Open House Ch. 03

I yell to John from the bedroom. "Babe, are you getting ready!?" He's in the office I can tell and I don't think he's even attempted to change yet.

"Yeah, what time is it at again!?" I hear him yell from the other room.

Dammit, that annoys me so much. I've told him this already and he's just dragging his feet so that I'll tell him he doesn't have to go. He's home all day by himself. I don't see why he can't be a little more present on the weekends. If I didn't know better I'd swear he had a mistress, as much as he flits about. But I've seen our bank statements... he couldn't afford one. I yell back, "Look, if you don't want to go that's fine. I'm perfectly happy to go by myself."

"No babe, it's fine. I just want to know when we should leave!" he says, his voice echoing across the hall.

"Be there by 8! Basically now." I bark back. I check myself one final time in the mirror. A black mini dress with a deep V back and modest heels, which I hardly ever wear. I look good, but I feel a bit - I don't know - pieced together? I just don't usually dress like this and it takes me a while to... own it. I step out of the bedroom and see John waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Wow. I will never not like seeing a man in a sharp suit waiting for me - even if he is annoying. He looks up and I can see his eyes widen. I go careful in my tight dress and we share smiles. I glide down through the right angles and reflections of our big open foyer. For once it actually feels like we belong in this gorgeous home.

"Oh, my god," John says, taking me in. "You look absolutely incredible, babe."

I watch his eyes roam over my curves, lingering on the deep V of my back as he spins me around.

"I like when you get dressed up. It takes my breath away."

I'm still annoyed, but smile - feeling a surge of pleasure at his praise. The extra effort was worth it to see John's face light up like that. But in the back of my mind I wonder if I would have made the effort if I wasn't... anticipating. Being cute I say, "What, do you mean? Don't I always take your breath away?"

"You know what I mean."

John is a witty pragmatist and can't resist giving me a deeper explanation.

"I think days just get so busy that we just take shortcuts. And I think maybe we forget that... the effort matters."

"You take my breath away in jeans, honey." I say, ribbing him.

He says, "Okay, okay. Let's go find a party."

* * *

The event was held at an upscale loft with stunning views of the city. Our real estate team had spared no expense in throwing a lavish affair, complete with gourmet catering, a full bar, and a live jazz band. As we course through the crowd we have the opportunity to meet some new people and I get to introduce us as a couple. It's a refreshing change from what almost feels like individual lives at this point. John is a great conversationalist and people enjoy meeting us. I almost forgot how good it feels to be married and say this guy is mine.

"Let's grab some drinks first," John suggested, leading me to the bar.

I find myself searching the familiar faces for a certain someone. I am skeptical that she will actually show up, but I'm nervous with anticipation that she might. We manage a few sips of champagne before - to no one's surprise - John gets into a friendly heated hockey conversation with one of our senior female agents. She's successful and someone I admire - very headstrong and beautiful. You've probably seen her face on a billboard. But now instead of me connecting with her, I'm standing meekly in his shadow as he defends his ego. It's strange to watch because there is definitely a flirtatious tone to their discussion, easily defensible as polite discourse. I've started looking outward for somewhere else to put my attention and in a minute I decide to go it alone. I don't know why I saw this going quite differently. We arrive and float around, shaking hands and telling stories about our life as a wonderful married couple. People would say how cute we are together and - I don't know - we'd actually have fun? Instead it's clear I've just been forgotten.

I move around with poise, but inside it's a bit overwhelming. I've just not made a name for myself yet, so most of these people are faces I wave to as I occasionally pass them in the office. I drift around to various coworkers and am almost suffocated by work talk and gossip. I spot multiple open doors leading to a large open balcony and dart to it for a moment of air. As I sip my champagne I look out at the view. Its breathtaking. The lights of the city glow on the shadowy belly of the full round clouds above. There is a light breeze and it brings a welcome respite from the noise of the crowd.

Just then, I get a soft tap on my bare shoulder and turn around to see Tina standing there with a dazzling smile.

"Wow, you look stunning tonight," she says.

"Thanks," I reply, feeling a flutter of excitement at the unexpected encounter. "You clean up nicely yourself."

She's somehow more attractive than when we last met. I find myself picking apart her style, trying to determine what it is that sets her apart. It's the kind of look I see in magazines, but when I try to wear it I look like I'm in a bad theater costume. I have to look up to meet her eyes and see that she has her blonde hair up in a perfect twist atop her head. Her long elegant frame invites me to trace it down, over a cute bolero jacket, around a pencil skirt and down shapely legs to discover very tall heels.

Tina laughs as she sees me drink her in, moving closer - her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I try to make an effort when I think it might pay off." Her gaze drops meaningfully to my low-cut top and then my waist before meeting my eyes again. There's an awkward pause and she looks out at the sky to cut the tension.

"I think there's about to be a storm."

"What? Really?" and now the breeze makes sense. "So... did you come alone?" I ask.

Just then we are interrupted by a tall thin young man with a handsome jawline. "Excuse me ladies, I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Eric. Are you with the firm?" he says, presenting his hand.

Eric smiles at me but turns his laser beam focus on Tina, of course. Tina immediately jumps in before I can answer - locking eyes with him.

Deadpan serious she says, "Eric we are - how would you say - paid performers. Are you interested in spending a little money tonight... Eric?"

Eric's face goes beet red. "Oh... uh..."

I can barely contain myself and sip my drink to mask a face-cracking grin.

"Well, I'm sure you'll understand, Eric, that we're being monitored pretty closely, so if you want to stay and chat you're gonna have to make arrangements with that big guy right over there," Tina says, pointing to a large, somewhat disheveled man standing against the wall near the band.

"Who, Stan?!" exclaims Eric, astonished.

"We don't make the rules, Eric."

As Eric turns back to the party - shellshocked like he just stepped on a land mine, I cannot contain myself and nearly spew champagne as we both burst into laughter. "Oh my god Tina, you're crazy."

Tina just smiles to herself, bathing in my admiration.

"These young guys are too much. I don't think they've gotten used to being at parties where the women might actually be married," I add.

Looking back into the party Tina speaks, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So where's this Mr. Right of yours. I want to meet him."

"Oh, he's somewhere in there laughing it up at the bar. Let's see... Over there. Dark suit, brown hair."

"Ooh, he's hot! Good choice. So why aren't you with him?"

"Oh, I just needed a minute." I say dismissively.

Tina isn't buying it. "Okay, but now really - why?"

"Uh... I think he just forgets I'm here. When I left him he was basically flirting with one of my bosses."

"Oh, don't be silly. He's just having fun, I'm sure. He wouldn't cheat on you."

"I'm not so sure you're right," I say, deflating like a day-old party balloon.

Tina is struck, "What? Why would you say that?"

I don't know why but it just feels right to open up. Tina has been in my life less than 24 hours and yet this is the first time I've felt like I could share my feelings with someone. "Well, we've just been a bit distant lately. He's so involved in his work, and... well we haven't made time for each other in what seems like a while. Honestly- " do I say it? "Honestly, now I'm starting to wonder about... well, I don't suspect anything. But I mean... what else could it be?"

Tina's eyes search over me - looking for a way to pull me out of my spiral. "I don't like seeing you like this. You're too good of a person for him to put you in this situation." She takes on a comical motherly tone and with a quick pace she says sternly "Did he see you in this dress?"

"Wha- of course."

"Did he see this V on your back pointing to your best asset?" she says pointedly with a grin.

It makes me chuckle and I answer. "Yes, I guess so."

"And what did he say when he saw you?"

"That I look incredible."

Tina grabs my upper arms to force my face towards hers. "Damn right he said that, because you do. And he knows it." she states firmly, choking back a grin.

I'm smiling again. The feeling is not gone but I'm thoroughly entertained by her as usual.

She pauses, coming in so close our chests touch, causing me to look down and avoid eye contact. She grabs my hands as her voice goes to a soft whisper and I feel her words on my cheek before I hear them.

"I have an idea. Let's test him." she whispers.