Shelby LOVERS

Chapter 18 Opening Night

Rushing out the restaurant not noticing that I left Bri behind me, "WAIT! Shelby wait!" I hear Brianna screaming. "I'm sorry Brianna I know I should of acted more respectful but I couldn't help it. Christina is in there babbling off about how we're her girls and how she's proud of us. The truth is she knows nothing about us and if she wanted to she could of reached out to us a little earlier than this. I was all for leaving the past in the past, but how can I when she didn't acknowledge it. I would of liked a sorry or some shit. I don't blame her for George leaving us, but I do blame her for sleeping with a married man. Then trying to take on his kids as if they're hers. I'm 28 years old I basically had my mom all my life and I don't need a new one." As we stand in the middle of the street, I see Christina Blake and Yasmine coming towards us. I really don't want to be bothered with Christina shit, I tell Brianna get in the car now or she'll be taking a cab home. The car ride home was quite, I don't think Brianna is mad at me but I do know she wish I held my shit a little longer. We finally get home and go our separate ways in the house.

Later that night:

It's hours later and it's time to get dress for the opening night. Before I get dress I go to Brianna room, I want to clear the air we haven't disagreed this much until George came to town. I knock on her door but she didn't answer, I push the door open and Johan is literally eating her kitty with a pillow over her face. I try to quietly walk back out but the floor squeaks, I felt like I just saw my parents having sex. I quickly run to my side of the room, I couldn't help but laugh I mean like really laugh. I didn't have a laugh that hit my core in such a long time. I turn on my music and have a quick dance session, as I'm dancing Brianna comes behinds me and join the dance session. Once the song finish we both lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. "You was right about Christina, everything you said was correct. She was over doing it just a tad, I don't know if that was her guilt talking or what but it was to much. I didn't mind them joining us for lunch. At the end of the day rather we want to believe it or not those are our little sisters. To be honest I want a relationship with them, they seem like great girls. I didn't want to disrespect their mother in front of them. If the roles was switched I wouldn't want them disrespecting mommy in front of us no matter what she did. To them their mom and dad are Gods that can do no wrong, yes we know differently but that's the past. Mommy told us to forgive and that's what we should do. I'm not asking you to take Blake and Yasmine on as your younger sisters, but don't let them pay for something that they had no control over. We also wished that we had more sisters and here's our chance, maybe when this simmers down we can take them out and get to know them. If they want nothing to do with us then we leave them alone but if they do let's give them a chance okay sissy." As I'm still staring at the ceiling swallowing every word Brianna said, I come to the conclusion that Brianna is right and normally always is. She knows how to make everything make sense to me, without trying to discredit my feelings. We did say that we wanted more sisters and so I guess this is our way of getting them. "Your right Brianna I shouldn't have disrespected Christina in front of Blake and Yasmine, I'll apologize tonight when I see them. Now that you put me in my place it's 8:30pm we need to be ready by 9:00pm the limo is coming at 9:15pm sharp. Just remember your the shit tonight and you did this, I'm so proud of you and all you accomplished. I love you, now go get your sexy ass ready for a night to remember. Oh and by the way I saw Johan snatch your soul just minutes ago." She's dying laughing, "I knew I heard a squeak but bitch I had to get mine, you'll be okay." We both laugh and get off the bed, she goes down the hall to get dress and I do the same.
It hits 8:45pm and I'm still getting dress, I go into the bathroom and do my hair. I put my hair up into a high bun leaving my bangs out and a little hair out on each side of my sideburns. I give myself s natural look for makeup, the dress is much to fancy I don't need to do much. I slip into my heavenly white dress, put my sliver heels on and grab my sliver clutch. I open my door and step into the living room, Johan and Brianna are not ready yet "I know it's your night Ms. Jones but can we please hurry up its 9:10pm we have 5 minutes until the limo come." Her room door opens and Joann come out first, what a sight to behold he looks beautiful. He has on a black on black tux with a black bow tie. "You look beautiful Shelby" I smile "you don't look so bad yourself Johan, but where is the woman of the night?" Brianna comes out and her look is to die for. The black gown is hugging every inch of her body, it falls so graciously. She has her hair in curls which all hangs on one side of her shoulder. "You look absolutely gorgeous Brianna, damn my sister gots it going on" we both laugh and head downstairs. The limo is right on time we get in, there's champagne and 3 glasses waiting for us. Even though Brianna and Johan are a couple they never treat me like I'm a third wheel. We arrive it's press upon press upon press, Brianna invited everyone who's anyone in the art world and whoever loves art. We get inside and Brianna takes my hand, you wouldn't even notice it's an art studio the way they have this place decorated. We say our hellos and do our catching up. Looking around I don't see anyone I really know here. I make my way to the bathroom to freshen up, gosh I would of loved to have a date on my arm tonight. I come out the bathroom look for Brianna and she's with George, Christina,Blake and Yasmine. I walk over to them and it immediately gets silent, "Shelby you look lovely would you mind if I speak to you in private." I look at Brianna, I'm pretty sure I know why George wants to speak to me. I assure Brianna that it fine and I'll be back soon. "Yes George, how may I help you this evening."
"Once again you look lovely this evening, I want to talk to you about the way you talked to my wife in front my children. I understand this is a difficult situation but you're going to respect my wife, I can care less about you liking her but you will respect her. I understand I hurt you and everything, but don't you dare threaten my wife because you can't get to me. She may not be your mother but she's your step mother and in my presence you will respect for her." I can't believe he's talking to me like this, he doesn't get to discipline me, he lost that right once he walked out. I try to leave before I cause a scene but he grabs my arm. "If you don't get your hands off of me, I swear I'll turn my threat into a promise" he still doesn't let up and I'm having a hard time loosening his grip. Before I can snatch away this man comes up to us "would you mind loosen up the grip on her, it's a little to tight for my liking." I've never saw this man a day in my life, he has to be about 6'3-6'4 he's a Irish, I can hear his accent when he talks. He looks older than me but not by much. He has red hair low cut and a red beard with blue eyes, you can tell he works out, he's very fit. He's wearing a grey suit with a white button up shirt no tie, he's beautiful. "You don't tell me how to handle my daughter, mind your business" I look at George like do you not see how tall and fit this man is you better listen to him. He still has my arm in such a tight grip "I'm asking you nicely to let go of her arm, I don't give a fuck if she's your daughter or not, let go of her arm." The tone in this man voice is so serious, I don't know why he's so protective of me I have no idea who this is. George can sense this man isn't playing so he gently lets go of my arm "this conversation isn't over Shelby we have much to discuss." I walk away not looking back, about time George let's go blue eyes vanish. I try to find him but I see him no where, a tap on my shoulder distracts me from finding him. I turn around and it's Christian with a pregnant woman on his arm, this night keeps getting better and better. "Hello Christian, it's really nice to see you since you've been avoiding my calls for the past months. Now I see why. Hello my name is Shelby, I'm Chris friend." The woman is beautiful, very different from what I'm use to seeing Chris with, as much as I want to focus on Chris I can't, blue eyes has my attention. "Hey I'm Alex, I'm Chris fiancé. We've been dating for months now, Chris proposed to me a couple of weeks ago. I'm 5 months pregnant with twin girls. I know that you was Chris fiancée and y'all had two kids of your own, sorry for your lost. Sorry about me rambling on I'm just nervous to meet the woman whose always gonna have Chris heart." I just got a bolt of information and I really want to get to know Alex but my mind is so far from this conversation. "Congratulations Chris and Alex, I really hope y'all have a healthy and happy baby girls. Don't worry Chris is yours I have no intentions on taking him back. I want Chris happy and I can see you do that for him. I would very much like for us to two sit down and get to know more about each other. But right now I'm looking for someone, please excuse me." I leave before Chris can say anything else to me. I know he's confused on how well I handled everything. As I'm moving through the packs of people looking for blue eyes Brianna calls my name, telling me to come over to her and Johan. I come over and she wants to know what happened with George, I give her the shorten detailed version and tell her I'm looking for the man who rescued me. Before I can actually continue my search I get another tap on my shoulder and it's Drew and Tiffany. My distraction comes to an end, I haven't seen Drew in so long I forgot how many months it's been. What's crazy is they're still going strong and engaged. Brianna and Johan walks away leaving me with my ex boyfriend and his fiancée. I'm really stumped I have no idea what to say. I thought when I saw him again he would be a free man ready for us to pick up where we left off. "Hello earth to Shelby, I haven't seen you in so long you look beautiful. How have you been? What's new?" As Tiffany asking me all these questions I couldn't stop staring at Drew ring finger, that's not just his fiancée but his wife he actually married her. "Are y'all married Drew?" I ask him in a small voice not really wanting to hear the answer. "Yes, we got married 3 weeks ago. Before I got the invitation to come to Brianna's opening night. I'm so happy to see you Shelby, you look gorgeous. You're working that white dress." I smile, I can see how uncomfortable Tiffany is getting. She taps Drew on the shoulder asking him does he want to give me even better news than their marriage. I look confused what else could she have up her sleeve for me this evening "umm yeah sure, well me and Tiffany are moving back to New York for good. She got a transfer and I'm opening up another real estate contracting business over here. We actually found a brownstone in Harlem, we're having all of ours things moved in." This is so much to actually take first Chris and now Drew, I'm the only one who doesn't have something new happening in their life. This is a bit much for me to take on by myself, I search around for Brianna or Johan but they're no where in sight. I wave over the waiter so he can give me a glass of champagne. I know my words are saying congratulations but my face is a whole other story. Tiffany asks me if I'm alright but I really couldn't get the words out, all I hear is blue eyes voice behind me "yes she's fine, she's just preoccupied right now." I turn around and he's right there, more beautiful and graceful than I remember him minutes ago. He comes to my side and puts his hand around my waist, I just melt in his arms they feel so warm and safe. "Shelby who's this?" I can tell Drew is getting annoyed just by the question he's asked. I can also see Tiffany getting upset since Drew is becoming so defensive. I honestly have no answers I'm just as curious as them. I don't know his name or anything about this man. Drew is looking to me for answers, just when I was about to lie about the man standing next to me blue eyes chimes in "Hey, I'm Collin McFarland. Actually Shelby doesn't know me, we just met each other a few minutes back. But how could I not want to get to know her, look how ravishing she looks. I couldn't help but speak to her. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Would y'all mind if I steal her away for a dance." Before I or Drew can say no he steals me away. He walks me so elegantly to the center of the dance floor, takes my hand wraps his hand on my waist and dance me away. It must of look like something because everyone is staring including Chris, Alex, Tiffany, and Drew. Brianna and Johan is smiling so hard, they make it hard for me not to smile. I can see the nasty stares Chris and Drew are giving him, but I can't help but stare into his beautiful ice blue eyes. "Who are you, twice in one night you saved me from two horrible incidents." He's staring into my eyes it's so intense, he puts his finger over my lips and tells me "That doesn't matter, let's make this a dance I'll never forget." He has dominant demeanor to him and it makes me want to listen to him.We get through two dances, staring at each other not noticing that people are still staring at us. Once the last dance comes to an end he kisses me on my cheek and leaves me standing in the middle of the floor.