Thank you BarbraBashana

✿ Aileen's POV

“When did this happen?”

“At the gala.”

“And he told you... not to kiss him again?”

“When I only did it to stop him from getting into a fight.”

Because my touch did something to him.

“Right, right.”

I give Tracy a look.

“Is that why you're so upset? You have that second-grade frowny face and everything” Her lips curl into a smirk.

I annoyingly blow the loose strand of hair from my face.

“I am not upset.”

“Really? When was the last time you spoke to him then?”

“Why would you ask that, Tray? We live in the same house.”

She hums.

“Yes. True, Lee. But are you saying you haven't been doing everything in your power to avoid speaking or seeing him?”

I avert my eyes from the laptop screen.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Fine. I'll elaborate.”

Oh God.

“You're saying you haven't been leaving him his portion of dinner? You haven't been making sure he's not home when you're home... like right now? And you haven't been going to bed early and waking up late so you don't have to talk to him or thirst after his gorgeous body and then be tempted to kiss him?”

“What? No” I huff.

“Leave the lying to me, Lee. Because you suck at it.”

I groan.

“Okay, okay, enough Tray. The bottom line is, I don't wanna do this hot and cold thing anymore. It's draining and I can't take it.”

My cousin hums.

“Okay. You want my advice?”

I could use good advice.

“Iron out your differences through some hot mind-blowing sex” she winks at me.

I take it back.

“Don't go getting any ideas Tray. And I'm not doing mind-blowing sex” I tell her. “ I mean yes he's hot but his personality is enough of a turn-off to make up for it.”

“Oh, so you think he's hot?”

I'm not blind.

I shake my head and ignore her.

“Look, it's bad enough we have to live together and literally do everything together, Tray. I don't want to come to you and talk about him too.”

“Oh you don't have to talk at all, my darling. Speak with your body” Tracy wiggles her shoulders and pukers up her lips.

“Alright, I'm out.”

“Hey, hey, hey I was just teasing” she laughs.

I make a face.

“But on a more serious note, Lee, you need to chill.”

I need to chill?

“Look, I know guys like your man, okay? Not in wealth, but in kind. And if I have to tell you the truth, sweetheart, he didn't mean what he said to you.”

“Which ones? The heart-fluttering ones or the stomach-sinking ones?”

“Lee,” she says firmly, “He didn't mean what he said about you never kissing him again.”

“And how do you know that, Tray?”

“Because I know guys like him. Lee that's his defense mechanism.”

I make a face and Tracy straightens her spine.

“I think his cousin was right, Lee. And he's starting to develop feelings for you.”

“Tray—”

“Hear me out” she stops me. “These feelings might be strange to him. And he doesn't know how to deal with them. So what does he do? He hits his defense mechanism button and pushes you away. Because no matter how much he might enjoy whatever you do to him, it might be a bit overwhelming for him. And because he's scared to admit his feelings, he'll continue to do that. Hence the hot and cold attitude.”

I slowly nod.

“Makes sense.”

“Please clap. This is not easy work to do.”

I chuckle and clap.

“Thank you. Now are you going to have angry sex with him or not?”

“Goodbye,” I push my chair back in an attempt to stand.

“No, no, no, wait!” she calls me back. “Why don't you wear the set he got you?”

“The lingerie? How's that going to help with anything?”

“It's underwear okay? It's not lingerie if it doesn't come with sex handcuffs and a whip.”

“Tracy” I groan.

“Just listen to me okay? I'm the expert here.”

I sigh.

“Just wear the set he got you, go to bed, but don't get under the covers.”

I make a face.

“No. And before you ask, no. He's not going to tuck you in. Oh no” her smile grows a bit sinister, “When he sees you spread out there for him 'asleep'” she air quotes, “He's going get rid of his defense mechanism and fuck you till you forget your name.”

I slowly shake my head.

“How are we related, Tray?”

“We're not. And I'm serious here, Lee. This is golden advice. You won't get it anywhere.”

That I believe.

“The second he sees you in that black-laced underwear, he's going to fuck you till you forget your name. And believe me when I say that's the best type of fuck after angry sex of course” she chuckles, “It's happened to once or twice. I've been a Josephine before.”

“I thought you said that was because the guy you were with forgot your name” I cock my head at her.

“No, no. I forgot my name. So whatever name he called me sounded wrong to me.”

I narrow my eyes a little bit.

“Wasn't Josephine his ex?”

Tracy groans, “Who cares?!”

“I do” I hold my hand up.

“Put your hand down and get your big booty up and into the lingerie.”

My lips curl.

“I thought you said it's not lingerie.”

“Ugh just go change and sleep with the poor guy already. I'm tired of all 'this will they won't they' you've got going since you met.”

I chuckle.

“I'm not wearing it, Tray.”

“Ugh, why do I even bother with you?”

“Because you love me.”

“Unfortunately” she rolls her eyes with a little smile.

“Aww.”

“Shut up and get off my screen you not yet deflowered girl.”

“Alright I'm going, you deflowered at sixteen girl” I shoot back.

Tracy flips me the finger before disconnecting our video chat. I chuckle and shut my laptop, carrying it with me into the bedroom. Just as I'm setting it on the bed, the gift... the not-a-gift... catches my eye and Tracy's very bad advice rings in my head.

I am not wearing that to bed.

I shake my head.

“I am most definitely not,” I say out loud as if to set it in stone.

But you know you're dying to try it on, my conscience quips and I feel an invisible nudge toward it. Go on, you know you wanna.

And I did wanna.

“It doesn't hurt to just try it on, right?” I ask myself and cross over to where the box is sitting.

My dress comes off and so does my underwear. I pick up the black lacy underwear in the box and fit it. And I must say they are exquisite.

Reid clearly hadn’t picked them up at Target. They felt expensive. Luxurious. Decadent. And the bra was miraculously supportive while still being sexy, which was a rare find.

Most bras that fit boobs like mine were beige and boring, not magic gravity-defying lace that let my girls be the best versions of themselves.

So on my way back to the store, I indulge and wear my new silky, sexy underthings to work.

With a dress on over them, obviously.

Although, honestly, they looked amazing on me. If I was ever going to show up at work and play out the nightmarish scene of walking down the aisle toward my desk in nothing but my bra and panties, it would be in these.

Apparently, my fake fiancé has great taste in underwear.

When he's seen many women in and out of their underwear, how can he not? My conscience chides.

The thought gets me mad. But when it dawns on me that my getting this way won't change his past or he himself, I shake it off.

“Time to go back to work.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

After work, Tracy, Sophie, and I met up to have a little girls' night since we hadn't been doing much of our Thursday karaoke lately.

“Hey, so why exactly did Bon say she couldn't make it?” Tracy whispers over to me.

“Well according to Papi, she ate something that did not go down well.”

“Oh.”

“But she's going to be fine. No need for hospitals. And Nora's there with them too.”

“Trust my mom to swoop in and save the day.”

I chuckle.

“So,” I spread my hands on the table, “Anyone got anything they'd like to share with the group?”

“This isn't a support group for drug addicts Lee” Tracy rolls her eyes and lifts a hand to signal the waiter.

“Evening ladies” the cute bartender smiles at us. “Your usual?”

“Yes, please. Thank you, Jake” I smile back at him.

“Oh, could you please change my martini to a lemonade? And I'd like a salad instead of nachos and buffalo wings” Sophie chips in.

“Of course. Excuse me” Jake replies.

“Thanks.”

Tracy and I exchange looks then simultaneously face her.

“What?” she chuckles.

“Martini to a lemonade?” Tracy asks.

“And a salad over nachos and buffalo wings? Are you okay Fifi?” I add.

She smiles.

“Yeah, of course. I just want to switch up my usual tonight.”

“Our usual” I point out.

“There's nothing wrong, Lee” she smiles.

“Are you sure? Because if someone's making comments about your weight or your... so help me God, I swear—”

“Tray, relax” Sophie stops her, “It's nothing like that okay? No one's making comments about my weight or my skin. I just want a salad and a lemonade tonight. I've got nothing against our usual. It's our usual for a reason.”

“You better be telling the truth” Tracy narrows her eyes.

“I am. And I've got something to share with the group” Sophie smiles proudly.

“Ooh,” I pump my eyebrows, “Do tell.”

Tracy chuckles.

“Damien's taking me to Vegas.”

My eyes widen a bit.

“What? Fifi that's great!” Tracy cheers.

“It really is!”

“But wait, what about work?” I ask, earning a nudge on the side from Tracy. “Ow!”

“Only you would bring up work in a conversation like this.”

“It's okay, Tray” Sophie chuckles, “And if you must know, Lee, Dam's friends with my boss. So he got him to give me some time off.”

Good for you, Fifi.

“Wow, Fifi. You really hit it with this one huh?” Tracy chuckles.

“I did. And all Damien says these days is that as long as I’m happy, he’s happy, and everything else is secondary.”

Tracy screws up her face.

“Stop. The two of you are going to give me diabetes, with how lovey-dovey you always are.”

I chuckle.

“It is what it is” Sophie raises her hands. “I can’t help that I’m madly in love with my boyfriend.”

“You called, baby?” Damien’s voice reaches us.

Sophie turns to find him making his way over to her. He bends, and at the same time, she tilts her face up. Their lips meet in a long kiss. And by the time they break apart, Sophie’s flushed, and Dam’s wearing that smirk on his face.

“What are you doing here?” Sophie cups his cheek as she adjusts her glasses.

“Hi ladies” he greets us before looking back at his girlfriend to answer her question. “You forgot the gift you got your mom” he holds up a sizeable gift bag.

“Ooh, what'd you get Janey?” Tracy reaches out only to have me smack the back of her hand. “Ow!”

“It's none of your business.”

“Oh it's not a big deal actually” Sophie chuckles just as our food and drinks arrive. “It's my grandpa's birthday tomorrow and she had me go treasure hunt a foot massager for him.”

“Oh that's a great gift for him, Fifi” I smile. “I hear foot massagers are quite invigorating.”

“You know what would be really invigorating?” Tracy asks, “A man who can find my clit without fumbling around for ten minutes.”

“Tracy, filter” I groan.

Damien laughs.

“Date last night didn’t end as well as you’d hoped?”

“No, Dam. It was such a disappointment. And I thought he had so much potential.”

“Oh I’m sorry, sweetie,” Sophie says.

“At least he learned a little something,” Tracy smirks. “The next girl will thank me.”

I chuckle and shake my head.

“Do you wanna join us, Damien?” I ask.

“No, no. Thanks. But I have to go see my parents.”

“Is everything okay?” Sophie perks up.

“Oh yeah, yeah. It's just a normal visit” he smiles.

“Well, I wish I could go with you to see them.”

“It's okay, baby.”

“Send them my love okay?”

“I will. See you ladies later.”

“Bye Damien!” Tracy and I drag out at the same time, making him chuckle and Sophie blush.

“Blushing twice under three minutes, Fifi” Tracy teases.

“Yeah, that's like a serious crime” I add.

“Stop” she blushes harder.

“Thrice!” Tracy and I gasp in unison.

“You better stop there, Missy. Because I don't know what comes after thrice” Tracy says and sips her martini.

Sophie laughs.

“You two are the worst.”

“Yeah, but you love us so” I smile.

I feel my ponytail drooping, so I tug on my curls to tighten it. The front door opens and I don't know what my eyes end up doing there but I freeze with my mouth open. My fork falls from my now-useless fingers, clattering onto the table.

It was Reid.

What is he doing here?

Eying him as he saunters toward our table, I stick my fork back in my wings.

“Everything okay, Lee?” Sophie asks.

“Oh boy,” Tracy says, her lips curling in a smile. She’d spotted him. “This should be fun. Get ready to get your record broken Fifi.”

All eyes swing to him.

He's wearing a dark shirt and jeans. Looking just as sexy in casual clothes as he did in his signature Armani suit. The stubble on his jaw cuts through his sharp businessman air and hints at something rougher.

With an easy smile, he stops, his eyes sweeping over me and my friends. I can practically feel him sprinkling charm over our table like pixie dust. Even Tracy’s eyes brighten a little.

“Evening, ladies,” he said in that smooth tone.

I open my mouth to say something but can’t quite get anything to come out. His sudden nearness and unfairly charming smile make my lady parts thrill.

Stay calm down there. He’s not getting anywhere near you.

“Hi Reid” Tracy smoothly fills the awkward silence “This is Sophie. Remember her?”

He smiles.

“Of course I do. Fifi right?”

Sophie smiles.

“Yeah... that's me.”

Then his eyes meet mine.

“Don’t you want to acknowledge your fiancé's presence?”

Spell broken.

I shake my head a little.

“Hi” is all I say.

“That's it?” He slides an extra chair over to our table and sits. “I suppose I'll have to try harder tonight.”

Two sets of curious eyes fix on me.

“What? What are you talking about? I... I don't know... what he's talking about.”

“Sure you do” He reaches over and lightly fingers a loose curl behind my ear.

“What are you doing here, Armani?”

“I came to see you. How was work?”

“Fine.”

“You look a little sweaty. Will you need any help peeling off your clothes?”

“Wow,” Tracy says. “Bold.”

Sophie raises her eyebrows and purses her lips.

“Can I see you outside?” I stand, grabbing his shirt sleeve, and tugging him behind me.

“With pleasure” he smirks and follows me through the bar and out the front door without protest.

When we get outside, I whirl on him.

“What are you doing?”

“Just having a little fun.”

“No, I mean here. What are you doing here?”

“I said I came to see you. You look beautiful tonight, Lee” His eyes dip to my chest. “That dress is magnificent on you. Is this what you wore to work? Wow.”

My cheeks warm unintentionally.

“Thanks. And yeah.”

The corner of his mouth lifts.

“You’re wearing them, aren’t you?”

I know exactly what he means—and I am wearing them. But his question flusters me. I look down at myself as if I'm trying to guess what he's talking about. Reid chuckles softly.

“Of course you are, Lee. I love that you wore them for me.”

“I didn’t wear them for you. I didn’t even know I was going to run into you.”

He just smiles.

“I’m serious, Armani. I didn’t know I’d see you today.”

“Because you've been avoiding me. Correct?”

I frown.

“How did you find me?”

“I tracked your phone.”

I frown harder.

“What?! When? Why?”

“Well I don't know if you've noticed but you've been waking up very late this past week. And we barely see each other. I get home and you're not there. And when you are there, you're asleep. You either wake up too early or sleep in too late into the day before going to work. So I thought I'd use that opportunity to install a tracking app on your phone to know where you go so I can intercept and see you, Lee.”

I pull my phone out of my back pocket and move closer to the small birdbath in the corner.

“Woah, woah, what are you doing?” he stops me.

“Going to drop my phone in the water so you can't track me anymore.”

He chuckles.

“Can't you just ask me to stop tracking you?”

I jut out a hip.

“Would you if I did?”

He bobs his head.

“Fair point.”

I snatch my hand away.

“Hey, Lee, I don't mean to spy on you okay? I just... we live together but I barely see you now. And it's uncomfortable for me. I feel like you're ignoring me. Are you ignoring me?”

“And if I am, that’s an invitation to come barge in on my girls' night and say stuff like that in front of my friends?”

“Angel, I’m just playin’ with you.”

I blink at him, a sad realization washing over me. He was just playing with me. And that was exactly how it felt. Like I was a plaything. An amusement.

Temporary.

I don’t want to be someone’s toy.

I shake my head.

“Whatever. I need to get back to my friends.”

He leans away and a flicker of surprise passes across his features. A second later it's gone, hidden by his well-practiced charm. Holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender, he takes a step back.

“All right then. I’ll see you at home.”

I watch him turn and walk away, feeling slightly sick to my stomach as he gets into his car and drives off.

Am I being too harsh? Unfair?

I frown and shake my head.

I bet he didn't ask himself this when he asked me not to kiss him again.

And without another thought, I turn and walk back inside. Knowing I'm not going to enjoy my nachos and buffalo wings anymore.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

“Please promise me you won't go exploring any more street food Bon” I sigh into the phone.

“Oh trust me when I say I won't. Lesson learned, Lee.”

“The hard way...” I hear my uncle chip in.

I smile a little and Bonita chuckles.

“But I'm fine now Lee. Don't worry.”

I nod.

“How was your dinner? Did you have fun?”

“Yeah. We got to catch up. It was good. Wish you were there though.”

“Count me in next time.”

“We will” I chuckle.

“I heard it was really eventful though. There was a surprise guest.”

Sophie.

“She really can't keep her mouth shut to save her life huh?”

“Hey, don't go saying that. She's done nothing wrong” Bonita defends.

I pull my phone away from my ear and check the time.

“I mean I just left. When did she call to fill you in?”

“That's none of your business.”

“I think it is when it's about me, Bon.”

She just chuckles.

“What did he want? Is everything okay between you two?” her voice grows soft.

“Everything's fine Bon. Don't worry. He just wanted to ask me something.”

“Was it about setting a date for the wedding?”

“Bonnie.”

“Okay, okay. I'll stop.”

“Thank you” I stare at my fingernails.

“Now what are you getting him for his birthday? You know it's this weekend.”

I frown.

“And why are you keeping track of his birthday, Bon?”

“Nothing. You have prepared his gift haven't you?” she asks.

What do you buy someone who has everything in this world?

“Yeah sure” I mutter, “And before you ask, I'm not telling you what it is” I add, turning off my car's engine, grabbing my things, and getting out.

“What? Why not?”

I lock my car and activate the alarm.

“One, because it's not your birthday. And two, because it's not any of your business. Now please promise me you'll get a proper check-up at the hospital in the morning.”

She groans.

“You are your father's daughter.”

I smile and walk to the front door.

“And I will go to the hospital. I promise.”

“Good. I'm home now, Bon. So I gotta go.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“Kiss Papi for me and tell Cami she does not have my permission to move into my room.”

Bonita laughs.

“I will. Goodnight sweetheart.”

“Night. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

The line goes dead and I take a few moments to recollect my thoughts.

What do you buy someone who's already got everything in this world?

I shake my head.

I need a cold shower to help me brainstorm ideas.

I turn the door handle and step through only to come to an abrupt stop at the sight of see. Sirius barks my welcome and that gets Reid to look up from his phone.

“Good, you're home. And no, I wasn't about to track you” he says.

I look around.

“What's going on here?”

Reid looks around.

“What's going on where?”

“Here. Why do you have suitcases out?”

“Oh you mean these?” he chuckles.

I arch a brow and fold my arms.

“Yeah, these. What's happening?” I repeat.

“Why these are for us, Lee.”

I narrow my eyes.

“Explain.”

“They're for the trip we're going on.”

“I'm sorry what?”

“The trip we're going on” he repeats easily.

“We?”

“Yes. Are you intentionally being a parrot or do you need your ears washed?”

I frown.

“What trip are you talking about? I'm not going on a trip.”

He sighs.

“Of course not, Lee. We are” he gestures between us.

“A trip to where? And why?”

He sighs and gets up from the chair he's seated on.

“Okay. So aside from the gala my parents organize, every year they throw a surprise birthday party for me. And two days before my birthday each year, they send me away on a trip so they can surprise me with a party when I come back.”

“It's not a surprise birthday party if you know about it, Armani. That's not how surprise parties work” I point out.

“Well, that's how it is. So go pack. I already set out a suitcase for you...”

“Woah, woah, woah. I'm not going anywhere, okay?”

“Lee...”

“No, Armani” I frown, “I already moved my entire life to accommodate you and everything that has to do with this ruse. I am not moving things around to fit a two-day spontaneous trip to God knows where. I have a job and a life where you're not in it.”

Reid's forehead creases.

“I have a job too, you know. And stop talking as if you're not your own boss. And mind you, you signed a contract. And this trip is a part of that contract.”

“How Armani? How?”

“You can't seriously expect me to show up in California without my fiancée do you?” he asks.

California?

“Doing that would raise the suspension and jeopardize this entire plan. And that, Aileen, is one risk I am not going to take. And so you're coming to California with me, and that's that.”

I want to say something but I don't. Not because he didn't make sense, or that I couldn't form sensible words, no.

It was because there was something about about his tone that warmed my insides and temporarily made me forget that I was mad at him from the night of the gala, and mad at him right now.

It's only when his phone rings and cuts through the silence that the spell I'm under breaks. And my heart cracks with the realization that I'm going to put my life on hold for someone who would never even think of doing the same for me.

Not even as a joke.

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter