how much I missed Amanda and Emily. I wished they could be here to spend time with me more often.
I liked how well Mark and my friends got along. I imagined a future with me and Mark socializing with Emily and Amanda and their boyfriends. I knew this whole arrangement with Mark was all going to end some day. But I wanted to have a bit of hope. Maybe, Mark will see that I’m not interested in him just for his money. Maybe he’ll figure out that he loves me as much as I love him.
After a great dinner, Mark dropped the three of us off at my apartment.
We went inside and plopped ourselves down on the couch. I grabbed a pint of ice cream and I opened a bottle of wine. And then another bottle. And one more after that. We laughed and talked like best friends do until nearly 4 AM.
----
T he beep from my phone woke me up. I picked it up to see that Mark had sent me a text message.
Any plans for today?
I responded back:
Taking Amanda and Emily shopping. I need a dress for our engagement party
I had barely blinked before his response came through:
I’ll call Melody over at Neiman Marcus. Have her put whatever you want on my account.
For someone who was worried he looked like a big ATM machine to women, he sure loved to spend money on me at every opportunity.
Thanks, anyway. I have money since we just got paid.
“I insist,” was his response.
I didn’t bother responding to his text. I wasn’t going to argue with him about this. I would just pay for my dress myself.
We walked into Neiman Marcus. Melody was expecting us. She walked us to a dressing room and said, “I’ve pulled out dresses for all three of you. That’s what Mark told me he wanted.”
Amanda and Emily’s eyes lighted up. “For all three of us?” they said with glee in unison.
I was a little surprised at Mark’s generosity, but most of the time, Mark surprises me.
“How did you know which sizes for Amanda and Emily?” I asked.
“When Mark called me, he described them both to a T. I’m pretty sure the sizes I pulled are pretty close. If not, we can try something else.”
Emily whispered in my ear, “Is he really going to buy us dresses, too?”
I shook my head and smiled. It was just so Mark.
“Don’t you think this party is a little much?” Amanda asked.
“It’s Mark’s father. He wants to show off his son’s engagement. We’re just going along with it.”
“Does Mark have any cute, rich friends coming to the party?” Emily asked.
“I’m not completely sure who is coming. Whatever you do, avoid his stepmother Brenda.”
“Why?” Emily asked.
“Let’s just say she’s not very nice. I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”
Just then, Melody walked in the dressing room. “I have very specific orders from Mark. He says that if I allow any of you ladies to pay for your own dress, he will never shop with me again. Not sure you’re aware of this or not, but Mark is one of my best customers. So, please, let him buy you these dresses.”
The dresses Melody had selected for us were beautiful. I tried on a pink lace one. I walked out into the center area to show Amanda and Emily the dress. Turning around to show them the whole dress, I looked at them, anxiously awaiting their opinion.
“It’s beautiful!” said Emily.
“It’s perfect for you,” Amanda he chimed in.
I took a selfie and texted it to Mark. What do you think of this one?
The phone beeped within seconds.
I prefer you without a dress… But I love that one for our engagement party!
I texted back:
Are you coming over tonight?
Even though I had company, I was hoping I could spend some time with him.
No, spend time with your friends :-)
***
We hired a limo to drive me, Amanda, and Emily to the city. I didn’t think it was a good idea to drink and drive. Plus, I was still learning my way around the city.
There were a couple of clubs I wanted to take Amanda and Emily to. It was great having them here with me. How I missed going out to
I liked how well Mark and my friends got along. I imagined a future with me and Mark socializing with Emily and Amanda and their boyfriends. I knew this whole arrangement with Mark was all going to end some day. But I wanted to have a bit of hope. Maybe, Mark will see that I’m not interested in him just for his money. Maybe he’ll figure out that he loves me as much as I love him.
After a great dinner, Mark dropped the three of us off at my apartment.
We went inside and plopped ourselves down on the couch. I grabbed a pint of ice cream and I opened a bottle of wine. And then another bottle. And one more after that. We laughed and talked like best friends do until nearly 4 AM.
----
T he beep from my phone woke me up. I picked it up to see that Mark had sent me a text message.
Any plans for today?
I responded back:
Taking Amanda and Emily shopping. I need a dress for our engagement party
I had barely blinked before his response came through:
I’ll call Melody over at Neiman Marcus. Have her put whatever you want on my account.
For someone who was worried he looked like a big ATM machine to women, he sure loved to spend money on me at every opportunity.
Thanks, anyway. I have money since we just got paid.
“I insist,” was his response.
I didn’t bother responding to his text. I wasn’t going to argue with him about this. I would just pay for my dress myself.
We walked into Neiman Marcus. Melody was expecting us. She walked us to a dressing room and said, “I’ve pulled out dresses for all three of you. That’s what Mark told me he wanted.”
Amanda and Emily’s eyes lighted up. “For all three of us?” they said with glee in unison.
I was a little surprised at Mark’s generosity, but most of the time, Mark surprises me.
“How did you know which sizes for Amanda and Emily?” I asked.
“When Mark called me, he described them both to a T. I’m pretty sure the sizes I pulled are pretty close. If not, we can try something else.”
Emily whispered in my ear, “Is he really going to buy us dresses, too?”
I shook my head and smiled. It was just so Mark.
“Don’t you think this party is a little much?” Amanda asked.
“It’s Mark’s father. He wants to show off his son’s engagement. We’re just going along with it.”
“Does Mark have any cute, rich friends coming to the party?” Emily asked.
“I’m not completely sure who is coming. Whatever you do, avoid his stepmother Brenda.”
“Why?” Emily asked.
“Let’s just say she’s not very nice. I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.”
Just then, Melody walked in the dressing room. “I have very specific orders from Mark. He says that if I allow any of you ladies to pay for your own dress, he will never shop with me again. Not sure you’re aware of this or not, but Mark is one of my best customers. So, please, let him buy you these dresses.”
The dresses Melody had selected for us were beautiful. I tried on a pink lace one. I walked out into the center area to show Amanda and Emily the dress. Turning around to show them the whole dress, I looked at them, anxiously awaiting their opinion.
“It’s beautiful!” said Emily.
“It’s perfect for you,” Amanda he chimed in.
I took a selfie and texted it to Mark. What do you think of this one?
The phone beeped within seconds.
I prefer you without a dress… But I love that one for our engagement party!
I texted back:
Are you coming over tonight?
Even though I had company, I was hoping I could spend some time with him.
No, spend time with your friends :-)
***
We hired a limo to drive me, Amanda, and Emily to the city. I didn’t think it was a good idea to drink and drive. Plus, I was still learning my way around the city.
There were a couple of clubs I wanted to take Amanda and Emily to. It was great having them here with me. How I missed going out to
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