AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We better get going.” The light smile, rimmed in pearly pink, is gentle rather than sarcastic. I’m afraid that I might be projecting. It’s impossible for someone to go through a profound personality change just because you put them in a different outfit.
But she does seem quieter. More attentive. I let myself look at her a few minutes more before getting up.
“I’ll grab my purse and we’ll go.”
I run to my room and get my black heels as well as my small purse. I grab some low heels for Roxy and hope that they fit.
When I get back to the living room, she’s sitting on the couch looking out the window. The punky chick was quite at home in the wreck of my lounge room, but this delicate waif looks completely out of place.
I might be telling myself a string of tall tales right now, but at this moment I couldn’t imagine a better stand in for my fiancée.
As much as I’m trying to look at this objectively, I know I’m starting to get feelings for her. I just have to be very careful that if I’m going to fall in love with who she really is, not who I want her to be.
When I take her hand and lead her towards the door, she gives me that devilish grin, but it doesn’t seem to meet her eyes.
“I suppose there will be a bit of intimacy tonight, won’t there??
?
I’m at the door getting it open when she speaks, and I turn and look at her strangely.
“For the show, right? To make your boss or whoever think we’re sweethearts?”
“Yes. Of course. Hugging, holding hands, kissing.”
She leans over and kisses me softly on the lips. That moment of silence falls over us again. Neither of us speaks but something passes between us.
I pull back from the kiss and turn around, almost losing my keys I’m so flustered. I literally have no fucking clue what I’m doing.
But the longer it goes on, the more I seem to like it.
Fourteen
Roxanne
On the way downstairs I trip multiple times over the heels and the constricting skirt. To make matters worse, we took the elevator.
I try to take tiny, dainty steps. The skirt seems to get narrower all the way down until it’s a tight band wrapped around my knees. I don’t know how anyone is supposed to walk in it at all, let alone with heels involved as well.
I cling to Helen as we wait on the curb for a cab. The alcohol hasn’t worn off and I feel kind of drowsy. Every time I try to move, I bring my foot down wrong and almost snap my ankle. The skirt keeping my knees together might even be keeping me alive.
I reach up with one finger and tug on the collar. It goes in a straight line from shoulder to shoulder and pulls against my throat. It’s itching at me. I haven’t even seen a mirror; I have no idea how I look.
I can see how Helen looks, though.
The long pink gown is tight around the bodice, falling to her knees in light, wispy strands. In the very high ivory heels, she strides with the confidence of a gladiator, standing up straight and showing off every generous curve that graces her tall frame.
She is so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman so beautiful. I feel kind of bad for junking up her apartment. I’ll put in a big effort and clean it up for her tomorrow. When I’m not so drunk.
Helen puts us both in the cab and sits across from me, tense and nervous. She picks at her nails and stares out the window. The champagne has left me terribly dizzy but at least I don’t feel like I’m going to be sick. Just a little numb and high.
The thought keeps pounding around in my brain, but I can’t make sense of it.
I’m going to be Helen’s wife.
I have the ridiculous urge to fall against her and make a ‘this is all so sudden’ joke, but I can see how she’s freaking out. I don’t know all the details, but this is really important to her. I don’t want to screw it up. Whatever it is she needs out of this situation, I want to make sure she gets it.
I care fiercely about making her happy, and it’s at that moment I realize my life has changed.
