Kimmie's Awakening: Desire For Two Mates

Chapter Three

I turned the key into my apartment door as I tried to juggle my camera equipment in one hand and my keys in the other. Once the door swung open, I shut it closed with my foot, and then everything fell from my arms. Too exhausted to even care, I quickly slumped my body onto the couch.

I had just completed the Stanley wedding and what a draining day it was. All day the bride either called, texted, or yelled at me about anything and everything. Were the colors to her liking? Did the food taste well? Was she fat?

I honestly don't know how Tara does this all day. She must be a sadist because the constant interaction with people was such a nightmare. The rush of people and incessant complaining. I know Tara is preoccupied with the charity ball but I don't know how much longer I can do this. I much prefer the solitude of my desk to being surrounded by people. If it weren't for Cassia, the intern, I'd be a mess. She had the aura of a leader but the sympathy for the nitpickers. She handled the clients' problems better than I ever could. I had no doubt she would make a great event planner.

I wasn't too sure how long I was sprawled on the old, college couch but I got up because my stomach grumbled. I ordered some takeout before I jumped in the shower to relax my aching muscles. As I sat to watch some random TV channel, I looked at my equipment by the door. I knew I had to get started on the videos and pictures soon.

But…

Suddenly, my hunger disappeared. I shut off the TV as I grabbed the throw blanket off the back of the couch. My skin shivered as I wrapped myself in the semi-think cloth.

By shutting off the TV, my whole apartment became dark. Only the streetlights from the street brought some light into the small living room. I opened a window as I gazed at the city before me. Although I did not live in the heart of the city, I was close enough to hear the car horns and sirens.

Looking at the twinkling lights, I couldn't help but to think about the Stanley wedding. Even though the bride was a total b***h in my eyes, she was a totally different person in front of her husband. It was clear to everyone that he adored her. She was cold to everyone, but she was attentive to him in return.

Would I ever find anyone to look upon me like that? I knew I wasn't a supermodel quality, but I was cute in some respects. I wasn't rich but I made a decent salary. I had great, loving friends and my own apartment. I had everything I could have ever wanted.

And yet…

Do I really want to stay working with Tara forever? I was glad I could use my talents, but it is always to please clients. When I d have a chance to pick a design, the client is quick to shut it down. I am good at what I do but I have no passion for events.

I used to take photos of everything and draw anything. I had stacks of notebooks and scrapbooks piled up over the years. Now everything revolves around work. I barely have a social life because all I do is work. As my eyes traced my now dark apartment a thought came to me.

Do I work a lot because I like it or to escape the solitude of my life?

Sadly, I believed the latter to be true. I wish I had more passion in my life. I went through both my high school and college years chasing my dreams. Granted, I was more focused on building my career than on a relationship. But now I have a job but no desires.

And… I am lonely.

With this realization, I cleaned up my small mess and laid back on the couch. The sounds of the city helped to lull me to sleep. At least I did not feel as lonely with the sounds of the city to keep me company.

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Over the next few days, I devoted all my time to completing the Stanley wedding while assisting Tara with the charity ball. As usual, she rejected my help and told me to focus on being a good guest and bodyguard.

Since Tara was able to hire two interns, I used Rebecca to help me complete the final pieces for the wedding. She was a recent college graduate who was a quick learner and eager to jump into the event planning business. She had amazing talent and was more excited to do more hands-on projects. Having her around helped me to complete my project more quicker.

Thursday evening, Tara let me know that my dress was ready to be picked up. Also, she made both a hair and nail appointment for me on the morning of the ball. Despite my please she insisted I go looking my very best.

After work on Friday, I stopped by the tailor shop to retrieve my dress. Sebastian greeted me as he rang up a customer.

"How are you today, Kimberly?" He said with a smile as he rounded the small corner of the register. His black eyes glowed and a small dimple formed on his lower right cheek. His smile was so infectious that a smile formed on my face. His reaction to me felt genuine as if he was really happy to see me.

"Please, call me Kimmie. I am doing well. And yourself?" I responded politely.

"So many customers. The weekends are always the busiest days of the week. I'm sure Anna is around here somewhere. Probably running around like a chicken with its head cut off."

"I heard that." Anna chimed as she lightly slapped Sebastian on the shoulder. She turned to me as her face brightened. "Kimberly, so good to see you!"

"You too Anna. Please call me Kimmie." I smiled as I gave her permission to use my nickname. Not a privilege I give to many people but for some reason, I felt as though we would become good friends.

"Yes. Let us go and try on your dress, Kimmie"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm as I followed both her and Sebastian. I tried on the gown again and just like last time it was impeccable. With the proper tailoring, the dress helped to not only give my figure a curvier shape, but it fit like a glove. The more I wore it, the more I fell in love with it. Sebastian left to bag the dress leaving me and Anna alone.

"Kimmie, is everything okay? You seem a little down today." She said as she c****d her head in my direction.

Although I wasn't depressed, my thoughts from last week were still lingering in the back of my mind. I would be working and then the feeling would overcome me briefly. Maybe I was letting my negative thoughts get to be a little too much.

I shook my head as I responded, "I'm sorry, Anna. Everything is fine. I guess I'm just thinking a lot about tomorrow. The ball is Tara's baby right now and I want everything to go well. Plus, I have to be a bodyguard for her husband. I guess I just want everything to go well."

I tried not to divulge too much personal information about myself to her. I did not know her well enough to give away such secrets.

Anna gave me a half-smile as she waved her hand. "That does seem like a tough job. But I'm sure that her husband will have to be guarding you, especially in that dress."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her comment. I was not drop-dead gorgeous. I was cute but not enough to have men fawning all over me.

I heard Anna tsk at me as Sebastian came over with the dress in a beautiful holographic bag. He passed me the bag as Anna lightly touched my shoulder. She leaned so close to me that she had to whisper in my ear.

"I have a feeling you will find exactly what you are looking for at the ball Kimmie. I can sense it."

Sense it?



I wanted to question her words further, but a bridal party burst through the door. We said our goodbyes and the couple approached the slightly intoxicated party. I gently placed the gown in the backseat of my car as Anna's words replied in my mind. I quickly dismissed them as I jumped in the front seat to head home.