Animal attraction

Chapter 5- Do I smell?

I woke as usual to Keith l*****g my face, begging me to get up. I loved morning snuggles with my baby. Today was my day off and I was spending the day with Charlotte. Well, we were spending the day. I hadn’t had a day of in 2 years, but Nora insisted of course. I smiled fondly thinking about Nora, who was potentially my new favourite person in the world.

I jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I grabbed a quick body shower and as I was brushing my teeth I realised I fell asleep with wet hair again last night so my hair was an absolute lions mane of deep dark billowing loose curls. I decided to leave it down today, I grabbed some of my hair products and began scrunching them into my hair. Starting with my hair serum and finishing off with my hair oil just on the ends.

Looking in the reflection of the mirror I smiled at the finished product. It had been so long since I had seen my hair like that. I quickly did my makeup, the usual light beat I did every day before heading over to my rail. Wow non uniform day, what shall we wear today I thought. Keith starts nipping at my ankles in a bid to hurry me along in his usual subtle way.

‘Okay I get it I get it I’ll be quick’

I grab my 80’s mom jeans, a cropped long sleeve white cotton shirt. I loved crop tops and high waisted trousers it showed off my tiny waist and minimised by huge a*s. I grabbed the Varsity style jacket I bought from a thrift store in LA that I was obsessed with but it was never cold enough to wear often. I opted for my slightly beat up Nike Jordan 1s. They were mostly black and white with a hint of red. I finished the look off with some small gold hoop earrings and a new tote I bought at the gift shop here that said ‘welcome to Evergreen Springs’. Kind of dorky I know but I loved it, no surprise it was really well made and lovely.

I need to pack Keith’s food his water bowl, some snacks, some doggy bags, it was like a baby bag but for puppies. I grabbed my makeup bag and emptied the contents in my my bathroom draw where I usually did my makeup and instead packed my purse, some money, my phone and a chapstick In the newly emptied makeup bag. After one quick look in the mirror I felt cute enough and was ready to go. I scooped up Keith and we headed downstairs.

Prompt as ever. Charlotte was waiting for us downstairs eating breakfast.

‘Morning Rory how was your lie in’ Sally greeted me her blue eyes shining as usual.

‘Short lived, thanks to Keith’ I rolled my eyes and was awarded a chuckle.

‘Hey Charlotte, sorry have you been waiting long?’ I ask throwing a glance at the clock it was only 9.30 that wasn’t too bad we had said 10.

‘No don’t be silly hon, I just came over for some pancakes before our big day. Thanks so much for helping out. Moms been feeling tired the past few days and this new delivery is overwhelming I tell you’ she looked at me with relief in her eyes. I had agreed to help Charlotte with some big delivery she had come

in this morning.

A new library has been built and donated by Crescent Construction and to celebrate they were having some big fancy party at the Town Hall, everyone in Town was invited. Aswell as some fancy business types from the neighbouring towns and big City. The Town has been all a buzz with excitement. I didn’t blame them, I couldn’t wait for the Library to open! But Diana had made sure to put a large order for some fancy frocks ready for the occasion the shrewd business woman that she was. Always prepared. However it had overlapped with their usual delivery and now it was twice the work.

‘You should have told me Charl I would have helped you unload this morning’ I said looking at her tired face immediately feeling guilty for sleeping in. ‘You’re doing enough Rory, your first day off and you’re helping me. Can I at least buy you breakfast’ she asked.

‘Maybe lunch, it’s too early for me I’m just gonna grab a coffee’ I tell her.

We grab Keith and make our way to Charlotte’s store after finishing up breakfast. She talks excitedly about her boyfriend Fraser and how she’s so excited for the ball and how she already had her outfit planned out. Charlotte was a fierce looking red head with the most beautiful green eyes, but her sweet, gentle demeanour was anything but fierce. I love Charlotte’s energy, she made me feel so calm. She was never nosy and would never pry yet I opened up to her to other day about Tristan and how I caught him cheating. She looked devastated for me bless her. I had assured her it wasn’t a big deal but the pity in her eyes was enough to mentally chastise myself for being an over sharer. i***t.

As we get stuck in to deliveries I see so many cute clothes that I have to mentally and physically pry myself from. I barely had any room for new clothes and wearing a uniform every day I hadn’t even had a chance to wear the ones I had bought. I did however see a small, leather cross body black bag that was adorable and decided that was going to be a treat to myself for helping out a friend. I put it to the side and kept folding the clothes in to size order. After a few hours we had finished the first delivery and now we just had the second delivery, the fancy dresses. It was a much smaller delivery and I knew between the two of us we would be done in no time. We tackled the accessories first. The little sparkly clutches and the heels. And then the dresses.

I was all but done with my pile of dresses when Charlotte gasped.

‘Oh my god Rory you have to have this’ she screamed. I could barely see her but managed to spot the top of her fiery head. She stood up and rushed towards me holding out the most beautiful black dress.

‘It’s absolutely stunning, I’ll take it at the waist for you, but this on your body!’ She exclaimed.

I inspected the dress and had to admit it was beautiful, it was a simple black almost suede material. It looked very figure hugging and I wasn’t sure how I felt about something that revealing. It had a scooped sweetheart neckline and tiny pearls for straps. It was so simple and elegant.

‘Just try it on please!’ She begged me

‘But what on Earth would I wear to Charl, I haven’t worn anything this fancy in my life’ I whined.

‘The library gala!’ She screamed her enthusiasm growing at an alarming rate. I hadn’t even given that a second thought, I wasn’t even sure I was going to go. I mean I was still so new to the Town was it even appropriate. I did love the cause though.

‘TRY IT ON’ she screamed. God maybe she was fiery come to think of it. I grabbed the dress and made my way to the small changing room. When I stepped out to go over to the mirror in the middle of the shop Charlotte stared at me with her mouth to the floor.

‘Rory you look incredible, I’m literally speechless’ she said sincerely. I looked past her shoulder at my reflection and I did in fact look good. It was a very sexy dress, it hugged my curves all the way to my ankles. The length of the dress making it more modest and sophisticated because my breasts in this dress were the star of the show. The material and simplicity of this dress stopped it looking trashy and overly sexy. It as stunning.

‘Damn it Charl you have a great eye, do you think it’s a little much though’ I asked turning around to see every detail of my a*s in this skin tight dress.

‘Let me show you what I’m wearing’ she said as she unzipped a sparkling emerald green dress from its bag.

‘Wow, that’s unreal’ I gasped. The dress was beautiful and I knew with her red hair it would look ethereal on Charlotte.

‘If you hadn’t noticed everything is pretty much extravagant and shiny here’ she chuckled and I realised she was right. All the dresses we had begun to unpack were a lot more showy than my little black dress. I looked at Keith and he barked his approval.

‘Okay I’ll take it!’ I said to a very approving Charlotte. She took it to the back and immediately started packing it before I could change my mind. When she came out she had the packed dress in one hand a small item wrapped in tissue paper in the other.

‘This has been here so long and it’s perfect for your dress Rory, come look’. Charl handed me the most beautiful Pearl encrusted little clutch. No bigger than my hand. It was perfect. We both squealed in unison. God don’t you just love it when an outfit comes together!

Leaving my goods to the side of the cash register we finish up our work and within the hour had done everything and were absolutely exhausted. It was almost 2! Definitely time for lunch and my growling stomach hastily agreed with me.

‘Rory you’re an angel for helping me today I don’t know what I would have done. It looks amazing’ she pointed out how great the store looked.

‘What are friends for’ I said warmly. Revelling in the warm feeling of actually having a friend. I actually had multiple now. Look at me. My inner voice and I celebrated. We took the packaging and card board boxes to the outside trash dumpsters and decided it was lunch time.

‘Hey ladies’ Sallys head popped through the door. ‘Nora sent me bearing gifts, she thought you might have worked up an appetite by now’. Nora has to be an angel, there is no end to that woman’s angelic tendencies I’m telling you. Charl and I practically inhale the the food in 10 minutes whilst Sally cooed over my dress.

‘It’s perfect Rory, you’re gonna look insane in this’ Sally approved.

‘And she doesn’t even have to have it tailored you should have seen it on her, fit like a glove. It looked tailor made I’m telling you’ Charlotte chimed in.

‘Who on earth has your killer curves, one of you is enough but two of you roaming the earth is scary’ Sally added. I blushed furiously naturally, grateful that these stunning girls took time out of their day to make me feel good about myself. They really were the sweetest. All they did was celebrate me and I still wasn’t used to how great but uncomfortable that made me feel.

I hugged Charlotte goodbye, grabbed my new dress and bags whilst Sally grabbed Keith and we made our way back to the Café chatting.

‘Hey, you wanna go see the finished library. Cas is over there now coordinating the last delivery of books and I promised him I’d bring him a coffee’ Sally asked.

‘Sure I would love to, I’ll grab the money I owe Charl for the dress and quickly drop it round to her’ I said.

‘You don’t have to do it so quickly, chill’ Sally laughed.

‘I know but it just makes me feel weird’ I said as I quickly ran upstairs. We hopped into Sallys fancy car Cas had bought her for her 19th birthday carrying the coffees and Keith. After a quick pit stop to Charls to pay for my dress we were on our way. I made a mental note to stop spending money on clothes until at least my next pay cheque. Keith’s vet bill had been a big dent in my Rolex fun and I didn’t mind but I would have to be the responsible mother now. Not the frivolous shopaholic.

As we drove closer to the Library I have to say I was very impressed. Just like everything in this town it was beautiful. Well thought out, well made and so aesthetically pleasing. I had to give it to Crescent Construction they really took pride in what they did. Cas came to greet us cheerfully, grateful for the coffee and told me I could look around. The library was about half way through being filled up with books and the smell alone was intoxicating. I loved the smell of books. It made me feel safe and happy. Growing up, books were the only escape I really ever had. Shaking off a familiar sad feeling that had slowly begun to creep up on me I weaved my way through the bookshelves.

‘What are you doing here’ A stern but familiar voice echoed. That vanilla scent invaded my sense once again. What the hell kind of cologne did he f*****g use. It was driving me crazy. God he looked good, he not only smelt mouth watering he looked it too.

‘What are you doing here’ I retorted. Trying my best to seem as unfazed as possible. Oh but I was fazed alright.

‘This is my building’ he said matter of factly.

‘Modest’ I replied.

I could see the frustration on his face. God it felt good to get to him. My win was short lived however because he grabbed my elbows roughy and stared in to soul. No seriously he stared into my eyes like he was looking for something. And for a split second he felt so familiar to me. That electric spark igniting its way through my body. Could be feel that or was that in my pathetic, lonely imagination.

‘Where have you come from’ he asked, but man that question seemed loaded to me.

‘LA and can you get your god damn hands off me you creep’ I snapped out whatever trance he was trying to put me under. I hated being touched without consent, and no matter how attractive this arrogant asshole was. Consent is consent. Get out of my personal space!

‘Creep!? Me?! A creep!’ He couldn’t hide his shock at my seemingly offensive words.

‘Well what do they call it around here when a strange man, man handles you out of nowhere, charming ?’ I retort. He drops his hands to his side but still doesn’t drop my gaze. He leaned in and sniffed me. He literally sniffed me. Oh my god did I smell? I hadn’t showered since working up a sweat at the shop and I hadn’t put any perfume on. Oh my god I was mortified. A slow blush creeped up my neck. I stepped back and his face looked confused and amused by my sudden reaction.

‘Rory!’ Sally shouted. Oh thank god for that girls timing. I almost melted with relief.

‘There you are, are you ready to get going’ she asked carrying Keith.

‘Oh Alex there you are Cas is looking for you the delivery man is asking where to put the last load’ Alex nodded and sprinted off. That guy was so weird, what a weird, weird man.

‘That looked cosy’ she chided, lifting her eyebrow incredulously.

‘Do I smell?!’ I asked her

Her other eyebrow shot up and she started laughing. ‘You smell great I promise’ she reassured me as we made our way back to her car. I quickly sniffed myself when I thought she wasn’t looking. But I got the weirdest feeling I was being watched. This has been the weirdest day.