Monday, May 16, 2016
A Cramero Store
13 weeks...
"Aren't we done yet?" Lexi whined from her spot on the podium where she was being fitted.
"Unless you want Trey to find out your secret, suck it up," Melissa muttered, blowing her gum out and winking at her before going back to the magazine she was so engrossed in.
"I'm starving," Lexi complained, as the dress was taken off. She yawned with a lazy stretch, "And sleepy." She stood in just her bra and panties, rubbing her bump.
"It's so cute," Ashley cooed, standing to rub the bump. "I can't imagine how..." She trailed off when she heard loud male voices outside their private room.
"Hey! Knock it off," a voice that sounded much like Trey said. They all made eye contact for a second before realizing it was the boys.
"Oh crap," they whispered in unison before everyone sprang into action. It all happened so quickly.
Lexi being pushed into a curtained dressing room, Melissa dropping her magazine to pick up the dress Lexi wore to the place, Sierra looking around to find the second shoe... It was pure chaos.
When she finally found the shoe, she chucked it through a space in the curtain, grimacing when Lexi yelled in pain and began cursing up a storm. "Sorry!"
"Get dressed quickly if you don't want him to see," Melissa hissed, walking away when they came in. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms over her breasts.
"Chill," Jason mumbled as Lexi was pulling the dress over her head. She could imagine him raising his hands in surrender. She smiled. Theirs was a psychotic group of people. "I'm only here to see my fiancée."
"Ew gross. Get a room," Melissa complained after a second with a gagging sound, telling Lexi that Jase most probably had his tongue down Sierra's throat. She put on her shoes and stepped out from behind the curtain.
"Oh hey!" Jase said, letting go of Sierra to hug her. "How are you feeling? Are the babies okay?" he asked in a whisper.
"Might as well tell me I look awful while you're at it," she grumbled, burying her face in his shoulder as she hugged him back. He let out a quiet chuckle, squeezing her a bit more.
"For once, you don't look terrible to me, so you'll be fine," he muttered, loosening his hold on her when he felt Trey bore holes in the back of his head. He pulled away and ruffled her hair, earning himself a glare from Lexi.
"Aren't you worried that your man has been hugging another woman this long?" A high voice asked, ruining the moment. It was a voice Lexi could never forget - Nicolysse Park, Trey's perfect ex-girlfriend. Alexandra looked over at Trey himself.
"I trust my man, and I know for a fact that if ever he'd cheat on me, it definitely won't be with her," Sierra spoke up. Lexi turned away from Trey, who was avoiding her gaze, to smile at Sierra.
"Thanks for the vote of faith. But just so you know, I'm going nowhere," Jason told Sierra with a wink. He pulled her into him, adding, "You're stuck with me."
"Well Sierra," Nicolysse spat, seating herself in the couch while everyone else stood, "I wouldn't put anything past a whore if I were you."
"That. is. it," Melissa growled, charging towards her. Tony held her back.
"What is this? A circus?" Tony asked, glaring at no one in particular. "We're here to help Jason and Sierra and that is it. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Then tell that woman ruining my couches that she's not wanted here. Get her out and all will be okay," Melissa spat, vibrating with anger.
"Just because you paid for this private room doesn't make the couches yours. I can just ask Trey to buy off this whole section at a higher price and you'll all get kicked out," Nicolysse said in a haughty tone.
"You see, that's where you're wrong," Melissa countered calmly, pulling out of Tony's grip with assurance she'll be on her best behavior. "Unlike you, who's such a spoiled brat that just spends her parents' monies, I work for mine. And not only do I own the couch, I also own the whole shop and can have you thrown out."
"She's going nowhere." All heads turned to Trey who hadn't uttered a word upon entry.
"Excuse me?" Melissa and Sierra asked in unison.
"I said, she goes nowhere. She leaves, I leave too. So, if you want me in your bridal party, leave her alone."
"You didn't say anything when she called Lexi a slut but you're defending her?" Sierra asked, huffing in disbelief.
He cocked his head to the side. "All I heard was Nicolysse warning you - based on facts." Lexi shrank into a corner, trying to make herself invisible. Her heart hurt so bad.
"Trey!" Ashley yelled, appalled by her son's behavior. "What has gotten into you? You're not even divorced yet and you're back with this disrespectful barbie who doesn't care about anyone but herself? Lexi is still your wife, and I expect that you- "
She was interrupted by a thud, and they all turned to see Lexi seated on the floor, her back against the wall. Ashley and the girls went over. "Lexi? Are you okay?"
Lexi lifted her head, looking hurt. "I'm fine, I'm fine," she assured them with a small smile. "I do wonder what I ever did to deserve this though," she whispered for their ears only, a wry smile on her lips. "Just because one person hated that I didn't love him, he set out to ruin me. Now look at me." She broke down, hugging Ashley so tight that she had to join her on the floor.
"You promised me no pity party," Sierra reminded with a shaky laugh, trying to lighten up the situation.
Lexi let out a dry chuckle. "I'm so sorry. We probably ruined your day with our problems. But right now, all I want to do is go home."
"No, you won't," Melissa hissed. She turned to her; eyebrow raised in question. "All you're going to do upon getting home is sulk, and in no way will I allow that."
"I can't stand this emotional back and forth, okay?" she whispered back, getting angry. "I didn't expect him to show up with his ex-girlfriend just because he was put under the impression that I cheated with my ex by the media and whoever made that footage. That's just so low of him."
"Who asked for your thoughts on the matter?" Nicolysse spat with a look of pure contempt, telling them she overheard their conversation... or a part of it. Ashley shot her a withering glare which made her shift uncomfortably in her seat and look away.
Melissa sighed, getting to her feet. "Trey, get her out of here. If you want to be together her, that is fine. But get her out of here. She's not helping my friend's health."
"You got a haircut," Lexi stated out of the blue, making them turn their attention to her. "That's nice and all. It's progress, and it means you're moving on."
"Which is great," Melissa said, cutting in. "I asked Lexi to move on as well so go on. Leave."
Trey glared at her, hating the idea of Lexi moving on from him. He wanted to scream, tell them all he hadn't moved on.
That he'd only gotten the haircut because the long hair reminded him of the many times Lexi had run her hands through them.
That he was here with Nicolysse only because of his deal with his stepmom.
"Melissa, if I get out... if she gets out, I leave too. And you guys won't be seeing me around till the wedding because the media's going to be there, and I should be there for my best friend's wedding. He was there for mine and if I'm not there, they'll speculate."
"Deal," she agreed immediately. "Deal... b-because if she," she continued, jabbing a finger in Nicolysse's direction, "is out of here, then that's fine. Because I do not want to see her anywhere near me, or my friends, or even in my store - any of my stores for that matter. That is literally the worst thing I can think of!"
Sierra shared a look with Ashley, who shrugged. Melissa was so agitated, and it made no sense. "She's hurt you before Trey! This woman only thinks about herself. She only wants you for your money so she can continue living comfortably when her parents no longer support her!" Melissa's arms were flailing everywhere.
"Don't say that in front of her or me," Trey warned in a low, angry voice - angry over a completely different matter. At the fact that his stepsister was trying to advice his wife to move on from him and have fun with her life. "You say a thing like that again and I'll ruin you. I'll ruin you so bad you'd be unrecognizable by the time I'm done."
"Yeah, tell them baby," Nicolysse chimed in, smiling smugly.
"Honestly, you two are so cliché. Just the right fit for each other," Lexi added, loads of sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Trey, you're saying this to your sister because of a random girl?" Ashley asked, looking stunned as hell.
"Yes," he answered automatically, even though his anger was misplaced. "And she is not a random girl."
"What about Alexandra? What about all the things she sacrificed for you to get to where you are, to make you happy? You know that saying 'a happy worker is a productive worker'."
"What about the fact that she cheated on me, huh? That's the one distinction Nicolysse has. She didn't cheat on me with her ex," he spat, turning to Lexi so that now he was talking to her. "The same ex she had me believe she was over, only to have me divorce her so she could give her half of my wealth to her ex-boyfriend!"
"Who fed with you with that load of crap?!" Lexi shouted from her spot on the ground, no longer pitying herself. "Who told you that is why all this is happening? I expected better of you!"
"Like what?!"
Ashley pulled Melissa when she tried getting between them, mouthing, "Let them get it all out." The others looked on just as quietly, with no intention of stopping them.
"Oh, I don't know!" She snapped, rising from her spot to stare him down. "I expected that you'd at least look into it before you come to this conclusion! That I would appreciate. So you know what? Get out! Both of you! I am done with this emotional rollercoaster. Come when your head is clear, and we'll discuss this like the mature adults that we are."
"C'mon mate, it doesn't have to be like this," Jason said, trying to keep them from splitting up. "Let her go. I need you here to help me choose my stuff. You know I'm colorblind. Just let Nicolysse go.
"It's enough that you get to bring her to the wedding as your date. But that is all. She can't just be intruding in our bridal party and stuff. This is a family and friends only affair. Do you see Melissa bringing her hookups to our meets?"
"What has that got to do with anything?" Melissa hissed, feeling a blush creep up her neck.
"Sorry, but I'm trying to make a point."
"You guys are going way off topic," Sierra complained.
"That is true," Ashley seconded. "But... Trey? I am very disappointed in you. I thought I raised you better than this. But it turns out I didn't. I support Melissa and Jason. If you're not ready to let Nicolysse go and stop intruding, then you might as well just go along with her. We will see you at the wedding."
Trey's jaw clenched, his finger twitching as he tried to suppress his anger. "I will leave. However, I want to talk to Lexi before I do."
"If she wants to," Melissa reminded, narrowing her eyes at him. "You don't get to hurt her feelings; you don't get to hurt her and just - "
"Melissa," Lexi cut in. "Let me decide for myself if I want to talk to him or no." She turned to him with a pained smile. "He probably has something he wants me to sign for the divorce proceedings to go on. On one condition though."
"What?" he asked impatiently.
"That she's not coming with; that she won't be listening in."
Trey let out a scoff, grabbing her elbow and pulling her closer. "That's the whole point of talking alone. We're currently being watched like were on set filming a movie, and I'd like us to talk - actually talk - away from all these prying eyes." Lexi swallowed deeply when he licked his lips, reminding her of old times. He said in a low voice, "Sometimes you're so dense that I want to strangle you."
Lexi looked down, blushing. Trey looked up to find them trying to hold in their smiles - all except Nicolysse, who scowled at her.
He pulled on her elbow, guiding her out to a room two rooms away from theirs and held open the door, letting her in first. He closed the door after himself when he entered.
Lexi stepped back. "Being alone isn't a good idea," she muttered tripping over air.
Trey grabbed her before she could fall. "Why? Because it makes you want to screw me?"
She bit her lips before stepping out of his hold. "Yes. This isn't a good idea because I'm tempted to rip off your clothes and do just that." She paused, a look of satisfaction taking over when his eyes went wide with shock. "Now what was it you wanted to talk about?"
He shook his head, pulling himself out of his shock, and cleared his throat. "What is wrong with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"What terminal illness were you talking about last time? Are you dying?" he asked, stepping closer.
"What?" she asked, shaking her head. "No! Who even mentioned terminal? I'm fine, I'm not even sick." She began walking toward the door, rolling her eyes when he stood in her way.
"Tell. me."
"I'm fine!" She stepped back, hugging herself and refused to talk like a petulant child.
He stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to come clean about it, but she stayed in the same position glaring back at him. "Why are you even angry? I'm the one who should be angry, not you. Tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong!" she repeated, throwing her hands in the air.
"Fine." He fixed his suit and opened the door. "I'll look into your health myself. I hope you don't mind."
"I do mind!" she responded, but he was long gone. She smacked her forehead, cursing herself once more for running her stupid mouth. She hoped he'd at least find out after the wedding.