When my alarm went off this morning the last thing I had wanted to do was get out of my bed. The events of the night before had drained me both physically and emotionally.
"Katherine, Sam should be here any minute. Are you up?" Shelly called from downstairs. Sam was picking me up so we could get our nails done for tonight. I was looking forward to spending time with her, but I wasn't sure whether or not I could tell her about what happened with Beau.
"Yes, I'm up." I said after cracking open the bedroom door. I glanced at my phone, a message from Sam saying she was on the way and a notification from my email.
It was from my high school adviser wanting to know if I had made any final decisions. I let out a groan and fell backwards onto the bed. I had no intention of making any important future-related decisions today, that was for sure.
Once in the car with Sam she blasted music and sang at the top of her lungs... badly. I couldn't help but laugh, so I joined in with her. This completely stress and worry free time with my best friend was much needed.
"Soooo, I can't wait to see this amazing dress. Thomas couldn't stop drooling over it." she raised her dark eyebrows up and down as she teased me.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." I shook my head. "I mean, it is a great dress though. I'm going to feel like I just stepped out of Fitzgerald's world."
Getting our nails done was great, and they placed us side by side in the fancy pedicure chairs that massaged our backs.
"So, I wanted to talk to you about something." I said quietly, and Sam looked at me with concern.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, but you know Beau is back. He was there last night. I had no clue he was coming, but I guess Cynthia asked him to pick up their clothes. He knows I am kind of... seeing Thomas." My voice sounded so meek.
"And that upsets you?" There is no judgement in her tone, and I am grateful. After our last talk involving my confusing relationship with him she had tried to be more supportive.
"Well, it was uncomfortable. The way he looked at me was- well, it was uncomfortable." I responded.
I explained what happened at the store, the date with Thomas, and of course the talk with Beau on the Balcony. I almost stopped myself from telling her that he showed up in my room, but I needed to get this out of my system.
"What the fuck? He came to your house?" Sam couldn't hide the utter disbelief in her eyes.
Once I'd replayed the events that took place in my bedroom with Beau, Sam was silent for a few moments. "That doesn't sound like him, like at all. I don't know, girl. This whole thing is just- well it's weird. I don't know what you are going to do."
On that we agreed.
____
"You look beautiful!" Shelly beamed as she pinned my hair at the nape of my neck. She had curled and styled it into a flattering up-do, and I did a turn in front of the mirror.
I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. A regular girl charading as more with the handsome, wealthy gentleman.
When Thomas had picked me up his eyes grew wide, and he showered me with compliments the whole drive to the venue. Sam was meeting us there, and I was ready for her to act as a buffer between the two of us. I wasn't quite ready for him to make our relationship so public, and I knew he would waste no time doing just that. I shouldn't be so weary of it, but at this point I was honestly just so confused.
The ballroom looked as if it had been plucked directly out of Jay Gatsby's mansion. The decor was obscenely lavish. The live orchestra in the corner, the mounds of food, and what seemed like an endless river of alcohol were the key features. Cynthia saw us enter and glided across the dance floor to greet us.
"Isn't it perfect?" she gushed, and I nodded.
"It's everything you said it would be." I said, regarding her with admiration. She really was spectacular. The black and silver gown hugged her slender figure. She had one of those diamond encrusted headbands on just like Daisy wore. "You look beautiful."
She blushed and wrapped me in a tight hug, "Darling it is you who is a vision tonight! Now get on the dance floor, I need to find my husband." She did a twirl as she sauntered through the crowd in search of Mr. Dalton.
"You heard the lady, can I have this dance?" Thomas extended a hand, and I took it with a giggle. I wanted to wait for Sam, but one dance wouldn't hurt anything.
It became apparent very quickly that neither of us were very experienced with the style of dancing that was taking place, but we ended up having so much fun trying to keep up. I couldn't stifle the deep laughs as we awkwardly fumbled around the dance floor. We had to have looked ridiculous, but I was having a blast.
Two songs later Sam appeared wearing a red flapper style dress that looked incredible on her. When she moved the fringe came to life. "Okay, that dress is awesome!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know." she winked. "But, can we talk about you? Since when are you such a babe?"
We laughed, and Thomas offered to grab us drinks. Once he was out of earshot Sam wasted no time. "So, how is it?"
"It's actually been great, I am having fun. We're terrible dancers, though." I feel so carefree and relaxed right now, and it's refreshing to laugh this much. Thomas returned with flutes filled with champagne, and I downed it quickly.
"Alright, Thomas. Since I'm third wheeling it I think you owe me a dance." Sam fluttered her lashes at him dramatically, and he laughed.
"Of course, m'lady. You lead!" Thomas joked back.
"Duh, I always lead." Sam quipped, and I shook my head at them both.
This was perfect. The three of us, it just worked. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I watched Sam drag Thomas across the dance floor as the jazz music bounced from the walls. I turned back towards the tower of champagne glasses and decided that I could use another.
Taking one from the top I relished as the sparkling liquid raced down my throat. There was something magical about drinking champagne, almost like tasting the stars. The music tempo changed as a slower song began, and I saw Sam wrap her arms around Thomas' neck ensuring her dance partner rode it out with her. His eyes met mine and he shrugged with a playful look of exasperation. I gestured with my hands for him to go ahead with the dance.
"I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy." I recognized the voice immediately, and I turned to face him.
"Quoting Fitzgerald, how appropriate." I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
"Ah, what can I say. I have always been a fan." One side of Beau's mouth raised to create a tiny smile.
He looked amazing. The perfectly tailored suit accentuated all the right places. "May I have this dance?" he asked quietly, and I nodded.
His hand slid into mine and he led me onto the floor, and we fell into step with the others. I wasn't sure what to do, and I suddenly felt very aware of my awkwardness. Just moments before that awkwardness was creating laughter and fun... but now I was self-conscious. "I have no clue how to slow dance." I admitted.
Beau didn't speak, instead he lead my arms up to his neck. I wrapped them around him, mirroring the way Sam had with Thomas. His hands then slowly made their way to my waist. The confidence in his movements overshadowed the timidness of mine. My body seemed to fit perfectly with his, and without even trying we were completely in sync. I placed my cheek against his chest, and I could feel his heart racing.
There were no words spoken, out loud anyways. Our bodies were communicating in their own special language. Every fiber of my being could feel the magnetic pull into Beau Dalton. I knew that I kept being warned that he was only in it for the chase... that the thrill of the pursuit is what drove him. In this moment I began to wonder if I was guilty of the same thing. Nothing in my life had ever compared to the pure bliss I felt when he touched me. Whatever this was, I was getting just as much satisfaction from as him.
His skin against mine made me feel like I was seconds away from either melting into a puddle or bursting into red hot flames.
I was in so much fucking trouble.