes off you, and he’s definitely not going to be able to wait till he gets home and gets that dress off you.”
“That is the point.” Melissa winked at her through the mirror. She turned around to face Julie. “However, I’m shocked that you even suggested such a scandalous thing. Could it be? Am I finally teaching you to be a little bit naughty? I’m so proud! They grow up so fast.” Melissa pretended to wipe away a tear.
Julie rolled her eyes. “I learned from the master, Mel. You’ve created a monster, so don’t be upset when you don’t like the end result.”
Melissa rubbed her hands together mischievously. “Why would I be upset? You’re my greatest creation yet. I feel so evil.”
Ned, Melissa’s boyfriend walked in a while later, looking dapper in a classic black tux with a white shirt, and plain black shoes. He froze in his tracks, and his eyes practically lit up as he took in the sight of Melissa who gazed at him seductively through lowered lashes.
“I’m not sure we’re going to be able to leave the house with you looking like that,” he finally managed to choke out. Ned and Melissa had been dating for 2 years. They met through a mutual friend at a party one night, and the rest is as they say, history. Ned worked at a law firm, handling all their big clients, so he was usually pretty busy, but he treated Melissa the way she deserved to be treated, and in Julie’s book, that made him more than okay. That made him one of the good ones.
“Like what you see?” Melissa murmured coyly.
“Like what I see?” Ned crossed the room in two strides and took her in his arms. “I’d like it better if it was on the floor.”
Julie pretended to gag. “Urgh, eww, guys. I’m still in the room, and I’d rather not have a front row seat to this little porno of yours. Besides, we’re going to be late for the wedding so, I think you’d better keep this little fantasy for later.”
They both chuckled as Ned dipped and gave her a deep kiss. “I’ll be outside,” he said as he left the room.
Melissa grinned at his back before she turned to Julie with a sparkle in her eye. “Now then. I already know you’re beautiful, so let’s see if we can make some guys sit up and notice you tonight.” She then took out an eye curler from her dresser.
Seeing it, Julie pretended to back away fearfully. “What are you planning on doing with that?”
Melissa spared the eye curler a look before she turned her attention back to Julie. “It’s an eye curler. Duh.”
“That looks like a medieval torture device.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “It’s just going to curl your eyelashes, give them a little pizazz.”
“I like my eyes without pizazz thank you very much. I still echo my previous statement.”
Melissa paused and placed her hands on her hips. “Alright, fine. Think of it this way, you can either sit still and let me finish, and that way you can be finished a lot faster, and believe me, you will love the result, or we can just stay here till you decide to play nice with the adults.”
Julie looked up over Melissa’s shoulder and calculated the distance to the door as she wondered how far Melissa was really willing to take this.
“Just so you know, you can’t outrun me. I can easily tackle you before you even make it halfway through to the door,” Melissa commented mildly as she checked her nails, a smirk playing on the corner of her lips.
Julie scowled. “Urgh, fine.” She threw her hands up in the air and plopped into the chair in front of the dresser. “But let it be known that I fought you bravely till the bitter end.”
“I’ll make sure the history books take note of that.”
***
They both emerged a while later, all decked in their fanciest outfits, with their hair coiffed and their make-up, ready to go.
Julie stumbled and tried to steady herself. “I hate high heels.”
“You said that like ten times since we exited the bedroom.” Melissa commented as Ned offered them his arm. Melissa took his right arm, and Julie tucked her hand into the crook of his left arm.
“It’s as true now as it was when I first started saying it 5 minutes ago.”
They made their way out into the brusque night air, hugging their coats closer to their bodies when a blast of cool wind traveled between them.
They piled into Melissa’s car, as Ned took the keys and went around to the driver’s side.
As they got out onto the main road, Melissa suddenly said, “Ned, you need to keep an eye on Julie tonight.”
Two pairs of eyes turned around to stare at her in confusion, but Julie was the first one to break the silence. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Sometimes, there are creeps at weddings, and I know I might have a little bit too much to drink tonight, but I know that Ned can handle his liquor.”
“No problem.” Ned honked at an incoming car as he swerved to avoid hitting it.
“I’m not a child Mel. Come on, I can handle myself,” Julie responded as she sat back in her seat and gazed out the window.
“I know you can handle yourself, hon. But, you’re too nice, and sometimes you just don’t know when to draw the line with a guy who just won’t take no for an answer. Anyway, Ned won’t interfere if you’ve got it handled, right babe?”
She turned around to face him with expectant brown eyes. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Babe, I’m perfectly capable of speaking for myself you know, but yes, I can handle it. I won’t do anything unless Julie wants me to. Is that okay with you, Jules?”
Julie shot him a grateful smile. “Of course it’s okay. I really appreciate the gesture, but you two have fun. You haven’t had a night out in like forever.”
“Neither have you,” Melissa pointed out as she pulled down the mirror and began to check her reflection.
“Yippee,” Julie grumbled from the backseat. “You know, I hate weddings. There’s always this expectation that you’re supposed to go with a date, but if you don’t, you’ll be set up by your parents or your friends, or your parents’ friends. The whole notion of not being able to go alone is so archaic.”
“Preaching to the choir, honey.”
Ned turned and shot Melissa a quick look. “Not you, babe. Obviously.” She blew him a kiss, and he grinned as he pretended to catch it.
“Well, obviously what I’m saying doesn’t apply to the two of you,” Julie teased as the car rattled after it hit a particularly nasty speed bump. “Anyway, my point is, don’t worry about me. I think what I’ll have to worry about the most tonight is how many people are going to ask me where my date is, and how many people might actually try to set me up on the spot.”
Melissa snorted. “You really don’t think they’d go that far, do you?”
“Never say never.”