Chapter 11

“I need your help.” I darted my eyes around the interior of the small campus restaurant in an attempt to avoid his gaze.

He cleared his throat and I could hear the scraping of his clothes material as he shifted in his seat. “With what?” He asked.

I sighed and forced my eyes in his direction. He sat across from me still in his required blue overall. I stared at his middle button that looked as though it were hanging on by a thread. His muscles had pushed a few of the other buttons open and I sat betting when the middle one would finally weaken against the constraints. I didn’t look him in the eye when I answered. “I want to get Kevin’s attention.”

He choked on the large breath of air he gulped. He sputtered for a while and thrashed his head forwards while he tried to clear his windpipe. “I thought you weren’t looking for a relationship? That’s what you told me.” His temper was rising, I could hear it in the snap of his voice.

“I know that’s what I said Dean but when I say ‘get his attention’, I don’t necessarily mean in a romantic way. We just got paired for an assignment that means a lot to us both. The only problem is that Kevin is like an emotional yoyo. One second he’s a nice guy and helping me when I’m stranded, next he’s ignoring me like the plague. I can’t expect us to have a great design if we can’t even get along. I need you to help me figure him out.”

“Why would I do that?” His frown deepened and the vein in his neck seemed to bulge.

“You’re his friend and I’m sure as his friend you wouldn’t want to stand in the way of his success.”

“How does this have anything to do with his success?”

“The assignment is part of a contest to win an internship. It’s something we could both use. The architecture business isn’t just something you fall into. You need that step in the door which, they’re providing. We need to be able to work together though, and that’s where you come in.” I smiled though he didn’t return it.

“You expect me to play referee every time you meet?” If it weren’t for his sneaky grin I would have thought he was serious judging from his stiff features and hard tone.

“No, that would be punishment for all of us.” I giggled and was happy to see Dean smile, though briefly. “Is there a problem?” I couldn’t quite understand why my request rendered a mood change from the man.

“Not at all.” He was silent for a moment and I watched his face turn from ‘I’m going to kill you’ to ‘I’m thinking of something evil.’ He smirked and held my gaze. “I’ll be happy to help, love.” He winked and I smiled stiffly. “I know just where to start. You need a makeover. Come on, let’s go now.”

“What?” Dean stood up abruptly and began to pull at my arms.

“Come let’s go.” He pulled at my arms until I was out of my seat and trailing behind him. He paid our bill quickly and then dragged me with him to the large shopping centre across the street from the cafe’. He laughed under his breath and it sounded a little menacing. Dean suddenly went from rigid to ecstatic though; his sudden burst of energy was terrifying instead of exciting.

“Why are you acting so weird? You’re scaring me a little.” My words must have snapped him out of his daze because his smile disappeared and his speedy movements slowed to normal.

“Sorry.” His mumble was met with a pout though I suspected it was probably a coincidence more than planned. “Maybe I’m just really excited for the makeover.”

“Manic is more the word I would use. I still don’t see why I need a makeover.”

“Your good girl look is off putting for a guy like Kevin. He won’t take you seriously dressed like that.” He gestured to my body with a frown creasing his smooth forehead. I looked down at my body in question. I was wearing light blue jeans with a pair of leather looking knee high boots that I thought made my legs look longer. I wore a simple pink jersey and a thick black scarf to keep the cold away. I thought it was cute that morning when I chose the outfit. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

“What is wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“It’s too cute. Kevin likes his girls hot and slutty.” He shrugged as though he hadn’t just shocked the life out of me.

“I am not going to dress like a slut just to get Kevin to work with me!” My shock had easily subsided and anger was now coursing through my veins.

“You said you wanted to get his attention.”

“I just meant if you had any tips on how to get him to like me. Not date me.”

“A makeover is how you get him to like you. Men respond to sex. You’re sure to grab and keep his attention if you dress just a little differently.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” Dean had already proven his worth by being so understanding of our date. I had to trust him.

“Then let me do this for you.” I thought for a moment and tried to think of reasons why it wouldn’t work. I couldn’t. It was time I did something for myself anyway and I was in need of some trimming. Maggie had always wanted to do a makeover on me. I smiled secretly as I thought of Maggie’s expression if she were to hear me agree.

“I’ll do it, but nothing to extravagant alright?” He nodded and continued to pull me at a much slower pace than before, towards the shopping centre. He took me into a small boutique and I cringed. “Dean what are we doing here? I can’t afford these kinds of prices.” I whispered into his arm which I held tightly in order to keep up with his long strides.

“Just try the clothes on.”

“No.”

He hung his head and grumbled under his breath. “Fine. We’ll go to the cheaper, larger stores.” We walked out of the smaller store hand in hand and Dean directed me towards a larger, wallet friendly store. We browsed the rows of clothes though every outfit I found Dean rejected. We had been shopping for an hour before Dean finally convinced me to try on the clothes he had found. I felt sick at the thought of putting them on my body. They were in one word- racy.

“Just try them on. I know you’ll look hot.” Dean had resulted in whining to convince me.

“Okay.” I grumbled and snatched the few garments out of his hands. I found a dressing room and hung the clothes up for inspection. His choices weren’t bad for a straight man. I found a beautiful, figure hugging lilac blouse. The fabric was smooth though I questioned the fit since the neckline seemed to dip further than I was comfortable with. Dean had paired a denim skirt with a top which he said I could wear tights or pantyhose with if I got too cold. It too looked awfully short. I reached for the bottom of my shirt and in one swoop, pulled it over my neck. I stood in only my bra and after taking my jeans off, my underwear. Without much thought or glance in the mirror, I tried the blouse and skirt on.

They felt amazing against my skin. The shirt was loose and freeing that it almost didn’t feel like it was even on. The skirt was snug but with enough room to breathe. I took a deep breath and let my eyes find the mirror. I gasped at the sight. I looked good. Very good. The blouse like I suspected hung low and showed of what little cleavage I had to offer. The skirt reached four fingers above my knee and made my legs look slim and longer than my boots had. I may have looked good but I wasn’t comfortable enough in the outfit to ever leave the dressing room.

“You done yet Tori?” Dean’s voice boomed from the other side of the door causing me to jump.

“Yes I am.” I answered.

“Can I see?”

“What? No.”

“Why not?” He started his whining again.

“I’m not comfortable.”

“That means it looks good.” The pride in his voice was hard to miss.

“No it doesn’t.”

“I’m coming in.” I heard the turn of the doorknob and quickly remembered I forgot to lock it. I panicked and ran for the door but I was too late. Dean had the door open and closed before I reached him. He whistled. “Looking good. Told you.” He stuck his tongue out and I returned the favour.

“Why did you just come in? I could have been in my underwear.”

“Well now I’m upset I didn’t walk in earlier. You mean to say I missed the show?” He smirked and I found my shoe and threw it at his head. He caught it, obviously. I tried to hide myself by hugging my body but Dean wasn’t having that. He shook his head and slowly pulled my arms away. “Let me look at you.” His whisper sent chills down my arms and judging by his grin, he felt them.

I dropped my arms and let him inspect me. He ran an appreciative look over my body where he stopped at the plunging neckline created by my blouse. I blushed as I remembered Kevin doing the same thing when we went out for breakfast. That seemed like a lifetime ago.

“You should take it and wear it tomorrow when you meet Kevin.”

“I still don’t see how this helps.”

“Just go with it okay? You’ll see the difference tomorrow.”

“Okay. Can we leave now? I’ll take the other outfits you picked. I’m tired of shopping and I need to get home.” He nodded and took the other clothes out of the dressing room with him so that I could change. Once I was dressed we paid and left the shopping centre. It wasn’t long before I was on my way back home, plus extra clothes.

I had just arrived at home when my phone beeped with a text message. I suspected it was Dean though my heart was really hoping it was Kevin. My heart won out again.

Kevin: Can we meet tomorrow at ten?

I smiled and replied with a yes. I put my phone back in my pocket and walked into the house to go greet my favourite little man. He giggled and rolled over onto his stomach. I watched with anticipation as he rocked back and forward on his and hands and legs, his face perched in absolute concentration. I quietly sat down on the floor in front of him and watched eagerly as his movements got more enthusiastic. I snuck a glance at Miriam who wore the same amazed expression I did.

“His been doing this all day. Any day now he’ll be crawling.” Miriam whispered and I smiled. I was so proud. I watched as Tommy’s movements increased and then his little body fell on the floor, his arms and legs spraying out. I chuckled and crawled towards him. I gathered him into my arms and covered his face in little butterfly kisses.

“I’m so proud of you baby! It didn’t happen yet but you just keep trying.” Tommy laughed and I wondered why I never noticed how much his smile looked like Maggie’s.

“You’re great with him you know.” I looked at Miriam. She wore a soft smile and held her clasped hands over her chest. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to raise someone else’s child, especially if it were the same situation you’re in. For what it’s worth, I think your friend made a great choice. No one could possible love Tommy more than you.” She smiled and made her way to the door. “I’ll be here tomorrow.” I nodded and watched her leave.

“There is someone who could love you more than me.” I spoke to Tommy with my throat tight. “Maggie loved you more than life.” I hugged him tight and imagined it was Maggie.