Spaces in Between

Chapter Five: Adrianna

“Aide, are you even listening to me?”

I blinked and looked up at my best friend. She was on her sketch pad and was drawing my wedding gown. I already told her that I just wanted to buy an already made one, maybe a Vera Wang or something but she blatantly refused and said that her skills might be rusty but it doesn’t mean that she won’t give me the perfect wedding dress. Her words, not mine.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Gosh, you’re so distracted, Aide!” Lily whined, “I don’t want to repeat everything I said for the last ten minutes! There were big words thrown and you know how I hate having to repeat those kinds of words!”

With big words, she meant the words that they lawyers use. I giggled, “I’m sorry, Lil. There’s so much in my mind with this wedding and work and I don’t even know what to do first!”

Before Lily could respond, my phone dinged indicating a text message and I saw that it was from James. He’s asking if where he should pick me up so we could head to the florist together. He also stated that he still wants gray to be the color scheme of the wedding. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. While gray is a great color, it looks too dull to be the color of a wedding.

“Ooh, you’re smiling. It’s James isn’t it?” Lily teased, “Seriously Aide, you two look so cute it’s hard to believe that this all so fake!”

I rolled my eyes at Lily, “Oh shut up. He’s just asking where he should pick me up and that I should rethink about using the color gray.”

Lily grinned, “Oh come on, Aide, you actually should rethink it because you do realize you’re not the only one getting married.”

I shifted on my seat, “Isn’t the bride supposed to be the one who’s completely hands-on when preparing for the wedding? You know every time Adam and I talk wedding he just says that it’s all up to me.”

“Baaabe,” I whined, pinching him on the side to get his attention, “Like, what color would you want for the bridesmaids and the groomsmen.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, his green eyes confused, “Why do I need to decide about the wedding? I mean, all I have to do is propose to you and show up at the wedding. And for that to happen, you’re just gonna say yes. You are gonna say yes right?”

I walked over to him, sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck, “Of course I will. Just ask the question.”

He kissed my nose, “Someday.”

The day never happened because I was marrying someone else.

“Aide?”

I snapped back from the memories and looked at Lily’s worried eyes, “I’m sorry. Just a memory.”

Before she could say anything, someone knocked and in came James, carrying a bouquet of pink tulips. I stared at the flowers, they weren’t exactly my favorite since I preferred the classic roses but when James carried them to me, a cute smile on his face, I couldn’t help but let my own smile creep on my face.

“Hi,” he said softly and then offered me the flowers, “Flowers for my future wife.”

Lily made a sound which caused the two of us to look at her. She waved us off, “Don’t mind me, I’m just basking on the sweet innocence of your romance.”

I made a face at Lily and James chuckled, crashing on our couch and then grinning at my best friend, “You know, I would want you to meet my best friend. Actually, he’s coming with us.”

I noticed my best friend’s face lighting up, open to the invitation. She looked at me, looking like a lost puppy waiting for approval. I giggled, loving to watch her squirm, “I don’t know. I mean, after the florist we have to go to the food tasting and we have to have James’ size taken for his suit. And you’ve been terribly busy, Lil. And you haven’t finished my gown.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem, Aide! I’d be a terribly maid-of-honor if I don’t help with this wedding of yours even if it’s completely arranged, it still is your wedding. I’ll call Emma and tell her to cancel all meetings I have for today and have it all planned for tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” James said with a grin but he was trying to stifle his laughter because Lily was still looking at me, gaining my approval, “Would that be okay with you, Ria?”

I wanted to laugh loudly at how Lily looked. I knew how excited she is at the aspect of dating someone and James’ friend might be the perfect candidate and would hopefully pass all of Lily’s standards, “Fine. Go get ready.”

Her eyes widened, she looked like she was about to jump on me and hug me, “Thank you!”

When she was out of the room, I couldn’t help but laugh and James couldn’t contain himself much longer. I wiped away the tears from my eyes, “I hope you’re ready for this, James. You’ll be surprised at how enthusiastic Lily is at a new prospect. Go tell your friend to be prepared.”

Someone knocked again and James stood up grinning, “Oh you’d be surprised at how excited he is too.”

He opened the door and revealed a dashing guy. He was wearing dark pants, a white plain shirt and gray suit jacket on. His black hair was disheveled, much like James’ hair at the end of the guy for the many times he’d run his hands through it, and his gray eyes held such allure that I knew Lily would love.

“Ria, I’d like you to meet Ethan Monroe,” James gestured to his friend, “Bro, this is my fiancé, Adrianna Stewart.”

Ethan looked at me and flashed me a devilish smile. He moved forward and took my hand, kissing it, “I knew you were gorgeous but damn, I didn’t know that you were beyond that.”

James stood beside me as I pulled my hand away from Ethan, “Dude, we’re getting married. Stop being such a player.”

“I’m ready!” We all heard Lily announce and when she came into the room, I was surprised to see her face devoid of any make-up. She normally didn’t go out without make-up on, even when she was running late for a court trial. Looking good had always been her major priority, since high school. And there were no heels for her, she was wearing flats and jeans instead of a short skirt and then just a simple blouse. This was the Lily that I usually see when I drag her in a surprise grocery shopping or when she’s just at home. This wasn’t the Lily that wanted to meet a boy.

But when I glanced at Ethan, he looked like he’d been struck. He was blatantly staring at her, still checking her out. And when she turned to him and smiled, his eyes glazed over, like how Lily always affected every guy she meets, “Hey. I’m Lily. Adrianna’s best friend and flatmate.”

She then turned to me, “Have you seen my glasses, Aide?”

I looked at her confused and then grabbed her glasses that she left on the table. James patted his friend and then motioned to the door, “We better get going. It’s almost near appointment time and you know how New York traffic can be.”

Lily and I stayed back for a moment, locking up the apartment while the boys went and got the car. I eyed Lily, still confuse of her outfit, “Lil, tell me honestly, what’s going on?”

She turned to me and shrugged, “I overheard James introducing you to Ethan. I quickly changed into this outfit. I know Ethan Monroe, Aide. I’ve made out with him dozens of times at clubs. He’d recognize me the moment I get out with my makeup and a skimpy dress. So I changed into the casual Lily.”

“Made out?” I asked knowingly and she groaned.

“Fine! We’ve hooked up a couple of times, okay?” she grumbled, “And he always tells me that he’s so into me and he likes me so much but come morning and I wake up alone on his bed. He doesn’t even ever take my number.”

I watched the frustration that was in my best friend’s eyes and I realized that she wanted more from whatever relationship she had with Ethan, “So you want him to see you as more than just the girl he hooks up with?”

“More than just the girl in a skimpy dress and caked on makeup,” she said softly, her green eyes shining, “I want an actual relationship, Aide. Sometimes I wonder if I should contact Grey again and ask if he was willing to give our relationship another shot.”

“Grey was an asshole,” I pointed out, remembering her boyfriend during senior year after she finally had enough of the on-off relationship she had with my brother.

Lily shook her head, “He was my Kanye. A jerk to everyone else but a gentleman to me.”

“But he’s also married to his own Kim,” I pointed out, “And I don’t ever see you as a home wrecker.”

“So Ethan it is,” she said with a wink and we finally headed down to the boys. James opened the shotgun seat for me and I slipped in. Before I could even buckle my seatbelt on my own, he did it for me. He winked at me once I was settled in. I didn’t see if Ethan helped Lily settle in the backseat since my sole attention was on James.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said once he was settled in.

He shrugged, “I wanted to. Don’t want you to be thrown out of the car if a possible accident happens. You know, like the girl in the movie with Channing.”

I couldn’t stop the smile from creeping on my face, “You mean The Vow? You’ve watched that? Are you serious?”

“Oh you’d be surprised of the many chick flicks he’d watch,” Ethan interjected, “It would make you wonder if all the rumors were true.”

Lily turned to him, “And what about you? Do like watching those kinds of genres too? Because you know, in my opinion, its guys who watch those with girls are truly the ones worth to keep.”

Ethan could only stare at her, “Well, uhh, umm, I like them just-,”

“Dude you say it was a p***y move to watch those things. That the only reason guys watch those with girls it to get laid,” James interjected, smirking at him through the rearview mirror while Ethan glared.

Lily only looked at Ethan after James said that and Ethan looked like he was going to defend himself but Lily already turned to look at the window. I glanced at James, wondering why he was downgrading his best friend to a possible girl that his friend could date but he just winked at me and grinned and somehow, I got the feeling that Ethan realized who Lily was and told James the same thing my best friend told me.

When we arrived at the florist, Ethan and Lily headed inside and I pulled James on the side for a moment, “You know, don’t you?”

“When I mentioned to Ethan that you had a best friend name Lily, he wanted to see her immediately. I didn’t understand why it was only when she got out to meet us after she got ready did I do. Ethan always told me that he kept on hooking up with this blonde bombshell that he would run away from the morning after because he was scared. She was too pretty for him. When I saw Ethan’s reaction when Lily got out, I realized that she must be the girl.”

“But how did he still recognize her when she was devoid of any makeup?”

James shrugged, “Ethan actually really likes her but is a p***y about it. He fears rejection but he fears her because of who she is. He knows she’s a lawyer, he knows she’s a powerful woman and he fears that he won’t be good enough for her and also, his ego doesn’t want a powerful girl to commit himself to.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, “Then there is seriously something wrong with him. I hate it when guys are like that. I mean, so what if a woman has a good job that can finance her just fine. So what if she’s not totally dependent on the things a man can give. I mean what the hell happened to gender equality?”

I knew I was rambling, I knew that his statement about Ethan got me fired up because that has always been a touchy subject for me since I grew up with brothers. But James just watched me and he had this amused smile on his face and then I got conscious and glared at him. He laughed and then casually lounged his arm on my shoulders.

“You know, you look sexy fired up.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and then jabbed him on the stomach. He groaned but then chuckled, placing his arm back on my shoulders and leading me inside. Somehow, I find the position we were in comfortable although I knew that he did it because we needed to keep acting that we were helplessly in love. The fact that we were comfortable with each other just helped.

“Oh, they are finally here!” I heard a man state and he looked so worn out. And then I realized that Ethan and Lily must have been arguing the entire time James and I were talking outside. I looked at the florist and mouthed an apology to him.

“Sorry we got caught up talking,” James said sheepishly, letting me go from his hold but then grabbing my hand to hold, “So what’s got those two fired up?”

The florist placed a hand on his head and started to shake it, “They’re arguing about the flowers. Miss Lily said that Miss Adrianna loves roses but Sir Ethan argued that Sir James wouldn’t like it and that he should have some say in this and they just kept on going until it became personal.”

Ethan and Lily were still arguing and my best friend’s face was already red from anger and I touched her shoulder. She stopped arguing and looked at me, “Lil, calm down. Deep breaths, okay? Inhale, exhale.”

Lily did as I told her to and then she looked at me, her green eyes still sparkling with anger, “I know how much you love roses, Aide. They’re your favorite and I know your dream wedding, those would be the flowers you want.”

“Did you tell me earlier to consider James’ opinion?” I said softly.

“But that was for the color scheme!” she argued and I smiled, patting her arm.

“Thank you for taking into consideration my dream wedding. But you know that it’s not the case scenario,” I said quietly, “I’ll go discuss this with James. You’re giving our florist a headache.”

I turned to James and he was just waiting for me. He gave me a small smile and then motioned his head to the florist and I went back to them, “I’m sorry about them. They have a lot of things to worry about. So let’s talk.”

“Ria, if you like the roses so much I’d be fine with it,” James stated the moment we sat down.

I shook my head. The roses held such meaning to me and despite that it always had been my favorite flowers even before I started dating Adam when we started dating, he gave it to me so many times and surprised me with them randomly that I end up thinking about him each time I see one. And I don’t think it’d be nice to think of him when I was going to marry James. I’m pretty sure he’d come into my mind already and I didn’t need the roses to worsen the thoughts.

“No. They hold so much reminder of the past,” I said softly, “You always give me pink tulips, why can’t we go with that?”

And he did. Each time he comes to see me he’d bring me flowers and it’ll be tulips. I don’t know if it was his favorite or if it was his ex’s favorite but even if I loved roses, the tulips were beautiful. He grinned at me, his face beaming and his blue eyes twinkling with delight. I couldn’t help but smile back at him and when I turned to the florist, he looked so awed.

“Do you know what tulips mean?” he said softly, “They’re a declaration of love. If he gives it to you all the time, he’s always declaring his love for you. That’s so sweet!”

I looked at James and he still had that smile on his face and then he winked at me and I swear, I swear that it made my heart skip a beat.