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Grace
I was busy dressing in a sleek blue dress for Noah’s exhibition when I heard a blood-curdling cry coming from Harper's room. I tried to rush out of the door but tripped in my stride due to the dress that I didn't zip up. I got up and held the dress up as I jogged to Harper's room.
"Are you okay? Did you break something?" She turned to me and shook her head. She looked mortified.
"I'm late. Not just a little late, ambitiously late!"
"I'm sure you can get there in time, you're always late anyways," She rolled her eyes at me.
"That's not the kind of late I mean." It took me second to figure out what she was on about.
"Oh, that's not good." I sat down beside her still holding the dress up against my chest.
She sighed.
"This can't be happening, not now. I just got my new job. Josh and I, we're still new to each other. A baby isn't the kind of stress we need." She stated sadly.
"Call him, you need him here. Then get yourself a test. Harper, he's a good guy and I know if you tell him this, he's going to help you." She frowned. I’ve had a few conversations with him and from what Harper has told me, he sounded like a great guy. I don’t think a baby would be enough to scare him off. From the way he looked at her, I just know that he isn’t going anywhere.
"Since when are you so relationship knowledgeable?" I chuckled
"Since I figured out that things are not always as they look." I felt guilt flood my veins; I know I shouldn't have judged Noah so harshly he wasn't the kind of womanizer I expected.
She stood up and walked to the living room to get her phone. I shuffled back to my room trying to get the dress on but unfortunately, it just wouldn't budge.
"I'm not getting fat!" I yelled at the zipper. It wasn’t even budging. I don’t think I had any other options for the luxurious event.
"Yes, you are!" Harper interjected. Thanks.
I heard the doorbell and started to freak, he's early. So that's what's happening today, some people are early, and some are late. I haven't done anything yet besides trying to get the damn dress on.
"If that's Noah, tell him I'm not ready yet." My door opened a bit and Noah leaned in. Of course he let himself in.
"Tell him yourself," He walked to me and studied the dress, he then grabbed the zipper and with one tug it glided up. My mouth went agape. It has taken me all of thirty minutes to get this on and he just comes in and tah dah, it works.
"Yeah, I know, you don’t even have to say it. My fingers can work all kinds of magic." He commented cockily.
"Oh really? I wouldn't know they haven't worked any magic on me." He raised his eyebrow and leaned over to whisper in my ear, ‘Challenge accepted.’
He returned to the living room so I could finish up. Before we left, Josh came over and an argument started. He seemed happy and she seemed all too pissed. I eyed the plant fossil on the back patio as I strode to Noah, nah they wouldn’t use it.
––––––––
Noah
I peered at Grace from the side as I drove. She looked different. She had her hair down in soft waves and put on makeup. She however didn't look too comfortable.
"Is something wrong?" She turned to me and pressed her lips together.
"It's just that...well, most of my friends are getting married or having children and I'm just finding my feet. I feel ...pathetic." She let her gaze drop to her lap where her hands were wrung together. I didn't know why but as she said that I felt this sadness seep through me. I didn't like it that she felt like this. I knew how it felt to be left out-hell all my friends are married, and some have children. I wish I could make her feel better.
For a moment I could swear I had a lightbulb go off in my head.
“I can help with that-“But before I could finish my thought we stopped at the gallery valet.
At the exhibition Grace wondered off to the graphic paintings that lined the walls and I prayed that she didn't destroy another one of mine. I was busy talking to a few collectors when I saw a familiar face in the crowd.
"Adrian?" He walked over to me smiling and greeted me with a hug. We've never seen eye to eye and after our big blowout, I knew things wouldn't be the same. We haven't talked in a year.
"There is the famous artist-my brother." He greeted all too cheerfully.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on some classified mission somewhere in Egypt?"
"That's classified, but let's just say that I have some time off. Can't I just visit my brother?" Without notice he can’t.
Grace emerged. I grabbed her hand before she could find a spot to get stuck in as she has at my exhibition. She looked at Adrian confused for a second until he introduced himself.
"Hi, I'm Adrian Miller."
"Wow, I can definitely see the family resemblance." She eyed us up and down.
"I'm the oldest," Adrian announced proudly. When we were younger, he never could keep that fact hidden for long.
"Oh sorry, I'm Grace...his..." She frowned.
"Girlfriend, my girlfriend," Grace's frown deepened and she looked confused.
"Excuse us for a minute," She smiled at Adrian and ungracefully (pun intended) yanked me towards a spot in the corner out of his earshot.
"You can't tell people I'm your girlfriend! That's not true."
"So you're not my girlfriend then?" She scrunched up her face.
"You never asked me to be."
"When I said we're not fun, that meant that I only want to sleep with you and be with you. Isn't that the definition of a girlfriend?" She sighed.
"Okay, fine-we're dating." I started laughing and she glared at me as she made her way back to Adrian. The rest of the exhibition we stayed close. Adrian and I made plans to have a get-together and Grace mentioned something about our brothers meeting. She didn't talk about him at all. I didn’t know she had a brother.
Grace stopped me when the valet pulled the car up to the curb.
"How about we go to your hotel room?"
"Why?" I know what we're going to do, but maybe if I played it coy, I could win a few extra brownie points.
"Because my neighbours renovate until midnight most nights. Harper and Josh are also fighting which means they're going to be having make-up sex and a lot of it depending on if she is in fact as late as she thinks, and lastly did you forget my challenge?" She smirked at me knowingly.
"How about we go to my hotel room but instead we talk." I tried to subdue the tension pooling into my groin. We didn’t know each other too well and we could do with a conversation with no touching and kissing.
"So, you're forfeiting my challenge?"
"No, you can wait.“ She sighed and reluctantly got into my car. I slid in and started to drive.
"Maybe we should have a family dinner. I think our brother would get along well." She stated.
"Are we at that point where our families need to meet?" We were moving at lightning speed.
"I don't know, I wouldn't know. I've never been at that point. I think my brother and your brother should meet; my brother could use someone that has military experience as support."
"Your brother is in the military?"
"Not exactly- he was a doctor there. He was with doctors without borders, but he worked with the military for a while."
"I'm going back the end of the week." A sad smile etched onto her face.
"Oh, I forgot."
"Can I ask you something?" She spoke up a second later.
"Of course."
"Is it normal to be dating after one date?" She looked at me inquisitively. I think I’m her first boyfriend.
"No, not really but I can't function without you. Believe me some of my parts don't function at all. When I see you, I want to pin you against a wall and make you forget everything, make you feel what magic my fingers can accomplish. I want you to stay the morning and the next night, and every other day that follows. That's why we're dating."
"So you need me?" I clutched onto the steering wheel. I nodded. Of course that’s the part she heard. She smiled.
"That makes one of us. I need you, not myself." Her attempt at a lame joke made me shake my head at her in a chuckle. That’s my girl.