Against the Odds

Chapter 8

Ross

Riker threw his coat on the table. His smile said a million things, all related to happiness. It was close to ten o' clock. I was surprised he was home as late as he was. He sighed happily, as he sat down next to me.

I started laughing and shaking my head. He didn't notice. He turned on the TV, but kept it muted. He looked at his phone and an even wider smiled appeared on his face.

"Did you have a good time?" He turned to me.

"Oh, you noticed my presence?" I said, sarcastically.

Riker rolled his eyes at me. "Idiot. Forget I asked you anything."

I grinned. "No, it was good. Grace and I had fun. We're going out tomorrow night. She has church."

"Yeah. That's what Alyssa said." Riker nodded. "We have lunch plans. I'm taking her to Wild Wings Cafe. She really likes that place." He looked back at his phone.

I nodded. "Ok. You have fun."

He left the next morning, around 11:30am. He didn't even say good-bye. I heard the door slam, turned my head, and he was gone. Riker was lovestruck. I had never seen him this way. I only knew he was because I was acting the same way.

I walked down the streets of Charleston while I waited for Grace to text me. I kept looking at my phone. I passed a jewelry store and then stopped. I took a few steps back and saw a small pendant of a flower hanging in the window. I wasn't one for jewelry, but something about it screamed Grace.

An old Asian man walked up to it on the other side of the window. He pointed at it and I nodded. He opened the door for me and I came inside.

"It's a lovely pendant." I said.

"Are you buying it for a lovely girl?" He asked me.

"I am. I have some things I want to tell her." I fished money out of my pocket.

"Oh you love her." He said. He clapped his hands together softly. "That's such good news."

I smiled, trying not to laugh at him. He just thought it was the best thing.

"No charge, then." He waved his hands when I tried to give him the money. He put the necklace in a box and put the box in a little bag. "Love is priceless." He told me.

I took his words and free necklace. I walked out of the store, not entirely sure what had happened. I had a necklace to give to Grace tonight. Since I had been on tour, I didn't really have any nice clothes. I had packed so many casual clothes. I wanted to take her out somewhere nice, but without a suit, or at least a tie, I didn't know how I was going to do that.

While I was thinking about it, I stumbled upon a nice clothing store. In the window, were different color suits with different color shirts and ties. I went inside, hoping to find something nice. I stopped the second I saw how many suits were surrounded me. It was a bit overwhelming. How is it possible to have so many suits?

"You look confused." A well-dressed man came up to me.

"I...Yeah. I usually just borrow my brothers' or my dad's suits." I said. "I mean, I have my own. I just never wear it. And it's at home."

"You met a girl while you were here, didn't you?"

"Yeah. How did you know that?"

"It happens more often here than you think. Charleston is quite romantic. Follow me."

I followed him to a rack of gray suits. He explained the designer and the season. He kept talking about stuff I didn't care about. I just wanted to look good. I wanted to get to the point.