The next two days seemed to fly by. When you don't want something to arrive time always seems to go faster. I wasn't necessarily dreading going to the double date but I wasn't looking forward to it either. I'm pretty sure Hannah is going to end up leaving me to fend for myself with Ryan's friend. I just prayed he wasn't some creep like last time.
"I heard you have a date tonight." Rina nudged my side as she came up to the desk. Rina was a part time employee, working a few shifts here and there while going to school. She was probably one of the most bubbliest people you'll ever meet. She's almost a female bugs bunny.
"It's not really a date."
"Are you sure about that?" She raised an eyebrow at me. "From the sound of it the two guys you are meeting tonight are severely hot."
"I wouldn't know." I shrugged.
"You don't even know what your date looks like? Do you even know his name?" She almost yelled incredulously. I guess it never really occurred to me to ask Hannah. I've rarely ever asked with the other guys so why now?
"It doesn't really matter anyways."
"What! It so does matter!" Thankfully at the moment no one was in the shop or Rina's yelling would have caused a scene.
"Here's what is going to happen tonight. We'll meet up with Ryan and his friend. The friend will either be nice and polite, clearly not wanting to be there either. Or he will be some horn dog that will flirt the entire meal. Then after dinner Hannah and Ryan are going to leave, where I will then be stuck with the said friend. Who I will have to decline to spend the night with and go home alone to drink a glass of wine while watching Gilmore Girls."
"Wow." Rina whistled. I may have been a bit of a pessimist when it came to love or dating in general. I didn't mean for it come off that way but it definitely did by the look on Rina's face.
It wasn't that I didn't believe in dating, it’s just never worked for me. What Hannah doesn't know is I tried to date after my break up with Harold. I went on a few dates with some guys but there was never that spark there. The worst part is the entire time I was on those dates I would only compare them to Harold.
I would compare everything from how the person dressed to the things we did on the date. It's hard moving on from a guy who was absolutely perfect. Who made you feel like you were the only girl that existed. After feeling that spark with someone and losing it, you can't recapture it with someone else. It isn't possible.
So after a few failed attempts of trying to move on with someone else I gave up, plus I had other pressing things to deal with at the time. It just wasn't in the cards for me to find someone. I wasn't quite sure if I ever would either.
"Sorry I just don't have high hopes, that’s all."
"Give the guy a chance. Who knows maybe he'll be the one." I refrained from rolling me eyes at her words. The one, yeah right.
"I'm just going to support Hannah."
"She does seem really into this guy." Rina remarked.
"Speaking of Hannah....where is she?" I questioned, looking around the store. As if on cue she walked through the front door beaming so wide you could probably see her in outer space.
"Bella I just found you the most perfect dress for tonight."
"But I already have dresses at home."
"Well I got you this. Think of it as a thank you for going on so many double dates with me." Hannah came up to the counter cradling a bag. I eyed it wirily not quite sure what she picked out for me.
"It better not be a stripper dress."
"It's not a stripper dress." She rolled her eyes at me. "You're gonna love it." Hannah almost had a bounce in her step as she placed it on the counter. Beside me Rina seemed just as excited to see what it was.
With the widest grin Hannah zipped opened the bag and pulled out the dress. I felt my eyes widen as I took it in. She was right...I loved it. It was simple yet screamed sexy with a deep v-cut front. I usually hated wearing white but this dress was made to be worn in white.
"Woah." Rina spoke first.
"Gorgeous, right?"
"It's going to look great with your hair!" Rina complimented. I reached out and touched the fabric of the dress. It kinda felt like cotton and silk together.
"Do you like it?" Hannah asked, waiting almost impatiently for my answer.
"I....I love it Han. Thank you." I breathed out.
"I knew you'd love it." Not gonna lie I for sure thought she got me a more scandalous dress. Wouldn't be the first time either. "Now we need to go home and get ready."
"But it's only 4." We didn't close the shop until 5 usually.
"And we have to meet them at 6. Two hours to get ready is barely any time at all." Maybe I have been out of it for so long cause two hours seemed like a long time.
"I have to close the shop," I started to say but Rina interrupted me.
"I can close up, I don't mind." She offered.
"You don't have plans?" Since when does Rina not have plans on a Friday?
"Not until later, plus it’s only an hour." She shrugged. "I really don't mind. Go home and get ready for your hot date." At the last part she winked at me. I went to argue but this time it was Hannah that cut me off.
"It's settled. Rina will close the shop and we'll go get ready. Let’s go." Hannah said in one breath, coming around the counter as she talked. Grabbing my elbow she tugged me out from behind the counter and towards the door, grabbing the dress on the way. Her strength surprised me.
"Rina make sure to lock the door and count the till!" I said over my shoulder and Hannah roughly jerked me behind her.
"I got this Bella don't worry." Rina called after me. Before I could say another word I was tugged out the door.
"Make sure to tell her the dress will be ready in a week. She'll have plenty of time to try it and make any more adjustments before her big day." I spoke loudly into the speaker phone as I placed another pin in the dress in front of me. Grabbing another piece of fabric I placed it where I wanted it to go, holding multiple pins between my teeth."How is Hannah's coming." Rina asked."I'm almost finished with it." I spoke around the pins."Bella are you still working? Don't you have a date to get ready for?" Rina questioned through the phone."I wanted to add one more piece, I'm practically ready.""You work too much Bella." Rina sighed."Once this dress is done I promise I'll take a few days off." She wasn't wrong. For the past four months I have been working non-stop on this wedding dress and I only had about a week to go before it was finished."You better. I'll go ahead and call Ms. Anderson to let her know. Anything else you need?"
"Harold I told you to pick up your socks!""I did!""No you didn't! I am staring right at them." I stared down at the three pairs sitting in the middle of the living room. Harold had a bad habit of taking his socks off wherever he was and leaving them there until I pick them up."I put them away!" Harold yelled from the kitchen."Harold." I placed my hands on my hips. We've had this argument at least once a week since we've moved in together four months ago."I swear it wasn't me." Harold came out of the kitchen. I pointed to the socks sitting in the living room and gave him a look."Everyone is going to be here in 5 minutes and we don't need these front and center." I scolded."I put them away like you asked ten minutes ago.""Clearly not.""Why would I put them away and then take them back out." Harold raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms."They don't magically crawl out of the closet.""Bella-" The sound
"Damn these are great seats." Hannah practically gasped as she looked around us. I had to admit these were amazing seats. We were literally right above the player and in the middle of the stadium. From here we would be able to see everything happening."It pays to have two well-liked boyfriends." I nodded along with her. Harold and Ryan got the two of us front row seats and we literally were able to by pass the crowds which was super nice. At first Harold wanted us to be in one of the booths high up but I wanted to be front and center to watch. Being up in the booth you can't see as well as down here."You okay Bella?" Hannah asked after her gawking was over."Yeah I...it's just the first time I've seen Harold play in person in years. I'm kinda nervous.""Why?""I don't know." I really didn't know why I was nervous. "Maybe I'm nervous he'll get hurt or something." I chewed my bottom lip."He'll be fine, trust me. And with you here to watch h
"Harold told me you are in a nursing program. That's really cool." I made conversation with Harold's sister Haley."It's been a lot of hard work but I enjoy it. And helping people is something I've always been passionate about."It was a bit crazy sitting here beside her after all these years. She was so grown up it baffled me."I could never. I get squeamish around blood.""It actually took me awhile not to want to pass out when I drew blood or say something horrible during my internships." I couldn't imagine the things she saw, definitely not for me. Before I could say more an arm wrapped around my shoulders."So what are you doing with my brother gorgeous?" Harold's younger brother, Dylan spoke above me as he perched on the side of the couch next to me."Are you seriously flirting with Bella?" Haley rolled her eyes at her brother."What? Someone's got to free her from our brother. Bella," He used his arm to turn me to face him. "Bl
4 months later....."Five more!""No!""I said. Five. More.""I can't. I'm done. No more." I panted, my arms falling to from underneath of me as I fell to the ground. I laid there on the cool grass with my eyes closed as my poor arms felt dead."You are cruel, like so cruel. Worse than a dictator." I panted, making myself roll onto my back. As I gazed up at the sky a head came into view, blocking the sun in my face."You're the one who asked to train with me." Harold chuckled looking down at me."Yeah before I realized how hard you workout. I can't feel my arms.""Come on it wasn't that bad." I glared up at his beautiful face."If I could lift my arms I would punch you but thankfully for you I can't.""Did you kill my best friend Harold?" Another familiar head came into view. One of Harold's teammates, Ben, grinned down at me.I hadn't known it at the time but getting back with Har
I didn't want to have this conversation but the look on Harold's face told me I wasn't going to get out of it. We were finally going to have this talk."Harold." I sighed placing my fork down. "Your parents never liked me. From the moment they laid eyes on me they deemed me unworthy.""What the hell are you talking about?""You never saw it!" I snapped. "You never saw the looks or the comments made about me. Every single person hated that I was with you and trust me they made that well known." He started to talk but I held a hand up to stop him."You never noticed the way all the girls made fun of the way I dressed, the way I looked, even my hair. Everyday I had to hear about how I wasn't good enough to be with you, the star quarterback. The guy who deserved someone better, prettier." I could feel tears wanting to gather in my eyes but I pushed them back."Your own parents said the same thing. The moment your mother laid eyes on me she deemed me un