I was rocking this shit.
Slipping into my stilettos, I went to the mirror to check myself out. I turned, seeing the crisscrossing diamond straps at my back. The black satin dress I wore was absolutely breathtaking. When I spotted it in the window of a shop in New York, I just had to have it. The gown hugged all my curves like a glove. It was diamond studded around my breasts, pushing them up and giving me some ample cleavage.
Even though I was absolutely exhausted from today’s events, I was looking forward to dinner. My mom told me there was a surprise waiting for me at the country club, so that made all this playing dress-up worth it.
If I knew my mother like I thought I did, it was something big. Grabbing my clutch, I came out of my room. Meeting Mom at the bottom of the steps, we gushed over how great we both looked. However, we knew if we stood here too long fawning over each other, we would be late. Slipping out into the night, we made our way to the country club. We spent most of the drive talking and laughing.
There had been so much that happened while I was gone. Most of the shit Mom told me about had me cackling with laughter. I found out that Mr. Rogers was caught sleeping with Mrs. Simmons, by both of their spouses. It was the most hilarious thing ever. Not only were they cheating on each other, but it was like they swapped spouses. I didn’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life. What a way to be caught with your pants down—literally.
“So, it’s just me and you tomorrow,” I clarified.
She nodded her head with a big smile on her face. “Yup, just you and me, kiddo.”
“Great, because tomorrow is your bachelorette party,” I stated with an evil smile, raising my eyebrows up and down.
She groaned. “No strippers, Claire. Just no.”
“Why?”
“Henry is the only man I want to see that way. Ever,” she chuckled.
“Okay. One, that’s just wrong. Two, you are such a party pooper.”
“Only being honest, my dear.” She shrugged her shoulder, chuckling.
I was so lost in conversation I hadn’t noticed we’d made it to the club. The valet opened our doors, their mouths dropping open in delighted shock. I blushed from their reaction. Taking the valet’s hand, I got out of the car. My mother joined my side, and we began ascending the steps. Just as a doorman opened the door, Henry’s car pulled up. I stood back with my mother clutching my bag in front of me.
The moment the men saw us standing there, their expressions went from being playful to sinful. Henry absolutely ate my mother up with his eyes, but that’s not what had me catching my breath. It was Brad standing there in a black tuxedo, with a lone red rose in his hand. His hair was perfectly gelled; he looked absolutely handsome. His presence quickly reminded me of the time he came to the house begging me to take him back. In that moment, I forgot how to breathe.
He made his way toward me, his gaze taking me in. He stopped just in front of me, offering me the rose. It was the sweetest gesture and I felt my eyes tear up. A person clearing their throat drew my attention. Snapping out of my trance, I saw Henry and my mother examining the situation with watchful eyes. Backing away from Brad, I felt a blush stain my cheeks. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in him, especially not in front of our parents.
As custom for the club would have it, the men held their arms out to my mother and me. Slipping our arms through theirs, we made our way inside. The moment my arm touched his, it felt like I’d been shocked; my body thrumming with arousal. He was the only man to be able to send my body soaring from the simplest touch. I also knew in that moment, he would always be the only one to make me feel this way.
I really wished that our parents weren’t getting married. There was still something between him and me; something that I desperately wanted to pursue, but found I couldn’t. I knew he was feeling the same way when his eyes came to rest on mine. His brilliant blues were lit up with an emotion I was all too familiar with. He still loved me just as much as I did him. I wanted to openly sob, because there was no chance.
My heart was totally on board being with Brad, but my head spoke differently. It was confusing. Should I listen to my heart or listen to my head? With the way I was feeling right now, I would say heart most definitely. But thinking of the aftermath we could leave behind, I desperately needed to follow my head. There was absolutely no other option.
We walked behind our parents toward our table when I felt his breath against my nape. “Claire, I know you can feel it. Why are you fighting us so hard? Just give in, love.”
I fought the lump that grew in my throat. If only it were that easy. To throw caution to the wind, and just follow my heart. “It’s not right, Brad. I shouldn’t feel what I feel for you, but dammit, I can’t help it. I should fucking hate you.”
He briefly kissed my cheek, before whispering something into my ear that would rip my heart in two. “Just let go, Claire Bear. I will never let you fall, at least not alone. This I promise you … I will always be there to catch you.”
Damn this man. I wanted to believe every word he was spouting. He made everything sound so easy, when in fact, this was the hardest thing I’ve ever been met with. With every fiber of my being I wanted to believe him. Being able to be with him would felt like heaven, especially after the years of hell I’d been living in. Would it be worth the plunge to finally take what I wanted … to believe him?
As I sat down, my resolve broke. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep trudging from day to day, thinking I’m living but really just existing. He lit a fire inside of me so long ago; a fire no man has ever been able to flame since.
I decided I believed him. He wouldn’t have said those things if he didn’t believe them without a shadow of a doubt. My mind began to calm as I stopped fighting what was between us. I knew he would never let me fall, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t jump together. I was tired of fighting us. The way I felt about him I was sure would never come again. No one would be able to fill the hole in my heart, except Brad. He was it for me.
“I’m sorry,” I said as everyone seated. “But I need to talk to you, in private,” I steeled my gaze on Brad.
“Is something wrong?” my mother asked.
I shook my head. Henry asked, “Are you okay?”
I nodded my head, a wide, bright-toothed smile. “Yeah, never better.”
“How about a dance then?” Brad offered.
I graciously accepted, letting him take my hand and lift me from the chair. With his hand still clasped around mine, his fingers threaded through mine, I followed him to the dance floor, which was located in a different room, away from prying eyes. He twirled me with expert precision before taking my waist in his hand. He swayed back and forth, waiting for me to start the conversation. I took a calming breath looking into his eyes and began telling him what I figured out.
It may make me the most ignorant woman on earth, but I can’t deny my feelings. No matter how dumb they are. And it may seem fast, but our past dictated the way I feel about him now. He’s done some fucked up things, but so have I. I didn’t stay and fight when that’s what I should have done in the first place. People can change, don’t let someone tell you different. And since coming back here, I’ve seen that. Brad has changed; he’s not the boy he used to be back in high school. He’s the man I fell in love with.
“Brad, I love you. There will never be anyone else for me. I know that now. It’s taken me what seems like forever to come to terms with it. I felt like this in New York, too. Even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself. Ever since you broke my heart all those years ago, I was never able to get you out of my head.” I started tearing up, and he swung me in a circle before pulling me back to him. “I don’t care what anyone says about us or how they perceive our kind of relationship. All I know is that I want you. Today, tomorrow … forever.”
He seemed stunned by my words, not saying anything throughout the rest of the song or halfway through the next. He just stood stock still, letting my words wash over him. His eyes began to water as a big smile broke across his face. He picked me up, swinging me through the air before letting me down. I hugged him tightly to me. I was stepping up on my tiptoes to kiss him, when he shook his head. I frowned, wondering why he was rejecting me after I professed my love for him.
He spoke softly, running the outside of his hand down my face. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for that? To hear those words come from your mouth again. I thought I was going to go crazy thinking that I would never have you in that way again. Claire, you’ve just made me the happiest man alive. I sincerely hope you know that.” He brought his forehead down to mine, closing his eyes. “You mean everything to me. You always have.”
I barked out a laugh as tears swiftly fell onto his hand. “Ditto, stink ass.”
He chuckled, pulling away from me. “You’re really going to have to think of a better nickname. That just ruins the whole moment,”
Inspiration hit me. “What about Brad ‘Thick Dick’ Titan,” I seduced.
He smiled. “Now that, we can work with.”