Something Gained

Chapter 3

People slowly started arriving to the barbecue, Tanner has always been very friendly so he has a lot of friends. Luckily a lot of them have girlfriends or fiancé's so the girls hangout while the guys talk football and beer. 

"I love that outfit on you Rach, I would give anything for your body" I turned and smiled at Lori, she's the fiancé to one of Tanners close friends, Robert. 

"thank you" I took a drink of the home made sangria that Alisha helped me make

"I agree, your body is to die for girl" and with that the rest of the girls began to chime in and compliment my so called "nice body"

So nice that it can't do one of the main things its made to do, grow a child.

Not now, I can't do this now. Its a compliment

I have to talk myself out of my own bad thoughts sometimes, some days its harder than others

"thanks girls" I shifted my body weight to my right leg, popping out my left hip to accentuate my curves trying to make myself feel confident "im going to make sure the guys don't need anything" 

I walked away from the gossip and chatter and made my way to the back patio, as I stepped out on the deck I turned to look for Tanner and I made eye contact with someone new. He had dark brown hair, beautiful hazel eyes and an attractive figure. His t-shirt hugged his body in a way that accentuated his muscular body. He noticed me looking at him and shot me a smile. 

"whats up Rach" Tanner walked up next to me and snapped me out of the trance that guy put me in. Thank God he did because I almost forgot what I came out here for

"just came to see if anyone needed anything" I turned to Tanner so that it would be obvious that I was staring at his friend 

"actually can you bring my friend Damon a drink?" 

who is Damon?

Tanner turned to look at the exact guy that I was having a stare off with

"what do you want to drink dude?" he walked over to, Damon I guess, and playfully backhanded his arm to get him out of the conversation he was in

Damon turned to look at me again, the way his eyes met mine sent butterflies in my stomach. Something I hadn't had in a while, unfortunately. 

"Anything is fine with me" he ran his fingers through his shiny hair, pushing it to the back of his head "whats your favorite drink?" he moved his head gesturing towards me, waiting for an answer

"umm, I like squirt. I can bring you one of those" I almost blurted out the sentence 

He raised his brows a bit before responding "sounds good to me" he smirked 

"You know what, im so rude.." Tanner began filling the silence "I didn't introduce you" His head turned back and forth between his friend and I "Rachel, this is Damon. He's a childhood best friend.." He smiled at me almost angrily "Damon, this is my wife"

"ohh" Damon spoke softly, his voice was almost non-existent. he dropped his head down facing his feet and smirked before pulling his head back up to face me and smile "its nice to meet you Rachel" he extended his hand out to greet me, his dimples making an appearance 

"likewise" I shook his hand as I admired his jawline "ill go get that drink for you" I pulled my hand back beside me, turned on my heals and walked inside to get him a drink 

wow

"have you girls seen the new guy" the gossip continued as I walked back inside after taking more drinks to the guys 

"he is such a hottie" Alisha spoke as she fanned herself as to demonstrate just how hot she thought he was 

"he's definitely not hard on the eyes" one of the girls continued the conversation 

"what do you think Rach?" Lori asked, everyone seemed to turn to me to see what I would say 

"I mean, I guess.." I tried to not make it obvious that I thought he was attractive 

"Oh come on Rach, you have eyes. You can say someone looks attractive" Alisha pushed, she knows me well enough to know when im holding back 

I shrugged as the girls continued talking about him

"im going to the bathroom" I announced before making my way to the bathroom. 

I washed my hands with fresh cold water, its pretty warm out today and something about keeping my hands cold helps me keep cool. Its been that way all my life, if my hands are warm I feel warmer, and if they're cold I feel cooler. 

I looked at myself in the mirror, fixing a few strands of her that had gone crazy. I stopped and starred at myself, at my hair, my face, my body. I couldn't help but think negatively about myself, not at my physical appearance but my body in itself. 

I can't keep thinking like this

I pulled my dress down a bit, fluffed my hair a little and pulled my phone out to see what time it is as I walked out of the bathroom

I stopped when I ran into someone and felt a hand on my waist keeping me from falling backwards

"Oh im so sorry.." I looked up and locked eyes with the warm hazel eyes that had caught my attention earlier

"Hi Rachel"