Best Friend Next Door (Love Next Door Book 2) *Rough Draft*

Chapter 18

For the first time dinner didn't happen as it had the last year and a half. She'd asked Dee to make the kids an early dinner. She stood over her bed wondering which nighties to bring. She had never been one to wear lingerie.

She started wearing it toward the end of her marriage a last ditch effort to save it. Now she wore it for herself. Abe would always say that "I don't need fancy wrapping paper, I like my woman in the buff." Valerie giggled to herself. The nighties were for her. Maybe it was her modesty, maybe it was the idea of Abe pulling the silky fabric from her skin, or the feeling of the soft fabric against her body after a long bath, and then Abe pulling the fabric away from her skin.

It was thoughts like that that made her wish she was already Mrs. Abe Goodwin. She was in love with him, and loved how he worshiped her body, and most of all how he treated her and her kids. Abe was a rare diamond when it came to men. As she folded two of her favorite nighties and slipped them into her luggage, she decided that when she got back she would help more, so she could marry Abe sooner. They had waited long enough, and the housing situation, they would figure out. Maybe they could just keep both houses. What would be the harm in that.

She zipped her suitcase and dragged it into the hallway. That was when she noticed Melanie in the bathroom she peeked in. Melanie going over her lips with a tube of gloss in a little mini leopard print dress. Her now straighted hair hung over her shoulders. Valerie had to smile at how glamorous Melanie looked. It was a change. It was a welcome one for her. It made her look more grown up,but not everyone shared the same sediments. "I'm out Melanie."

Melanie gave her usual bright eyed smile, "You two have fun." Melanie hugged Valerie. Her usual scent fluttered over her. Victoria Secrets Sweet Temptation.

"Thank you."

"Where are you going?" Dee took the words out of her mouth with Melanie, but not her tone.

"I'm helpings get his friends together."

Dee's eyes narrowed. She had made it known all week that Melanie's knew look was 'stolen' from her.Valerie didn't want to break up another argument between the girls. Especially with Abe waiting in the driveway. "You too try to get along while I'm gone."

Melanie watched Dee hug Valerie good by. She almost wanted to rush through getting ready or move it to her room. First it was accusing her of trying to be her. As if she wanted to be bitter and hateful. This change was for her. She had gotten a meeting with a movie producer. The play that thank, apparently someone thought it would make a good movie. She was thankful that Valerie asked her to put the wedding plans on the back burner to meet with him in Atlanta. The 'makeover' was for the meeting. She wanted to look more professional and she had succeeded. He'd promised her an active producer role. She was glad she didn't have to associate this latest project with her failure.

"So you getting ready for you and Scruffy's date?"

Melanie rolled her eyes. "What do you want Dee? It's not a date." She felt like she needed to to say again.

Dee scoffed coming into the bathroom invading her small space. "What ever you have to tell yourself."

Melanie just tried to ignore her and focus on her make up.

"So are you going to finally give him some action tonight?"

Melanie pushed her tongue against her teeth.

"What? Come on you know you were thinking it. You know he'll be thinking about it." Her eyes trailed her body and Melanie suddenly was more aware at how short and low cut her dress was. Should I change? She thought. Just wear a T-Shirt and jeans?