Strictly Forbidden

Strictly Forbidden (11)

Chapter 11

Three weeks later and that night is still fresh in my mind. Duke did everything to apologize to me about it, but I just had trouble letting it go. It’s not that I’m mad at him, he’s not bound to me in any way, but something just set me off about the whole situation. He’s noticed the difference as well. Our meals have become quiet and small talk is all we can manage. I hate that I’ve let it get this bad; he did nothing wrong.

“Hello, you there?” Benjamin asks from the other end of the line.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I zoned out again.”

“It’s fine, did you hear anything I just said? I’m going out of town for Thanksgiving. Would you like to have dinner or something tonight before I go?” I hear rattling papers in the background. He has made a habit of always calling me while at work, or while he’s doing something important. It may be silly, and petty, but it irks me that he can’t make the time to pay attention to just me, but who am I to complain? He is sweet and caring and attentive and has never done wrong by me.

“Sure, that’s fine. Where would you like to go?” I look through the closet to find a dress for tonight.

“How about just you and I? My place? I’ll make dinner and you can pick out a movie. Sound good?” A smile graces my face as I pull out an emerald green dress. My mother had got it for me once while we went shopping. For an occasion when a man deserves a good show she had said. At the time, two years ago, I had no idea what that meant. Now, I know good and well and I am ready to give Benjamin a good show.

“Sounds wonderful, what time will you be picking me up?” I held the dress up to my body, inspecting the way it would flow on my skin.

“Uh, how about five? That will give me an hour or so to finish cooking and have the movie put in around eight.” More papers shuffle from the other end.

“Okay, I’ll see you then. Goodbye, Ben.”

“Bye Emma.”

As soon as Benjamin’s and my phone calls over, I dial Sam.

“Sam, I need you to come over now. Drop everything and get over here.” I don’t wait for her to say anything before a hang up and take the phone back to Duke.

|~|~|~|

Duke slips his head in from the hall, “Sam’s here. Did you know she was coming or is it one of her surprise visits?” 

“Oh, no. I knew she was coming. I’m having a bit of an emergency.” I say in a hurry. Pulling out my all my shoes, and still not finding the right color to go with my dress. Having every shade of cream and white just isn’t enough. I want a dark color, but not black.

“Are you okay? Is there something I can help you with?” I smile at him. Even though we have had our tiffs, I know that he cares. And it’s sweet of him. I have to admit, because of that I seem to have a soft spot for him and his sweet blue eyes.

“I’m just fine. Sam is just going to help me get ready for my date tonight.” I turn away laying a pair of off-white flats beside the emerald green dress. The door clicks from behind me and I take it Duke’s leaving.

He chuckles, shaking his head a little, “Then you’re in for it. She has three bags full of stuff.”

I sigh, “I need all the help I can get.”

That stops his laugher quickly. “You don’t need any help.”

Gaping at him, I notice his cheeks redden just a little. So slight of a change, I could be imagining it. “Thanks Duke, but tonight is important to me. I want to look beautiful, breathtaking; stunning so much that Ben wouldn’t know what to say. It’s a long stretch, I know. But I know Sam, and that means I know how talented she is.”