20. Ember

20

EMBER

“ I don’t know about this.” I appraise myself in the full body length mirror with a questioning look on my face and the same feeling in my stomach.

“You look fabulous, my friend. Gorgeous. Hudson is going to freak,” Cruz replies from the corner of the closet, as he pulls out the shoes I bought specifically for this dress.

Cruz is Elena’s assistant and pretty much knows everything about everything when it comes to Ford Enterprises and XConnect. Since we both work so closely with Elena, he’s been my go-to for everything, and we became instant friends because, well, he’s amazing.

Being that this is my first outing as the wife , I asked for Cruz’s help, and to say I’m nervous is a complete understatement.

Sure, I’ve met his coach, who seemed to like me when we met, but I’ve only been able to attend a casual dinner with the team since then. It was actually a lot of fun. It was the first night that Hudson and I went out together as a couple. Fortunately, I spent most of the time meeting the other wives and girlfriends of the team, who were all easy going and fun. I connected with them easily, and I was surprised by how much we all had in common.

The only other event I missed because I’ve been so incredibly busy with work, in the best way possible.

We’ve taken strides for XConnect, one of many of Ford Enterprises’ companies that Elena specifically hired me for.

XConnect is a platform that connects individuals for very specific things. “X” being the variable, plus connect, allows our users to choose who they are looking to get matched with. It can be as simple as looking for a book reading buddy or a workout partner, all the way to looking for specific sexual kinks.

One thing Elena did when she took over this portion of Ford Enterprises was separate out the sexual matchmaking side of XConnect and rebrand it as XConnect - Unleashed.

It was brilliant on her part, and that’s the side that I get to focus on the most. It’s been liberating, not only learning from her, but also creating ways to market this and put it out there.

Luckily, there is a team behind the scenes who thinks of the kinks and selections that are added to the platform. I would be totally useless for that, being that I had to Google half of them to know what they were. My main job: market the hell out of it and inspire the teams behind it with new, exciting, and creative ideas. That , I can do.

I’ve actually had an idea stirring in my head for a while, which I brought up to Cruz, since he’s my new work bestie. He loved the idea and has been encouraging me to pitch the idea to Elena. I want to, but nerves fail me every time I’ve gotten close.

“Are you sure about this dress, Cruz? Is it too much? I’ve never been to a gala before, so I have no idea.” I air-quote the word gala, because that’s what it’s been dubbed as. The Seattle Smashers opening night gala, where all the players will be there to kick off the year and raise money for local charities. That’s exactly how Hudson explained it to me.

Last weekend, after the first week of our new arrangement, he came home with a large pizza and we vegged out in the living room, just like we did the first night in the hotel room.

I can’t say it didn’t cross my mind to end it the same way that night did. Hudson is the most tempting eye candy, and this three thousand square foot condo feels tiny whenever he is in it. But our situation—yes, at my request—is friends only. It’s just not as easy to maintain as I thought it would be.

Especially because he’s used to showering naked in a locker room, which is an occupational hazard that rolls over into the house. So, needless to say, a naked, topless, freshly showered Hudson walking around the one bedroom that we have to share is unavoidable. And I swear he does it on purpose.

It has crossed my mind a time or two to do the same, just to see how he’ll react.

“Em, seriously, put these shoes on your feet and duct tape over your mouth. A gala,” he air quotes, mocking me, “is a glorified prom for adults. This dress needs to be attention grabbing and sexier than all git-up. It qualifies for both.”

Well, he’s not wrong. The satin hugs my upper body in a tailored fashion, all the way down to my waist, which then splays out into a blanket of shiny material, with a tempting split all the way up to the top of my leg. Every time I step forward, my leg is on full display for the world to see, and I swear my leg does not need that much attention. Somehow, the light seafoam green brings out both the red in my hair and the green in my eyes. Attention grabbing is yet another understatement.

“I’m trusting your fashion sense here.” He side-eyes me with a credulous look. “I know, I know, as I should. But I’m going to hightail it out of there immediately if I’m overdressed, and you’ll have Hudson to face if that is the case. ”

“Speaking of, he’s waiting in the living room for you, and I don’t feel like listening to this nonsense anymore. So, seriously, put on these shoes and chop chop, gorgeous.” He places the shoes on the ground next to my feet, kisses me on the cheek, then saunters out of the room.

Note to self: he acts the exact same in a personal setting as his work setting. He’s just as bossy and unbearable, in the best way possible, of course.

I can’t help but smile and shake my head, as I take his advice internally and quiet the voices in my head that are creating the nervousness that I don’t need tonight.

A beep from my phone draws my attention, and I pick it up from the charger, releasing the cord, and see it’s Suzy.

Ugh, I’ve been so terrible about keeping in touch with everyone. Suzy and Dana both know about Vegas, being they were both there for the entire thing. They promised to keep the whole thing a secret until I could figure things out. Needless to say, they were shocked when I told them I had arrived in Seattle and Hudson was here.

Their decision to be supportive in my career endeavors is purely based on whatever mood they are in. Some days, they love my independence and have a “you go girl” attitude. Other days, they try to talk me into staying in Weston and marrying Elliot. They want me to have babies in the same age range as theirs.

Suzy: Are you ready to come home yet? We miss you. Double dates with Micah and Elliot are NOT the same.

Me: LOL. You mean you are the third wheel with the bromance besties now?

Suzy: …

Suzy: So, seriously, when are you coming home? Micah says Elliot spends way too much time with your brother and that your parents are asking a lot of questions.

Ugh, why does she do this? She insists that I need to drop everything and get back with Elliot. Not always, just whenever the mood strikes her. Predicting if she’s pro-Elliot or pro-career is as predictable as betting on a greyhound dog race.

Her now husband, Micah, and Elliot have been best friends for a long time. We used to go out all the time, but over the years, with my grueling class schedule and then after Elliot proposed and I broke everything off, a lot changed between all of us. Mostly due to my choices, which they all like to remind me of, blanketing me with thick layers of guilt whenever the mood strikes any of them.

I knew it was only a matter of time before my parents started questioning my extended absence. I’ve been able to placate my mother’s incessant questions with me just needing some time for me. She berates me before she gives in, telling me to be ready to marry Elliot when I return home because, ‘my father really needs it.’

I hate that she doesn’t support me, or even attempt to see it from my side, but when you only mirror the emotions of your significant other, you ignore glaring signs and want what they want instead of what you want or what’s best for the other person.

Needless to say, they are just praying that this little Seattle rendezvous will wash the rebel out of my system before I come home and agree to a marriage with Elliot .

I don’t have it in me to reply. I turn my phone on silent, then place it inside my clutch.

One final glance in the full-length mirror, as I press my palms to the front of my dress, flattening the fabric that’s already all in perfect placement, thanks to Cruz.

“Okay, here we go,” I whisper to myself.