He called that night as promised. He also called every night for the next few weeks. I hadn't heard from Max since our date and honestly, I wasn't expecting to. It was probably for the best. I didn't think my head could deal with both Reed and Max.

We saw each other several times. He'd come over and took evening walks with me. Sometimes we'd watch t.v. while he massaged my feet. We didn't have sex, but there was some kissing. Most of it innocent. I knew he was trying to give me time. I appreciated that because my head was still a little jumbled and unsure.

We didn't talk about Abby, but he did take me to see Uncle Dwight once. We took him dinner and sat with him to watch some of his shows. I could tell the old man enjoyed our company. He jokingly told Reed that I was his favorite of all his nieces and nephews. I vowed to still visit him even if things didn't work out with me and Reed. I could bring him over a hot dinner every once in a while.

One day we were out walking and the sun was just beginning to set. Reed grabbed my hand and squeezed.

"I have something I want to ask you."

"Ok,"

"The gym is celebrating their ten-year anniversary and they’re having a ball. I was hoping that you would be my date."

He’d stopped so I followed suit. I studied his face. He looked solemn, but his eyes were hopeful. His eyes moved to the ground. I could tell that he already felt defeated. My instinct was to say no, but what could it hurt. We'd been working on communication and spending more and more time together. Aside from the occasional kissing he'd kept to his word of trying to move forward as friends.

"When is it?"

He looked up from the ground. He gave me the most genuine smile I'd see from him in a while.

"It's next Saturday."

"Alright, I'll go."

"You will?" His eyes were bright, and that smile got even bigger.

I nodded my head in confirmation. Before I knew what was happening, he had my body in a tight embrace and my feet were several inches off of the ground. My hands went to his shoulders. He placed several light kisses on my mouth.

"I was so nervous to ask you. I felt like a sixteen-year-old boy asking the head cheerleader to prom."

I laughed at that. "I'm far from the head cheerleader, bud."

He placed me back on the ground but still held me in his arms. His eyes were locked on mine.

"No, you're better than anything I ever expected."

I removed my hands from his shoulders. "We better get back. I have to work in the morning."

"Yeah, ok," he said releasing me from his hold. We walked back to my place in silence.

I called Noel that night and let her know about the ball. She insisted that we had to go and shop for dresses. I wasn't particularly happy about buying a new dress and tried to persuade her into agreeing that I had something in my closet that would do the trick. She wasn't buying it and gave me the time and location to meet for our shopping extravaganza.

Since we had such a short time frame to get our shopping done between work and life, we decided to take a half day at our jobs the Friday before the ball. Noel insisted the short time frame would force me to choose something. She said otherwise I'd be too wishy-washy. Dang her for knowing me so well.

We went to several big name department stores with no luck before trying a local boutique that a friend from Noel's job told her about. They specialized in plus-size clothing and according to her co-worker the women that worked there really had great eyes for fashion.

"Hi ladies, welcome to Finesse & Flare. My name's Mel. Is there anything I can help you find?"

The woman that greeted us was beautiful. Her body was full figure much like my own. Her smile was kind and inviting. I immediately felt at ease with her.

"I need a dress."

"You've stopped at the right place then. What's the occasion?"

"It's a ball, so I guess I'm looking for something more formal."

The other woman clapped her hands together and smiled at me like I'd just told her she won the lottery.

"Awesome, formal gowns are some of my favorite things to shop for. We just got a few new ones in this week. Do you have a particular style or color you're looking for?"

"No, I just want something that I'm comfortable in."

Noel, my oh so helpful best friend piped in. "She needs something that shows off the twins. Maybe something that also hugs her booty. She has a man that needs to know how good he could have it."

I shot Noel a glare, but she just smiled at Mel.

"Oh yay, I'm excited. I have a few dresses that I think will look wonderful on you. That man will have heart palpitations when he sees you by the time we're done."

The sales associate brought out five dresses for me to start out with. The first two were absolute nos. I looked like a sack of potatoes in the first one. The second one was too tight for my comfort although Noel argued that it was perfect.

"Try the purple one on next. I've always thought you looked great in purple."

I looked at the dress Noel wanted me to try on. It didn't look like it would fit. I was sure that it would be too tight and my boobs would be spilling over. She wouldn't shut-up unless I tried it on, so I hauled it into the dressing room, set on getting it over with quickly.

I pulled the dress up over my hips and slid the straps over my arms. I reached back and zipped it as much as I could but I needed help to get it the rest of the way. I looked at my reflection in the mirror before exiting the fitting room. I was shocked by what I saw. The deep purple was fitting for my skin tone. The straps were gold and went up and around my neck and criss crossed in the back. The back of the dress dipped to mid back exposing a portion of my upper back.

"What's taking so long," Noel said from the other side of the curtain. Before I could answer she pulled back the curtain and appeared behind me in the small fitting room.

"Penny, that is the dress. You look beautiful."

"You think so?"

"Psh, I know so. Reed is going to want to jump your bones as soon as you open the door."

We exited the dressing room to see what Mel thought of the dress.

"You look lovely. I think Noel is right, this is the dress. Hold on just a second."

I twirled in the mirror trying to see the dress from all angles. In just a few minutes Mel returned with a shoe box and some earrings.

"Here, try these on."

Both the shoes and the earrings were a perfect addition to the dress.

"Okay, I guess I'll take it all." I mentally tried to calculate how much this was going to set me back.

Mel’s excitement matched Noel’s "I'm so excited for you. You are definitely going to be the bell of the ball."

When we went to pay Noel pulled a card out of her purse.

"You can't pay for my things," I said pulling out my own.

"I'm not, Reed is. This shopping spree is in him."

My mouth dropped open at that admission. "What? How?"

"I still go to that gym silly. He stopped me the other day when he found out I was going with you to shop. He gave me his card and told me to make sure you got everything you needed. You don't argue with a man that gives you his credit card sweetie."

"I can't let him do that."

"Oh you can, and you will." She handed the card over to Mel who happily swiped the card.

"She's right if a man wants to treat you let him. My fiance spoils me and I sure do let him."

We walked out of the store with my gown and accessories in hand. I still couldn't believe that Reed had footed the bill. The dress wasn't cheap either.

Noel interrupted my thoughts with what she saw as far more pressing matters."So, now that that's over. Do you want to have dinner on Reed's dime?"

Ever the opportunist.