Friday morning I was awakened by what sounded like major construction outside my window. It was my day off and I had intended on sleeping til much later than the time my alarm clock displayed, 8:36. I pulled my pillow over my head, groaning, but when I realized the noise was not about to let me sleep I sat up and peered out my window, which faced Brian’s home. I was amazed to see three large trucks unloading boxes and crates into the backyard. Tables were already being erected and workmen were stringing Chinese lanterns. I had thought that the last party had been a huge deal, but this was already topping it. I felt my stomach tighten a little. This was a big deal. And I was invited.
I got up and started pawing through my closet. I normally loved my clothes, but nothing looked appropriate. I shook my head at Jordan, who had wandered in. “Not a damn thing here, J. I think I have to go shopping.”
I hurriedly took a shower, ate, fed Jordan and headed to the more upper class shopping district. I felt underdressed just walking through the parking lot, and entering the mall only intensified that feeling. I hit first what I thought would be the less expensive of the stores, but even those were pretty pricey, and none held anything appealing. Even the best stores were let-downs. I was on my way out when I heard laughter so obnoxious it made my head spin. I turned around only to be greeted by Jason, his arm slung around the waist of a girl no more than eighteen, laden with bags. I watched as she batted at him playfully, then stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, deeply. My jaw dropped as I watched the scene play out further. I was rooted to the spot. Finally Jason looked forward and spotted me. His jaw dropped too, but he attempted - badly - to cover his shock with a smile.
“Carra, hey!” he called, sounding strained. I managed a tiny grin and wave. “How are you?”
“Fine,” I said, glancing at the girl. Jason removed his arm.
“This is Myra,” he introduced. She put on a big smile. “She’s my assistant at the office.”
“I’ll bet. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too,” she returned, pushing her unruly blonde hair from her face.
“Carra’s my cousin,” he told Myra. I let out a clipped laugh.
“Not really your-”
“So what are you shopping for?” he interrupted obviously. I raised my eyebrows at him. She didn’t know about Lily then?
“A dress for a party. You two?” I questioned innocently.
“Oh, Armani was having a sale, believe it or not,” Myra gushed. Jason was hardly one that had to wait for Armani to have a sale but I remained quiet. She cast an adoring look at him. “I was so excited when I heard that I had to call him first thing Wednesday morning and tell him we had to get down here.” She looked back at me and rolled her eyes. “He got mad at me.”
“You interrupted my breakfast,” he said shortly.
“And other obligations,” she said quietly, and with distaste. So she did know she was the other woman. Jason looked nervously from Myra to me.
“We should probably go,” he said. Myra put a hand on my arm.
“Would you like to come to lunch with us? We’re just headed to that little place across the street.”
“No, I should probably get back. I don’t want to interrupt,” I declined, shooting Jason a pointed look. He squirmed, then tried to smile.
“Well, it was good to see you, Car.” He began walking before he had finished the sentence.
“You too. Nice meeting you, Myra.”
“Ditto!” she called, flouncing after Jason. I was seething as I left and headed to my car. What kind of asshole was he? He just took his fling out in public like it was no big deal. I thought back over our conversation, for some reason sticking on the fact that Myra had called Jason Wednesday morning. If he was so presumptuous as to take her out, she would easily call his house with his fiance there. Lily had to know. That had to be part of the reason she was so irritated at lunch. Lily was gorgeous and charming and smart - why would she stay with Jason if she knew he was cheating on her?
On top of being upset about what I had discovered at the mall, I returned home disappointed and fretful about my lack of anything to wear. But, just as I was unlocking my door I saw a man crossing the lawn from Brian’s holding a clothing bag. I stared in confusion. When he was near enough he smiled.
“Miss Waye?”
I looked around quickly, as if he were asking for another Miss Waye. “Yes, that’s me,” I replied uncertainly. He held out the bag.
“Mr. Littrell sent this over for you.”
I looked at the bag without taking it. “What is it?”
His smile widened. “He said it was something for tonight. He was sorry he invited you on such short notice.” He held the bag out a little further and I took it, stunned. He gave me a nod and left. I shook my head as I entered the house, setting down my purse and taking the bag into the living room. When I unzipped it I nearly collapsed. Inside was a beautiful summer dress of the lightest silk with delicate beadwork. The designer was one I didn’t recognize but I knew it must have cost a small fortune.
“This has to be a mistake,” I muttered. It was then I spotted a note taped to the hangar.
Carra,
Again, sorry about the late invite - hope it you like it and it fits! See you tonight!
--Brian
“I can’t believe this,” I said to no one in particular. The dress was my size and I loved it. How had he known? But more, why? Just who was this neighbor of mine?
* * * * * *
I spent the afternoon divided between sketching and watching set up for the party. Just when I thought they were done another truck pulled up with more food, or decorations, or countless other things. I was blown away. Around dinner time I started getting ready, which was a nerve-wracking process. I was so nervous my hands shook terribly, making makeup application really difficult. After a good hour and a half I decided I was as ready as I was going to get. When I peeked out the window I saw that guests weren’t yet arriving, but I still gasped - if Brian’s yard had been amazing during the day, it was breathtaking in the fading light of evening. Jordan was sitting on the window sill absolutely mesmerized. We both sat and stared until finally I saw people start to arrive.
Limousines soon clogged the street, along with sleek town cars and sporty autos, all of which put my Neon to shame.
When a sizeable crowd had gathered I ruled it was time to venture over. With a last peek at the mirror I headed out my back door and across the lawn. Music was already playing, and the guests were creating quite a noise themselves. As I wandered onto the property I was more than glad that Brian had sent something over, because otherwise I would have been terribly underdressed. It wasn’t that everyone was wearing formal attire, it was that their casual wear reeked of money. I smoothed out my dress self-consciously and found an empty seat at a table. A waiter scurried by, but not before pushing a tray of champagne under my nose. I took a flute, a sip and a good look around.
Once I was able to really see the people that surrounded me, I realized that some of the biggest up-and-comers in the business were all around me. Musicians, actors, television stars - they were all there and having a raucous time. It was almost as if everyone had declared this a free night. Decorum didn’t exist. People danced, people screamed...they acted more like this was some frat party than the gala affair I had thought it would be. Without warning a group plopped down at my table, all laughing and some clearly quite intoxicated.
“This is a good one, but not nearly as good as the one two weeks ago,” a young woman declared as she downed the rest of whatever she held in her hand. A man across the table flashed her a look.
“Are you kidding? The best was two months ago...damn, we partied right then.”
“Hell yes we did!” This from a bigger guy who was having a lot of problems holding his head up.
“Well, even if tonight sucks, there’s always two weeks from now!” another young woman reminded them. I was surprised - there’d be another one of these?
“And two weeks after that!”
“Hell yes!” Again, the bigger guy.
“Anyone seen Littrell?” A scrawny young man asked from another table. Almost everyone at my table laughed.
“Hell no!”
“Are you kidding?”
“I think it’s against his religion to actually party. He just throws ‘em.” It took me a minute to remember that Littrell was Brian.
“I heard he just watches from the balcony and the people he sees that are really sinful he sends Bibles to.”
“I don’t know about Bibles, but last time I was here I spilled wine on my Vera Wang and somehow the next day I got the same dress, brand new, delivered to my door,” the original young woman said. So he had done that before?
“That happened to my sister, too...but hers was a Donna Karan.” Twice before? How many other times?
“Donna Karan!”
“Well she hadn’t been shopping lately!” came the indignant reply.
I got up and wandered away. The conversation was no longer all that interesting and I needed something more to drink. Suddenly three people came running by and leapt into the nearest fountain, screaming and giggling. What was going on? As I put in my order with a bartender a large man in a taupe suit appeared at my elbow.
“Miss Waye?” he asked in a deep, official voice. I was startled. This was the second time in a day.
“Um, yes?”
“Follow me,” he instructed and immediately turned and started away. I felt my heart start to pound. I shrugged at the bartender, who held out my drink as I hustled after the man.
“Am I in some sort of trouble?” I called to him. He said nothing. “Because, um, Brian- I mean, Mr. Littrell invited me.” I almost mentioned the dress, but thought better of it. That wasn’t something I wanted to announce, although it seemed that Brian buying his guests dresses wasn’t rare or a thing to be ashamed of. He still said nothing, just kept walking. I followed him into the house and up an ornate flight of stairs. I wished he would slow down - it was hard keeping up in my heels - but I didn’t dare ask him to. I tried to look around as we walked but it was too overwhelming to take in. After what seemed like miles of walking we arrived outside a large oak door. The man knocked once then headed in. It was a huge office. Beautiful French doors led out to the balcony, where I saw Brian standing and surveying the party. The man nodded towards Brian and as quickly as he had appeared at my side he disappeared. I stood in the doorway for a minute, then slowly walked through the office and out towards Brian. At the doors I stopped and cleared my throat. Brian jumped a little and spun.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you-” But Brian laughed and came in.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
“Fine. You enjoying yourself?“
This was not what I had been expecting - I’d been summonsed so he could ask if I was having fun? “Um, yeah. It’s...it’s...”
“Crazy,” he filled in knowingly, taking a swallow of the drink he held in his hand then nodding at me. “The dress looks beautiful on you.”
I smoothed it again. “Thank you. How much do I owe-”
He stopped me by shaking his head. “Don’t think anything more about it. Consider it a...a welcome to the neighborhood gift.” He grinned again, a beautiful smile that lit up his entire face. I shook my head.
“This seems excessive, Brian.”
He shrugged. “Oh well.” He took a seat on the corner of his desk and I looked around the office. Directly behind his desk was a framed platinum album. When I looked a little harder I recognized the CD as Backstreet Boys’ Millennium. Finally it came together, why he and Nick had looked so familiar. “Oh,” I exclaimed despite myself. Brian nodded without turning around.
“Lemme guess - you finally recognize me?” he asked.
“How did you know?”
He shrugged again. “It happens a lot.” He wandered back out on the balcony, gesturing that I follow him. We stood at the railing for a few minutes in silence.
“Do you need a drink or anything?”
“No, thanks,” I responded, then remembered the conversation the party at my table had been having. “Why are you up here? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Not at all. I don’t know, parties just aren’t my thing.” That seemed like a ridiculous thing to say - it was his party. He seemed to read my mind, because he tried another answer. “I like to watch from up here, see the whole thing.”
“Ah, I see.” But I didn’t, really. We were quiet again. After another few minutes of silence Brian turned to me.
“I’m probably boring you up here, huh? Rather be back in the action?” he asked. I was about to protest, but then understood that this was his way of dismissing me. I shrugged.
“Well, it seems a shame to look this good and not show myself off,” I teased. He laughed and accompanied me to the door.
“Thank you again, for everything,” I said. He nodded.
“You’re welcome. Like I said yesterday, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to drop on by, all right?”
His simple Southern hospitality seemed out of place in this mansion, but I knew he meant it. “Sure. Feel free to...stop by, if you feel like it.”
His smile was a surprised one. “Thanks.” I gave him a smile and started to turn when he rested a hand on my arm.
“Have you...have you mentioned to Lily that I live next door to you?”
I hadn’t been expecting that. “No, I haven’t talked to her.” Her change in mood at the mention of Brian’s gate flashed through my mind, but I didn’t mention it.
He nodded and seemed to be collecting his nerve. “It’d be good to see her,” he said quietly. He stared off into space again, but then shook his head, just like he had the day before.
“Were you close?” I wondered. He nodded slightly.
“You could say that.” I wasn’t sure to do with that answer and Brian didn’t seem willing to say more. We said goodbye and I attempted to find my way back outside. It took a good deal longer than it had to get up to his office but I managed. Even though there were tons of people I started feeling almost lonely. I found another bar and ordered a drink. As I waited hands covered my eyes suddenly from behind.
“Guess who,” I heard in my ear. I ducked and turned to find Nick grinning at me. “You cheated.”
“I’m so happy to see you!” I exclaimed, too enthusiastically. His grin widened.
“You just made my night.” His eyes travelled my figure quickly. “You look gorgeous, Carra.”
I felt a blush. He made me do that a lot. “Thanks.” I leaned in a little. “Brian bought me the dress.”
He seemed unfazed by this news. “It looks really good on you. He’s got taste.” The bartender handed me my drink and we started to walk. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been looking for you for awhile.”
“Upstairs talking to Brian, actually. I was escorted to his office.”
This didn’t seem strange to Nick either, he just took a drink from his cup and nodded. “Gotcha.”
We continued walking and talking, Nick stopping frequently to say hello and make small talk with others. I felt special being with him. He introduced me, but normally all I got was a quick nod or a smile. That was all right, the light touch of Nick’s hand on my back was enough. After a lot of talking, a few dances and more than a few drinks Nick and I found a seat away from the madness - which was difficult, because there was madness everywhere. “Nick,” I began. He was playing with my hand.
“Carra.”
“What’s the story with Lily and Brian?” He looked up momentarily.
“He didn’t tell you when you were up there?”
“Nuh-uh.” I was a little more affected than Nick. I smacked at his hand. “So what happened?”
Nick pondered it a minute. “How about I tell you over dinner tomorrow night - deal?” he offered. He had a sexy half smile on his face and was gently squeezing my hand. I squeezed back.
“Deal.”
Chapter 4