Kissing Is the Easy Part

Chapter 14 The lie

Flora

I had dinner with Sean on Friday night. We had been together for three months and in my world it was considered record-breaking. Three months! What a milestone! Three months was like a season, it meant all my favorite designers in Paris would put up a new line, and I couldn't believe our relationship had survived the whole winter. Sean lasted longer than my Mulberry Alexa bag! I knew better than to tell it to his face, though; he wouldn't like it that I was comparing him to my it bag.

When we were having coffee after the meal, he took out a wrapped present and placed it on the table.

"I know I've been really busy lately and I just want to say I'm sorry, but you're an amazing girlfriend," he said. "Thank you."

I loved presents! I didn't even think of getting him anything. I turned the box over in my hand, admiring the rich dark ribbon around it. "I didn't know you can wrap gifts."

"Linda did it for me. Having a sister really comes in handy," he said. "I find it nice to have her around sometimes, although the frequency is about once a year. I hope you like it."

"I'd definitely like anything you give me!" I tore open the wrapper in haste and saw he had given me a beret. It was in a very distinct shade of cobalt blue and I recognized it immediately. It was the very same one I had shown him in a page of Vogue.

"I'm not sure it's the same one," he said, "but this is the closest I can find. You have such great fashion sense I thought I should just buy what you want instead of picking out something myself-"

"I love it! You're so sweet!" I rubbed the material gently between my fingers, turning it over to admire it from a different angle.

He smiled, obviously relieved. I knew he thought it was a lot of pressure to buy me anything and I didn't blame him.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you anything," I said.

"That's fine. I just want to make it up to you."

Ever since he turned down my extravagant Christmas gift, a monogram duffel bag made by Louis Vuitton, I had trouble guessing what he liked. However, there was something I knew I could always offer him when the time was right.

My lips curled up in the seductive but not seedy way I'd been practicing to get right. "I have something special planned, though."

He raised his eyebrows briefly and waited for my big announcement.

"Remember I told you before that my parents have a beach house? Well, no one's using it this weekend and I think we can...you know...finally..." I was suddenly shy. Was there a more tactful way of approaching this?

He stared at me silently for a second before he spoke. "Really? Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Positive."

He smiled and it made cute creases on his face. "You have to be sure because once we're there, there's no turning back. I won't be able to resist you."

"Mister, you're in big trouble if you resist me." We smiled at each other lovingly across the table. I was so ready for it. I was so sure this time and I almost couldn't wait for it.

"Wait, this weekend?" he asked. That was the beginning of all things unfortunate.

"Yes. We could go tomorrow evening. There's a fireplace, white sand outside, an outdoor Jacuzzi, a kitchen with champagne..." I counted off my fingers.

"Flora, I'm sorry. I don't think I can. I have to take my f=ma test Sunday morning, remember?"

I froze. He couldn't be serious. "Yeah, well, I know, but that's Sunday morning." I laughed uneasily. "Surely you don't need to study on Saturday?"