I woke up flustered and almost sweaty from the wet dream I had.
I had one of these dreams once, after watching some movie I can't even remember the name of now. The actor was so handsome and built nicely that I ended up dreaming about him. But this time it wasn't something like that. This time I was dreaming of Lorenzo.
After last night's events, I could barely fall asleep. I kept spinning in my bed, the image of his naked chest and defined abs and strong arms not leaving my mind. Why did I even have to offer to help him with taking his clothes off? He must be thinking how weird I am or how I'm trying to seduce him again. Oh, God.
I hide my face in my hands, trying to get the image out of my mind. I sigh before getting up from my bed. I need a shower, that'll help me with my nerves.
After I'm done with my morning routine and after I dressed, I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Thank god no one is here. Especially not him. I open the fridge and take some lemons out so I could make lemonade for myself. After I've poured it into a glass I put a little bit of sugar and take a sip, almost choking on my lemonade when I hear his voice.
"Good morning" he greets me which still surprises me. In the last couple of weeks, he always acknowledges me but after that incident in his office, I thought everything would go back to him being cold towards me.
"Good morning" I quietly greet him back and can't help but blush when I look at him. The images of my dream and of last night making their way back into my mind and I'm not sure if I just went crazy or what, but it seemed like he just smiled. It was quick though, it disappeared as fast as it appeared but maybe I just imagined it.
"You know...what I said last night...I meant it. Even though I was still a bit tipsy but I know what I said and it might've helped me to feel free to say it. I just wanted to say it again so you don't question it because of my last night's state. I really meant it Aria" he tells me what honestly did go through my mind. I wasn't sure if he was aware of what he did and said last night, but now I am and I can't help but smile a little.
I know I maybe shouldn't be so fast to forgive or go past the things he's done, but I know he has his own battles and maybe can't control himself. And this situation on top of it sure doesn't help. So I tried to not take it to the heart even though it was painful, but at least he made progress and apologized for real this time.
"Okay. I know that now" I tell him and he nods his head, looking kind of relieved. There is a moment of silence. I fidget in my spot not knowing what to do or say but he seems unbothered by it. He just stands there and looks at me. I meet his eyes but quickly look away, now staring at my glass of lemonade.
"Um...do you want some lemonade? Or maybe you're hungry, do you want to eat breakfast?" I quietly ask. I'm a shy person by nature but he makes me even more shy and nervous just by his mere presence.
"Breakfast sounds nice" he smiles a little and sits down on one of the high chairs around the kitchen island. "Okay, what would you like to eat? I could make you something or do you want me to call Ma-" I try to ask but he interrupts me. "There's no need to call Mari. I want you to cook for me" he says but shocks me.
Ever since that day when he ate my spaghetti without knowing I made them, he always joins us for dinner or lunch, no matter if I cooked or not. But I thought he ate my meals just because he couldn't escape it or something. And now he's asking me to cook for him? It's just hard to believe he's the man I met just a month ago.
"O-okay" I stutter and I hate it. That started just a few years ago and it's because of my mother. When we were alone she would always scold me for talking back or talking at all, which resulted in me stumbling over my words when I did try to speak to people. I hate she has such an impact on me even though I don't live with her anymore.
He chuckles at me before standing up and pouring himself a glass of lemonade before he sits back down again. "What would you like?" I ask him and he answers after gulping down the juice. "Whatever you want. I know it'll be delicious anyways". I can't help but blush at his words. I'm just not used to this nice side of him and I would lie if I said that I don't like it.
I see a little smirk forming on his face at my reaction and I quickly turn around to start preparing pancakes. I'm craving them and since he doesn't care what I'll make, I decided to go with that.
...
"Come on you two, it's gonna be fun, and plus we can help you decide which suit to get" Lindsey looked at Lucas and Lorenzo as she put her arm around my neck.
We were currently at home. Lindsey came over after Lucas and Lorenzo came back from work. She wants to drag them to the mall so they can find something to wear at Lorenzo's celebration party. I didn't think much of it because I considered staying at home while they're out since I already found the dress the last time Lindsey and I went shopping. But she doesn't allow me to stay home and wants to drag me with them as well.
I sat on the couch and silently watched them. Lindsey told me how the three of them were best friends since childhood. They always stuck around each other and didn't make friends outside of their little circle. She said that other kids didn't like them because they came from famous families and had their stereotypical opinions about them and also because they didn't seem friendly and more so cold towards other kids.
I could see the sadness on her face as she talked about it. She said that followed them through high school and even college and that they basically got used to it. She said "Nobody knew that we have struggles of our own. Everybody thought that we had perfect lives but what they didn't know and will never know is the inner battles we all have and that we are more than just what meets the eye".
Eventually, they accepted that they will always be the "outcast" and realized that as long as they had each other they don't need anybody else.
I might not know them for long but I can say that those people missed out on them. The three of them had different stories to them, complicated and beautiful stories that not a lot of people know about. I can only hope to know at least a little piece of them. No matter that Lorenzo is cold and reserved, no matter that Lucas is goofy and flirty, no matter that Lindsey is cheerful and bossy, they are all masks that hide the real them. People threw them away, didn't give them a chance so they decided to not give a chance into knowing them as well.
"Ughh, fine. But this is the first and last time we're going shopping with you" Lucas gave his ultimatum to Lindsey and she smiled brightly before lifting me up from the sofa and dragging me outside the house.
We got into the front seats of her car while Lorenzo and Lucas had to sit in the back. I could see Lindsey trying not to laugh at the men in the back seat. It seemed her small car was even smaller for the two.
"Fuck this. We're going with my car" Lorenzo sighed after he tried to make himself comfortable but didn't succeed. He opened his door and left the car with Lucas following him. Lindsey groaned in annoyance before we stepped out of her car as well and got into Lorenzo's bigger car. Now the men sat upfront while we were in the back.
The car ride wasn't that long and soon we made it to the mall. Lindsey immediately grabbed my hand and lead the way to the different clothing stores. The last time we were here she didn't find anything she liked so she wanted to try her luck again, hence why I'm here again.
We went through some stores before we ended up at the Armani store. The four of us walked in and a woman immediately walked over to us. "Hello, welcome to Armani. I'm Scarlett and I'll be at your service today if you need any help" she smiled brightly before she scanned all of us individually.
She nodded her head at Lucas and Lindsey as if she approved what they are wearing before her eyes landed on me. She looked me up and down and made a face that didn't seem so pleased and I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
I was aware that the three people that surrounded me were dressed nicely and already in some famous brand of clothing while I was dressed in simple black high-waisted jeans and a cropped white sweater that came just above my hips. I don't think I looked bad but apparently, I did. I tried to not care as I never cared about branded clothes even though my family had the money to afford them. I was just never into it and I spend a lot of time in my house so I didn't see the point in buying expensive clothes if I'm never going to show it off.
She soon enough averted her gaze from me and looked at Lorenzo. She suddenly smirked as she checked him out. She took her extra time to do that and I don't know why but I didn't like it. And apparently, Lorenzo didn't either. "We won't be needing you," he said and walked towards me. He put his hand on my lower back and lead me further into the store, all while ignoring the shocked woman.
Lindsey and Lucas follow close behind us before we separated with me following Lindsey so I could help her choose her outfit.
She came out of the dressing room in a beautiful black women's suit. The black dress pants hugged her tall legs beautifully and the black suit jacket showed her feminine side with the low v cut. I smiled at her as she was spinning around, waiting for my opinion.
"This one is the best one so far. You look amazing" I say and she smiled brightly before hugging me. "I know right. I love it. I'm gonna take this one" she said before going back into the dressing room.
I decided to wander around while I wait for Lindsey. I look at all the clothes displayed here, ignoring the look Scarlett is giving me. I could tell she is judging me pretty hard, probably thinking what am I doing here in the first place.
As I turn around I bump into someone and try to steady myself. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to do that" Lucas chuckled and held my arms so I don't fall. "It's okay" I smiled at him.
"Can you help me with something?" he asked and I nodded, letting him continue. "I can't choose. Should I go for the black one or the grey one?" Lucas held out the two suits in front of me. He put one on his front before switching to the other so I could picture it better and help him choose. "I would go with the grey one" I answer him and he smiles. "I like that one better too," he said before going to the dressing room.
I turned around to look at some dresses. They were beautiful but the price wasn't so pretty.
"So. You're gonna help him but you won't help me?". I quickly turned around at Lorenzo's voice.
"Huh? Oh, I can h-help you too. If you want?" I told him quietly and he gave me a small smile. He actually smiled and I'm sure I wasn't imagining it this time.
"I can help you also. And surely better than she can" Scarlett said as she joined us. She ran her eyes up and down on me before looking back at Lorenzo. Lorenzo's smile was gone as he laid eyes on her and he quickly turned his focus back on me.
"No thank you. My wife will help me" Lorenzo said while keeping his eyes on me, making both me and Scarlett shocked at the label he used for me. I mean technically I am his wife but no one besides his co-workers needed to know that.
"Come here" Lorenzo took my hand and lead me towards the dressing room, leaving still shocked Scarlett behind.
I sat on the little couch while he went inside the dressing room to change. I am a little surprised that he wants my opinion but I didn't want to comment on it.
Soon he came out, wearing the first suit out of two. This one was black, with black dress pants, a white dress shirt, a black suit vest, a suit jacket, and finishing it all with a black tie. "What do you think?" he asked as he stared at me with his hands in the pockets of his pants.
"I-I think it's nice...but maybe too much for a celebration party," I said unsurely. I don't know what type of suit he likes so I didn't want to offend him in any way. He smiled and nodded his head before speaking. "I agree. I'll go and try the other one".
I waited another minute or so before he came out again. This one was also black but laid back. Black dress pants, with black suit jacket but this time with a black dress shirt which was tucked in his dress pants and without a tie. This one is more fitted for a party.
"I like this one" I smiled at him. "Same" he smiled back with a nod. "But should I keep the buttons closed all the way or leave some open?" he asked before unbuttoning the first buttons, showing a part of his chest.
I blushed as the events of last night came rushing through my mind again. "Umm...I think you should leave the top ones open?" I almost whispered and blushed even harder as I saw him smirk at my response.
"Woah what's going on here. I know you two are newly wedded but please wait till you're home for your freaky time" Lindsey walked into the men's dressing room and sat down next to me. I was a blushing mess because of what she said but as far as I notice Lorenzo isn't bothered by it much. His smirk even grew more at her words as his eyes locked with mine.
I cleared my throat, wanting to disappear from here. Lorenzo chuckled and walked back into the dressing room.
After everything was paid, we walked back towards the car and went home to have dinner that Mari maid.
...
"Oh. My. God." Lindsey came into my room with Mari. Both had their hands over their mouths as they scanned from head to toe.
Tonight is the night of Lorenzo's celebration party. I would lie if I said I wasn't nervous. I don't like big crowds and I don't know if I'll manage to play a good role as Lorenzo's wife. All the people there know we are married and some of them were even at our wedding. But after the wedding, I didn't think we will have to appear somewhere together so it's kind of nerve-wracking that we have to do this tonight.
"Oh dear...you are so beautiful" Mari came towards me and looked me up and down as she kept her hands on my arms.
"I don't know..." I said quietly and Lindsey immediately appeared behind me while I was looking at myself in the mirror. "What is that you don't know? That you are freaking hot and sexy? I mean look at you" she said while keeping her eyes on me in the mirror.
I was wearing short black silk bodycon dress that was a little ruffled on the sides and had spaghetti straps with a cowl neck. The dress is beautiful but I had never worn anything like this before and I wouldn't choose it in the first place if Lindsey didn't practically scream at me in the store to take it.
I looked at myself in the mirror and I didn't particularly like what I saw. My hips were a little wide, I had a small stomach which was hiding pretty well but I could still see it. My legs weren't thin and slim that much. I just don't think this dress is for me.
"Aria I swear, this dress is perfect for you. Look at your curves. Do you know how many women would like to have your figure? So what if you are not a skinny-looking model, you are even better than them" she said sternly as she desperately wanted to get her point out.
"But my stoma-".
"What about your stomach? It's not flat? Who cares, that's not fat, that's just your organs that every woman has" she interrupted me but soon she continues. "Please just believe me. This dress is made for you and I bet you'll have heads spinning to look at you all night. And I'm sure Lorenzo is gonna love it as well" she winked at me.
"She is right dear, you look amazing" Mari smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile and the two. "Thank you" I whispered before they hugged me tightly. It's crazy how they could help me feel more confident with their words but I'm glad it worked.
We left the room so we could go downstairs. Lorenzo and Lucas were already outside waiting by the car. Lindsey and I hugged Mari goodbye before we left the house to join them.
Let's just hope this night goes well.