"I am sure they mixed up our sizes, these things happen." Lisa, Diamond's most trusted and longest friend out of all her friends spoke as she and Diamond starred back in the mirror confusion colouring their faces as Diamond's bride's maid dress was a little too tight than necessary.

Yes the woman had curves and was a little on the thick side but she took measurements couple of weeks ago for Sam's wedding and while others' gold dresses with spaghetti straps fit them like a charm, hers was too tight and she wouldn't be able to walk around in it for longer let alone dance in it.

The material was already soft, one mistake she'd tear it off with her butt.

"I have gained weight." Diamond said out loud. She indeed has. Three months of being in a relationship with Orlando had her gaining weight and she did not want that. She hasn't been exercising everyday as usual but she still managed to do so twice a week. Orlando also had her performing some wild positions in bed that should be considered exercising.

"A healthy relationship does that to a person baby. When last did you have a man worship the ground you walked on? Not even Marcus was this romantic and caring." Lisa rolled her eyes when she thought back to Marcus. She was happy that Diamond did not shy away from Orlando's love. The girl needed it more than she knew.

Now she was gaining weight, glowing and ever smiling, she looked carefree and that was what Lisa was for, seeing her best friend happy.

"I need to start watching what I eat." Diamond was sad, the dress was just too tight and she wondered what the guests at Sam's wedding would think of her. How she would look on photos.

Her phone ringing snapped her out of the pity zone she was heading to, the pit of worry and sadness she was about to fall into. Seeing Orlando's name on the screen she quickly answered it and told him of her dilemma. The wedding was tomorrow and today was the last day to make fittings, what the hell would she do with a dress that did not fit her?

"Calm down baby. Take a picture and sent to me, let me see you." Orlando said on the other line but Diamond was not having it.

"So you will laugh at me? No. besides it is your fault that I have gained weight. You have been feeding me junk food and everything else under the sun, it is your fault that tomorrow I will not have a dress for the wedding and Sam will be sad that I bailed out on her in the last hour." She cried.

"Listen, just take the picture of you in the dress let me see, and I am sorry... for... making you uh gain weight baby. Just please humour me?"

Diamond sighed and quickly she took a snap of her dress and sent to him. "You see? I can't even breathe right in this dress. It is kind expensive and I don't want to snap it open." She cried and made to take it off and wore her sweat pants that she came wearing. She looked herself in the mirror as if it was the first time. Her boobs had grown larger than she knew them to be. This was not happening. Soon she'd have to change her wardrobe. All because of weight gain.

"Let me call you back baby. Give me a minute." He hung up before she could even say anything. Throwing her shirt back on she joined her friends a solemn look marring her beautiful features.

"What's wrong Dee?" Janelle asked a champagne flute in her hand. She had the Bantu knots on her head and she looked absolutely beautiful. "Is it still the dress that has you looking like your pet dog died?"

Diamond nodded, she wasn't feeling okay. Someone was wearing a perfume that was messing with her. "I don't feel too good." She expressed, her face morphed into one that was disgusted and that of a nauseous person. "I need air." She stepped into the balcony of the two story wedding shop and the fresh air helped calm her down.

She took deep breaths to calm the nausea down. Must have been the Chinese takeaway she and Orlando indulged in late at night after their intense love making session.

"Babe." Sam walked behind her, handing her a glass of cold water. "Don't worry about the dress. I am sure we will find something I guess." She didn't want Diamond to worry about a dress but she wasn't happy about her looking different from what she had envisioned for her bride maids. She was about to have a dream wedding, one she chose everything she would like as her husband to be did not care of the little details except picking the venue and the cake. He was a fan of sweet treats so he chose all the desserts their guests will have and Sam was happy he had a helping hand on the matters of their wedding.

But the colours of the bride maids gowns and the all the deco, she placed her heart on it and couldn't wait to see her friends all standing in a line wearing the gold dresses and looking like fine wine.

"Sam I'll ruin your fantasy. I don't know... what are we going to do? The last thing I need is to ruin things for you. And I also don't want to be different from others. Maybe I shouldn't be a bride's maid then." Diamond chucked the water down, feeling the cold liquid soothing her insides. Chinese food was officially cancelled.

"You're bailing out on me? Dee I need you there, you're one of my best friends. We have been there for each other since we met, you have been family. You can't bail out on me." When she least expected it Diamond burst into tears apologizing for even thinking that.

Something was totally up with Diamond. She was sad, too sad. She was crying over things she'd never cry about. Matter of fact Diamond Barry never cried.

"Hey... hey it is just a dress we can still find a gold dress. Don't cry. You're gonna make me cry too now." Sam hugged her and rubbed circles on her back trying to calm her down. "Dee come on now."

She pulled back and looked down playing with her hands. "I'm being stupid, I'm sorry." She offered a small sad smile. She couldn't even understand why she was so emotional over a whole dress, a simple dress.

"Sorry to disturb you but uhh- are you alright ma'am?" the shop assistant asked seeing Diamond's tear tainted face.

"Yes, I was just being stupid." She accepted the lady's handkerchief. And cleaned herself up with it.

"What did you need?" Sam asked, wondering if it was her dress that was now a problem as they have been waiting for it to arrive. She was anxious but as the girls' dresses were also fine, she believed that her dress was also in good conditions.

"Your dress has arrived but also we have a dress that is the same design and will fit you Diamond. Might be a little bigger but we will have it tailored immediately." She smiled at the young ladies and Diamond was confused. They clearly said that they did not have any more of the dresses as Sam ordered only five of the dresses.

"We have it in our other store up North and it should arrive in few hours. I will take down your new measurements and tonight you will have your dress." The assistant beamed and Diamond was still confused.

"Well we just reckoned it was only here and we apologize. A mister Orlando York requested for this dress on our website and as you know, when money talks things move around. The store owners did what they had to do and we have the dress."

Sam was the first to squeal now her ladies will all be draped in fine golden dresses that were all the same pattern. She was ecstatic and wanted to hug Orlando herself while Diamond on one hand couldn't believe he did that and all for her.

"He really loves me doesn't he? I get that he has money and can make things happen but if you don't like or love someone you wouldn't go such extra miles right?" it was as if she had the revelation of Orlando's love. She was starting to more than believe it, she was feeling it.

"Are you even asking that? Anyone with eyes can tell that, that man is in love with you and is patient with you and wants to spend his forever with you." Sam was a hopeless romantic and wanted that for her friends as well. The raw kind of love that had you finding peace when you're with your significant other.

Anyone and everything else can be hectic and challenging but the one in your life that you love should be the easy part.

"I have been feeling really weird around him lately. My heart threatens to burst each time he touches me. And when I'm away from him, I miss and long for him. I think... I think I love him too." She said it as if she was unsure, and then a smile spread on her face. "Yeah, I love that man and I want him to know." She grinned.

"Take my measurements now, I have a man to declare my love to." Her toes wiggled in the sandals she wore. The tears were long gone, the sadness has diminished, and bubbles now took over her being. She was happy and wanted to share her happiness with her baby.

Rushing back to Orlando's apartment she found him gone. Calling him, his phone went to voicemail. She was bumped and an idea popped up. She was going to set up a romantic picnic for the two of them on the roof. And she did just that.

She bought candles, a new perfume, a new black body hugging dress, new lace underwear set, she went all out. She then cooked for him a simple chicken and roasted vegies but then she wanted grilled cheese with ham and she also did that and then she ordered spicy chicken wings.

She set up on the roof then went back downstairs same time Orlando returned from God knows where. He was not at the office when she called in and she assumed he was out on meetings, it was a Friday after-all and it was business as usual. She had taken the day off as his assistant to go dress fitting.

"Hey baby." she greeted him, dressed in the new dress and gold heels. "You look tired."

Orlando shook off his jacket suit and threw it on the couch and drew her in his arms. "I had a rough day. I was with grandma and dad. Old man has agreed to go on therapy and it had taken me and grams screaming and lashing and all that crap for him to realize he has been hurting us. Then I had another meeting and the new hotel is coming together but shit I have lost some bucks Barry." He told her and the kissed her before she could reply.

The kiss was slow and tender. "You look absolutely amazing in this dress. And you smell good too."

Diamond blushed but still wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you. You should take a shower and join me for dinner." She pecked his lips.

"Okay baby. I'll join you for dinner." He smiled at her. Even though he had planned to get home, shower and sleep he'd change his plans to accommodate hers. Besides, it was just dinner.

"Why are we eating on the rooftop?" his words got stuck in his throat when he saw what she did. It was so gorgeous and he felt his heart beat dramatically.

"Wow... this looks amazing." He complimented.

"Yeah I got candles but the wind blew them off so I go these cute little lights." She explained and took his hands and sat down.

"Orlando, thank you." She told him.

"For?"

"For the dress, for today. I was a mess and you pulled through for me, thank you." She almost choked on her words.

"It was nothing baby, you were sad and I wanted to help you. I am glad I could." He smiled a heart-warming smile.

"It made me realize that you don't do the things you do for me because you have money. You do them because you want to... and also because you do love me." She couldn't look at him in the eye but she tried to.

"I can't see myself not being with you. Even when this thing started and I told myself each time we had sex that it meant nothing, I got jealous when I saw you with other women. I got mad when you didn't give me the attention I wanted. And when you asked me to try with you and see where this was going, I did it because of selfish reasons. I did it because I could see that you liked me and wanted me, I also did it because I didn't want other women touching you or talking to you or even breathing next to you." She almost chuckled of how that sounded.

"Possessive much Barry?" Orlando joked and the both chuckled and she nodded on the sly.

"But I have come to realize that I don't want not to be with you. I work with you and I miss you when you are out of my sight. I tell my mom about you all the time... my dad can't even wait to meet you and that is when I realized that I love you and I want you to know it." Her eyes were glossy when she declared her love for him.

Orlando looked at her, his eyes searching her face for anything that could make him think she was not being honest but nothing. She was as honest as daylight.

"Say that again." He told her and she furrowed her brows. "Tell me you love me again."

She smiled and went to sit on his lap, her dress riding up. "I love you Orlando York and I don't want to second guess this thing between us anymore. I love you and I want be yours, my heart, my body hell you can have my soul." She grinned and Orlando grabbed her face and kissed her so passionately.

"Can we eat first?" Diamond asked when he felt his member growing underneath her but she was hungry and wanted to eat the spicy chicken wings.

"You're always hungry these days Barry, but sure let's eat."

One of two chapters down... and #Orlando will be wrapped.