Amelia seems to have choked on a bit of air, but miserably tries to cover it up with a cough. She sends me a knowing look, then reaches her hand out to Maribel. “Hi, pleased to meet you.” Amelia smiles shyly.
“The pleasure is all mine! I can’t believe I see the day I get to dress the infamous Amelia Nuñez!” Maribel grins. “I’ve already picked the samples you’ve requested. I’ll bring out the champagne and you two can make yourselves comfortable before Amelia is ready to start trying on gowns.” She pats my arm. And with that, the team of personal shoppers disappear behind her.
“Umm, infamous Amelia? Trying on gowns? Evan Cooper, start explaining yourself. Now!”
Uh oh. She said my full name.
“Well, infamous because she’s known about you for about …” I pause to count in my head. “… Seven years. She’s badgered me for that long as well to bring you in and meet her.”
Amelia’s jaw is practically on the ground. I use my index finger to close her mouth, then lean down into her eye level. “I told you I’ve been crazy about you for years. You’re just the last person to find out about it apparently.” I shrug.
Amelia’s at a loss for words. A first, given how easily my woman rambles. So, I continue. “And then there’s the matter of the gowns…”
“Uh, yeah. Explain the gown part,” Amelia says, her voice sounding hoarse.
“Well, if I recall correctly, last night I attended your company holiday party. Actually, I rescued you from an excruciatingly painful interaction.” That earns me another playful slap on the arm from Amelia. “So, I thought it was only fair for you to return the favor.” I lick my lips.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Isn’t that what breakfast was, Evan? Returning the favor.” She raises a telling eyebrow. God, I’ve met my match with her.
I tap her temple twice. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about you being my date for a holiday charity event that my company is hosting. Being the Founder and CEO, it is near impossible for me to finagle my way out of it, and therefore I need a date.”
Amelia opens her mouth to protest, but I raise my hand to interrupt her before she does. “And if I don’t guarantee a date now, I will be hounded by every socialite in the city, asking to be on my arm that night. If not for my company, then for exposure.”
Amelia ponders my words.
I pull Amelia into my arms and speak into her hair. “And since I don’t want to be murdered in my sleep by my beautiful Latina girlfriend, I thought it best that you come with me, even under the pretense of friendship, rather than have another woman on my arm for meaningless PR,” I finish.
I feel Amelia take a deep breath. “I take it you’ve watched your fair share of Dateline?” I can hear the playfulness in her voice.
“Come on. It won’t be that bad. We’ll be there for two hours. Three tops. Then back at my place in time to watch Bravo.”
She leans back to look at me. “Wow. Pulling out the big guns, huh.” She smirks.
“Come on, Maribel is waiting for us, and I’m sure she’s dying to get you alone and ask you a million questions.” I grab her hand to walk her to the dressing rooms. But she pulls me back.
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re getting real comfortable, throwing around that boyfriend/girlfriend title, huh.”
I smile. “Quite the contrary. I only plan on keeping the title temporarily.”
Amelia frowns in confusion.
I lean over and whisper in her ear. “I plan on moving us up in the ranks, when the time permits. That is, of course, whenever you’re ready.” I meet her lips to mine, and allow my words to marinate during our kiss.
Amelia shakes her head while smiling but doesn’t say a word. Although her expression is clear with what she would have said.
EvanFuckingCooper.
* * *
After spending a full thirty minutes complaining about the dress prices, Maribel steps in and playfully bickers with Amelia in Spanish. After another hour of dress up, Amelia finally settles on a dress that she likes.
She picked my favorite, but I didn’t say a word because I didn’t want to influence her decision. I want her to feel confident and secure when she’s on my arm at this party, and I’m just glad that she actually agreed to join me.
The party is a Winter Wonderland theme. So all the dresses picked are various shades of silvers, golds, and blues. Along with the typical red and greens for holiday parties.
Amelia picks a subdued, long sleeve golden gown that hugs her curves beautifully, while also leaving enough to the imagination. I knew she would pick it because she is probably going for comfort versus glam for our first outing together. I can’t imagine her wearing something that will make her even more self-conscious while at an event with an absurd amount of media coverage.
She didn’t want her boobs or butt to be on display, didn’t want to wear heels that were too high in case she tripped, didn’t want to stand out too much and cause more unwarranted attention … and the list goes on.
