Been To Hell

Chapter 12: Well Then. . .

I arrived home a lot earlier than planned but it gave me time in the shower before Pat got home. It also gave me time to try and figure out what tonight’s big event was because we don’t just go to this sushi place with Tal and a group of our friends for nothing, it means something. I texted Tal to ask him, he said he couldn’t tell me. So I texted his fiancée, she said the same thing. I was way too embarrassed to ask Pat about it when he got home. I was the center of our social media friends and I had no idea what was going on, of course I’m going to be embarrassed. While he was in the shower I blow dried my hair and let the styling cream sit before working my magic.

“What do you think I should wear?” I asked Pat from the closet, looking at the variety of casual but sophisticated dresses. Pat peeped around the corner, bright blue eyes beaming with excitement, like a child on Christmas Day staring at all of their presents. His floppy black hair was still damp; it curled into crescent moons and ivy vines. Although, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t helping me look for a dress but instead, he was eyeing me up. I stood in the closet in a black strapless bra with matching black tanga panties. After a moment of admiration, Pat’s baby blues shot up to meet my gaze. He grinned cheekily.  

“When we get home can I have this outfit?” He asked in a cheeky teenage boy manner. He always seems to think that whenever we go out to dinner with friends we need to have sex afterwards. I mean, I’m not complaining, I enjoy it. It must be a male thing to want to go out with friends and have a fun time with them before going home with your girlfriend to have a different kind of fun.

I felt a light blush heat up my cheeks. I tilted my head at him and jolted up my eyebrows.

“Only if you help me decide what to wear to dinner.” I promised him with a quirky tone of voice. The look of victory crossed Pat’s face.  

“I suggest the one with the black bottom and grey top. Y’know, the one you wore to Austin’s album release party for Restoring the Force.” He advised generously, being very specific. I knew exactly which dress he was referring to. Without hesitation or a second thought I grabbed it off its hanger and slipped the form fitting dress on. It was an off the shoulders kind of dress with a loose fitting top and a snug skirt to make it look like a top and skirt rather than a dress. I paired the dress with a pair of black stilettos and a grey clutch purse. Hair and makeup shifted from working woman day job to girls just wanna have fun at a nightclub. Basically, I just darkened my eye shadow and reddened my lipstick, and ruffled my hair so it wasn’t so professional. It’s very strange to me to go from being Ms. Starbucks business woman to temptress of the night; it’s always been a weird feeling to me. Like I’m living a secret double life. Like I have secrets that I have to hide from the world.

By the time I was finished getting ready Pat was already shutting off the lights and listening to the final parts of the baseball game before we left for most of the night. I couldn’t stop myself from admiring him. For some reason I’ve always been crazy attracted to him when he wore a suit. I’m not saying when he wears casual outfits he’s unattractive, he’s a very handsome man but there is a very classy appeal to his large muscular frame when he wears a suit with his usually floppy black hair slicked back and a clean shaven face, although, I did enjoy seeing his tattoos on his arms and shoulders, but I’ll have to settle with the ink peeking out from under the sleeves of the white shirt and black blazer until he takes the blazer off and rolls up his sleeves when the night wears on into early morning.

“Are you checking me out, Ms. Rivera?” He asked with a cocky smirk, shutting off the television. My mouth formed a smile and I jotted my eyebrows upwards.

“Yes.” I replied blatantly. He chuckled and tried to hide himself from me jokingly. This made me laugh and shake my head. Pat wrapped his arm around my shoulders and escorted me out of the house we shared. The small house was completely dark and the alarm was set when we left. This may not be Inglewood anymore, but it’s still Los Angeles, better safe than sorry.

I was still curious to know the occasion, as far as I know nothing big has happened. Maybe I’ve been so busy with everything that I’ve missed something. If that’s the case then I feel bad for missing the news. I know I’ve been busy with book tours and writing another one, contracts and the movie but I’m still constantly on my phone checking social media, I should’ve seen it. I needed to know if I’ve missed anything important.

I swallowed hard, fidgeting with the hem of my dress in the passenger seat. I rubbed my lips together and tried to put my thoughts into words that didn’t sound like I have been ignoring everyone else’s lives and accomplishments.

“So, um, what exactly is this fancy dinner for?” I asked mindfully. Pat chuckled behind the wheel, keeping his now midnight blues on the road in front of us. But he stole a quick glance over at me with a cheeky grin and mischief in his eyes.

“Something huge.” He replied eagerly. That only made a knot form in my stomach and a nervous smile crossed my face to give the illusion of confidence and readiness for tonight’s events.

“Are you going to tell me what it is?” I questioned softly to the sound of the radio. His smile became sparkling white and cheeky. He shook his head at me, grinning.

“You’re just going to have to find out.” He said cheekily. You’ve got to be kidding me?! He’s going to make me find out why we’re going to sushi for dinner with our closest friends; I’m going to end up making a complete idiot of myself . . . again. Yeah . . . Don’t ask what happened the first time. It’s a long story that ends with me flat on my ass drunk and my dress hanging off a tree branch in Malibu.

Luckily, it was a quick drive from home to the restaurant but not knowing what tonight was actually for made me feel sick to my stomach. Pat and I were greeted at the door by our good friend, Austin. He wore a purple dress shirt with a black blazer and dress pants. He greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before the two men escorted me into the restaurant kindly. I had my arm looped around Pat’s in a very 1800’s young lovers kind of way.

“Surprise!” A large group of our friends shouted from the table with jolly grins and happy faces. I placed my hand over my racing heart and looked up at Pat with wide eyes.

“What is this?” I asked breathlessly. He shrugged with a charming smile.

“I figured you deserved a get together with some friends before you go on your book tour.” He replied honestly. I laughed and blushed at his kindness towards me. He’s always out doing himself, last time I went on a book tour he wanted to take me away for a weekend before I left. We went to Miami for the entire weekend and enjoyed the sun there. Pat and I shared a quick kiss before I went on to greet our friends. But before I could my heart stopped mid beat. My stomach felt like it was about to launch everything I’ve consumed today back up my throat. There, sitting beside two empty seats was the black haired blue eyed man I swore I’d never fall in love with ever again. And yet, here I am, fallen back in love with the man in a white dress shirt and black blazer. Well then . . . Tonight is going to be so much fun.