Dear Pain

22

"Come on Elle, you've tried on 10 dresses. You're a knock out in all of them." Chris moaned from the chair outside the dressing room of Lord and Taylor where I was currently trying on dresses for the weekend's wedding.

"You have to say that, you're my boyfriend." I poked my head out the door. I handed him another dress for the 'no' pile.

"I liked that one." He whined.

"I didn't. It wasn't flattering." I raised an eyebrow.

"How many more do you have in there?" He tried to peer around the door. I promptly pulled it shut.

"3." I called.

"ELLE!" He groaned. "My stomach is growling. C'mon. Just pick one. The next one is it. I'm not allowing you to try anymore on."

I rolled my eyes ignoring him as I slipped on the next dress, a sleeveless burgundy cocktail style dress that reached about mid-thigh. The bodice was lace and it came up high over my chest with a simple band around my neck. It had just a little bit of tulle to give it some volume but not enough that I looked like a 6 year-old playing ballerina. After fussing with the zipper for a moment I stepped out of the dressing room.

Chris was still in the chair slumped down with his head leaned back and his hat covering his eyes. My pile of discarded dresses laid across his lap.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat.

I heard a slight snore escape from his mouth and shook my head. "AHEM!" I said louder this time kicking his shoe with my barefoot.

"What? What?" He sat up pushing his hat up.

"You fell asleep." I crossed my arms.

"Yeah, well I'm bored." He replied flatly.

"The quicker I find a dress, the quicker I find shoes and we can eat."

"Great! Wait- what? Shoes?"

"Yeah, shoes." I gave him a look, "What do you think of this one. And honestly."

"It's my favorite."

"You said that about all the ones in that pile on your lap." I pointed at the dresses.

"True." He looked down. "But none of them looked that good on you. Plus...." He reached out and slipped his hands around the back of my thighs. "Look at this." He gave me a sexy smirk as his hands slowly traveled up the back of my legs to my butt. "This is the one." He took his finger and slipped in between my skin and the elastic of my underwear.

"Behave." I hissed.

"Never." He pinched my butt with a grin.

"Easy access aside, you like this one? Because I really do." I looked at my reflection in the mirror behind Chris's chair.

"I love it. And I love you. Let's go eat puh-lease." His hands dropped from underneath my dress and he dramatically fell back against his seat.

I started to smile.

"What? Don't tell me you've changed your mind already."

"You just said you love me." I looked at him.

"No, I said I love the dress." He shook his head.

"And then you said and I love you."

"Nah." He continued to shake his head.

"Yes you did."

He looked up his eyes meeting mine and a huge smile broke out across his face. He pushed the pile of dresses off his lap and pulled me to him so I fell into his lap as his arms tightened around me. "Ok maybe I did say it. And? What are you gonna do about it?"

"I love you too." I said softly.

"Do you?" His blue eyes shone brightly.

I nodded.

"Good. Cause I do. Love you. It slipped out but I meant it."

"You know what? We can go get food before shoes." I took his hat from his head and flipped it around backwards so I could lean down to kiss him.

"You do love me." He teased.

I laughed as I stood up, "Let me change so we can pay."

"Hurry!" He reached out playfully grabbing my leg as I tried to escape him to the dressing room.

"Good things come to those who wait!" I called as I shut the door.

"I'm expecting all the good things then."

A moment later I tossed my dress over the door, "All the good things." I echoed.

The next evening I was back in my burgundy dress getting ready for Felix's wedding. My hair was not wanting to corporate and I stood frustrated in the bathroom attempting for the 3rd time to pin it back in some sort of elegant way. But it looked stupid so I pulled it up in a pony tail and teased it a little.

Chris stuck his head in the bathroom, "Hey superstar you about ready to go?" He asked.

"I suppose." I wrinkled my nose at my reflection.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't like my hair."

"You do realize you always looks beautiful right?" He asked.

"Thank you very much." I spun around with a smile. "You look so handsome!" I squealed.

He had on black pants and a black shirt with a bright blue tie.

"Thank you. Should I change my tie to match your dress?" He asked holding his tie up.

"No but that's super cute that you thought of that."

"2 sisters and my mom." He shrugged.

We left the house to head to Fenway and my phone started buzzing in my clutch.

"Hey Cass."

"Hey." She said her voice sounded defeated, "When do you get home?"

"Tomorrow, why? What's wrong? What did Jake do?"

"Nothing. Well nothing really. He just keeps showing up at work. Melanie said I should get a restraining order."

"What?! What do mom and dad say?"

"They don't know."

"What about Cash, Kellan or Grayson?"

"Elle," She sighed. "They don't know either. And it's going to stay that way."

"I don't like this Cass. I'm not there. What if he goes psycho?"

"We dated for a long time. I know him."

"Doesn't mean he won't snap."

"What?" Chris mouthed as he tapped me.

"Jake." I mouthed back.

"I'm going to be at your house ok? I don't think he'll come looking for me here. Not after Chris kicked him out."

"Ok. We'll be there tomorrow. Keep the doors locked and Cass call me if anything happens."

I hung up and looked at Chris. "I'm making her go get a restraining order on Monday."

"Is it that bad?"

"I'm not sure yet but she's freaked out."

"I'll have Scott swing by and check on her."

"Thank you. I think that would be good. She needs a friendly face that isn't a mutual friend of hers and Jake's. Most of hers are."

"I'll text him now." He pulled his phone out and sent the text before turning to me, "You ready for a night at Fenway?"

"Let's go!" I grinned.