3 Weeks Later
Early September.
"Welcome to Baldwin Boutique!" Ms. Shelly smiles brightly, her Jamaican accent prominent in just those 4 words.
"Hi, Ms. Shelly!" Lori says smiling and the woman.
"Lori! So good to see you, dearie! How's your grandmother?" She asks hugging the young girl.
They talk for a bit about how Lori's grandmother and Ms. Shelly used to cut up in Jamaica as young women before Lori introduces Megan, Ryan, and her sister Morgan.
As they discuss what style of wedding dress Lori wants, the door opens.
"Ah, here comes my granddaughter. Only," she looks at her watch, "20 minutes late."
Ry is deeply absorbed in a sketchbook, her eyes tracing the elegant lines of a dress that she imagines would be perfect for her best friend.
"Sorry, Tootie's chess tournament ran long."
The moment that beautifully warm southern accent reaches her ears, a wave of recognition washes over her, wrapping around her like a warm embrace.
She looks up and spots Mickey, standing there with an expression that mirrors her own surprise.
"Ladies, this is Courtney. The sketches in those books are all her work. She's going to help me take your measurements." Ms. Shelly beams proudly.
Both of them are in disbelief.
The sheer coincidence of crossing paths three times in just two months feels surreal, even for Mick, who usually embraces the whimsical nature of the universe.
"Hi." Mickey says still looking at Ryan.
The unexpected turn of events leaves Ryan momentarily speechless, as she tries to process what is happening.
Lori and Megan look at each other in disbelief.
It's getting freaky.
"Courtney, you take two and I'll take two." Ms. Shelly says snapping everyone out of their shock.
"Ry and I will go with Courtney." Lori says quickly.
Mickey leads them to the back of the building where there are dividers for privacy.
"Who's getting married?" She asks the women, trying to regain her composure a bit.
"I am. Next fall." Lori tells her.
"Congratulations." Mick smiles warmly, relieved it's not Ryan.
She expertly wields her tape measure taking down a number of measurements as they chat about dress styles and colors.
"Do you remember my girl, Ryan from the club?" Lori asks unable to take another minute of not knowing.
Ryan kind of wants to kill her.
At least she didn't mention that she's her daughter's teacher.
She doesn't want her to know that she's the topic of conversation every time she gets together with her friends.
"A face this beautiful is impossible to forget." Mick says looking up from her notebook briefly to tell Ryan directly to her face.
If Ry wasn't stuck before (she was), she definitely is now.
Mickey finishes Lori's measurements and asks Ryan to stand up so she could take her numbers down.
A palpable romantic tension hangs in the air as Mickey gently encircles Ryan's body with the tape measure.
It feels so intimate.
Ry's heart quickens as her body reacts to the woman's touch.
She can't believe she's aroused right now.
She doesn't know it but so is Mick.
"So is your name Courtney or Mickey?" Lori asks breaking them out of their trance.
"Both. My full name is Courtney Michaela Jones. My family calls me Courtney but my friends call me Mickey." She responds.
"So what should we call you?" Lori asks.
She doesn't actually care she's just doing light reconnaissance for her friend.
"Y'all can call me whichever you like." She says kindly.
When they finish, they walk back out to the lobby.
After they leave, Megan comes back in and writes Ryan's number on a piece of paper and slides it to Mickey.
"She's too shy to say anything, but she's really into you. You should reach out her."
Later.
"Bitch, call her. How many times does the universe have to bring y'all together?" Lay says.
"I'm with her. At least text her." Noah says.
"I'm going to. I just don't want to seem too desperate." Mickey responds.
"You are desperate. You got horny taking her measurements. You need some ass." Lay says.
"Alright! I'll text her. What should I say?" Mickey asks.
Same time.
[Hi. This is Mickey. Your friend gave me your number and said I should reach out. I hope that's okay.]
Ry's heart leaps nearly out of her chest.
She knew Megan didn't forget anything in the boutique.
She was giving Mick her number.
{Hi. It's totally fine. How are you?}
She dials Lori's number praying that she answers.
"She texted you?" Lori asks not even bothering to pretend that she didn't know Megan basically prostituted her.
"Yes. What do I do?" Ryan asks, panicking.
Her phone buzzes signaling a text. She puts Lori on speaker and checks the message.
[I'm well. How are you? How was your day?]
"Hold on." Lori says clicking over to the other line.
{I'm great. My day was okay until I saw you. Then it was excellent. How was your day?}
Megan's voice comes through the phone. "Tell her you want to fuck."
"Don't do that. But tell her you want to see her again. Alone." Lori says.
"Shit, if you don't get her alone, I will." Megan jokes.
"Here she go being gay again..."
[Same. I couldn't believe it when I saw you today. Or at Nova's school.]
Ry tunes out her friends bickering to focus on the texts.
{Is it weird that I'm Nova's teacher?}
[A little bit. Not gonna lie. But I feel like we keep meeting for a reason.]
-
How did y'all like chapitre Trois?
Mickey/Courtney?
Ryan?
The friends?
Any predictions?
Thank you for reading, commenting, and voting! 🥰🥰🥰
