"Are you joining us for dinner tonight Poppy?" Mrs Lachlan asked raising a perfectly groomed eyebrow. I usually joined the Lachlan's on a Monday and Tuesday for dinner. That way I wasn't intruding on their family time but I still got the extra time with Cody and his family.
"No," I replied, not sure how to keep the secret. I was a rubbish liar and everyone I knew could see straight through my lies. I avoided eye contact and carried on setting up the table for dinner for four.
"What's the fourth place setting for then?" She asked, confused.
"For me," a voice from behind us came. Perfect timing Mia. Mrs Lachlan rushed over to her daughter wrapping her in a hug then calling for her husband to join them. Mia sent me a grin before I disappeared back to the kitchen to finish getting dinner ready. I'd made Mias favourite of butternut squash and pumpkin stuffed pasta with a sage butter sauce with a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake for dessert.
"Your sisters here," I told Cody as he worked away at the dining table. He'd often work down here when he wanted some company. He ran his hand through his already messy hair before sighing and shutting his laptop down. Missing out on the contract at the beginning of the week was really starting to take a hit to him. Checking that nothing was going to catch fire I quickly went over and wrapped my arms around him. He leant back in to my touch.
"Go get changed dinner won't be long," I told him placing my lips against his cheek.
"Okay," he said, hearing the exhaustion in his voice. I knew he hadn't been sleeping properly. He was stressed and there was a lot of pressure on him. We'd barely spent any time together in the last week. He'd been working longer and longer and when he wasn't working he'd been at the gym trying to shake off some of the tension. He stood from the table. His shoulders automatically slouching slightly.
"I love you," I whispered running my thumb along his jaw. He bent his head to rest in my neck, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer to him. I squeezed him back trying to say all the things I needed to in that hug.
"I love you too," he said pulling back and looking into my eyes just for a moment before leaning foreword and kissing me softly.
"Get a room," a voice from behind us came. Cody pulled a face before turning to see his sister. Leaving me to be able to check on the dinner. Cody hugged his sister leaving one arm around her as they spoke.
"Sucks about the contract," Mia said.
"Fucking sucks," Cody replied, I could feel his stress coming back already.
"You'll find something," Mia reassured.
"I hope so," he said running his hands through his already messed up hair. "Colin working?"
"Yeah he did want to come and see you two but works comes first," she said with an eye roll.
"Cody you really need to go get changed. I'm about to serve," I told him, stirring the sauce.
"Yes boss," he said, leaning to give me a kiss on the cheek.
"Smells great baby," he whispered at the same time. I smiled to myself, loving the way that Cody always made me felt. So warm and happy and loved. With one last smirk he headed back out the room leaving me with Mia.
"So university?" I asked Mia as she hovered nearby.
"It's a lot of work," she said with a sigh. "Looking forward for the paperwork to be over with so I can start on placement."
"You think you're ready for dealing with a bunch of noisy crazy kids," I asked with a laugh as I drained the freshly cooked pasta. Making pasta was one of my favourite things. I found it so therapeutic and so delicious.
"Not quite But I'm excited for it at the same time," she said nervously.
"You'll be fine," I said with a reassuring smile.
"Now go wash up. I'll be in with dinner in just a second." She smiled back and nodded before heading out the kitchen too. Tossing the pasta in the smooth butter sauce. I placed in the bowls, finishing with a fine dusting of Parmesan before placing them on the trolley with more cheese if they want.
I sat cross legged on the bed. Cody laid full length beside me with Mia horizontally in front of us. After dinner we'd all come up to Cody's room just to hang out with each other. Catch up for a while.
"I can't even believe that Tanya broke up with Dustin," Mia gossiped to her brother whilst I sat trying to remember if I'd ever been introduced to these people.
"Well she shouldn't of cheated on him with her therapist," he replied. The lives of their friends were so dramatic.
"Poppy got told the story of Wills self discovery," Cody admitted to her. She sat for a moment thinking before bursting into laughter causing the pair of us to laugh too.
"I miss Will," Mia sighed leaning her back on to the bed.
"He misses you too. When you come back for Christmas we'll have to go out like we used to."
"Oh god. I don't think I can drink quite as much as I used to. Remember when you two started taking me out with you when I was sixteen." They both laughed at the memories.
"Dad was so pissed when he found out," Cody laughed. It was nice hearing stories about the two of them and seeing them both so relaxed and happy after the last few stressful weeks they'd had.
"Hey Poppy," Mia said distracting me from my thoughts.
"Yeah," I replied, sitting myself up slightly from my slouched position.
"The stylist is coming over in the morning and I was hoping you'd help me pick something's for the Christmas parties coming up." I wasn't exactly great when it came to fashion and I wasn't too good at telling people if I thought something was ugly.
"I don't..." I started before Cody interrupted and convinced me to agree.
The stylist arrived just after I'd finished putting away the breakfast things. I'd offered round drinks and snacks before going and changing to sit with Mia. Cody had gone in to work for the morning. I was getting worried on him overworking himself. I knew the stylist and his assistant were judging me as I came back in just wearing black jeans and stripy long sleeve t shirt. I tried to sit and not look too out of place as they talked through some of the outfit choices the had for Mia. All around the room hung covered garments on clothing rails. The stylist listed off many famous designers that I'd heard of and some that I'd never heard of but they made them sound like a big thing. The stylist guided Mia over to a selection as they excitedly talked together. As much as Mia was trying a new life I knew she'd grown up around all these fancy clothes and the labels and the expectation to be seen in them.
"Have we got a date to any of these events then?" The stylist asked. I could tell he was a gossiper. Mia ran her fingers through the rails, pulling out an emerald jewelled dress before turning her nose up and putting it back.
"He won't be able to make all of them," she said with a sigh.
"So there is a new man on the cards. I'd heard things but it's been so long since we've caught up," he said extravagantly. I had to hold back my eye roll as I stood and let myself look through the clothes. I could feel his assistant watching me cautiously but I carried on despite his eyes glaring in to the side of my head. It was like it was at the shop we'd gone to a few months ago.
"Yeah his names Colin. I adore this," she said pulling out one of the bags.
"Would i know him?" He asked curiously. "This is Chanel."
"No very unlikely. Poppy what do you think?" She asked turning the bag towards me. The stylist turned too, remembering that I was here. The bag covered most of the outfit until Mia unzipped and pulled out a black jumpsuit with a caped back and a low v neck cut. It was smart and sultry.
"Yeah that's amazing," I replied wishing to myself that I could pull something like that off.
"Okay I'll try that and the Gucci and then surprise me," she said grabbing the bag and disappearing behind the screen they had set up.
"Poppy try something," she encouraged.
"No no I'm good," I replied as the stylists directed their attention towards me.
"Oh come on. You'll be coming to the events too. You want to look good for my brother right, it's only renting them," she said trying to convince me. But I wasn't taking it. She reappeared in the caped jumpsuit and looked sharp.
"Oh I love it," the stylist gushed. "With these maybe," he encouraged holding up some large sparkling earrings. Mia nodded excitedly.
"Come on Poppy. For me. Just for a bit of fun, Mia begged giving me puppy dog eyes.
"How about this?" The stylist said searching through the rails for a moment before pulling out a bag and smiling. Mia looked at it first giving it a nod before grabbing me and pulling me behind the screen. I wasn't exactly dressed for trying things on. I hopped around as I tried to pull off my skinny jeans. Whilst Mia effortlessly slid in to a satin pink off the shoulder dress. It was a bit too barbie girl for my liking but it was up to Mia. As soon as she saw herself she pulled a face and I could tell she felt the same. She walked out from the screen to show her stylist and I could hear her telling her dislike in it. After eventually undressing. It felt very uncomfortable wearing so little so close to other people. I pulled the dress off the hanger being incredibly delicate and careful with it, not daring to think how much it cost. Mia arrived back round the other side as I placed my arms through the sleeves. Her eyes widened as she took me in and I immediately went to take it off, assuming it looked awful.
"Damn," she chuckled as she started taking off the pink dress.
"That bad," I said panicking.
"God no. You have to see this," she called to her stylist. Coming behind me she zipped it up, squeezing me in. Mia was a smaller size than I was. I finally took a look in the mirror and was surprised to see the reflection. The dress was black and long sleeve. The skirt part was plain and gathered around my feet. The top half was lace and see through in certain parts but had black lace to cover the important bits. It had a long split in the skirt making it look flirty but also reserved. It was incredible, even I thought I looked quite good and I barely ever was pleased with my look.
"Don't leave us waiting," The stylist shouted from the other side. Taking a deep breath I walked around the screen and watched as their eyes widened too. I hated being this looked at.
"Well well obviously need to sort the hair and add some height. Maybe some plain black heels? Then Jewellery will need to be simple. Maybe some pearls of some sort?" The stylist rushed, getting me to move about and spin and playing with my hair.
"She looks hot though right," Mia said coming out from behind the screen again. This time she was in a grey/blue dress with a white lace top. It was another beautiful dress.
"Yeah she does," the voice from the other side of the room cane causing us all to stare in the direction. Cody's eyes locked with mine straight away for just a moment before I had to look away at the intensity in his stare.
"Told you," Mia whispered nudging me.
A/N: Gah, I'm getting slack with posting but I'm trying. I normally write on the bus to and from work but I've been too tired too right now but I'm hoping to get some more in soon. Please remember this isn't real life and I apologise if I make something up. But thank you so much for reading. It means the world to me.
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