imperfect together

She takes her bath, and watching her get dressed makes me hard again.

I take a cold bath, thinking a cold bath would fix my sudden need for sex every thirty minutes.

When I come out, she is dressed in the same clothes from yesterday.

"I will go get dressed," I say. She nods and steps away.

When I come out, she is on the phone.

"Dylan, can I call you back?" But once she sees me, she ends the call.

"I made reservations at the modern restaurant, but before that, we should go buy you some clothes," she nods.

We are in the elevator with another couple who can’t keep their hands off each other.

They don’t mind us but carry on kissing and chuckling.

For the first time in my life, I’m not disgusted by close space affection.

We get off the elevator and stroll a few blocks to a store. We walk in, and I’m confused.

Edie strolls off, leaving me behind as she tries on a few clothes.

She brings them to the changing room, where I am waiting on the couch with a People magazine in my hand.

She walks out with shorts and a tan top.

"This is for the house," she tells me just before I could say anything. I nod.

Next, she steps out with a white strapless dress.

"That looks beautiful," I mutter loud enough that I think she hears me because she gives me a glistening smile.

After a few more tries, she comes out with a polka dot flare dress and flat sandals.

My jaw drops open with a quick tension in my throat.

I croak, "This looks beautiful."

I try to act as if I didn'€™t just get thirsty looking at her.

This will do, let'€™s go, I nod with a smile. We walk to the reception, and I tell her to go ahead while I pay. At first, she doesn'€™t let me pay, but I insisted and she does.

I write down her home address, asking the receptionist to send her everything she tried on.

I walk out and she is standing by the roadside, everyone passing by is staring at her, just like I am.

€œTaxi,€ I call.

We are in the back of the taxi, she is staring out the window like a little kid.

We both walk into the restaurant and it's already 2 pm.

I pull out a chair for her as I watch her sit down.

Welcome back to the Modern Mr. Howard, I chuckle.

hank you, Grace. I will have the Kobe beef wrapped in black, and for the lady, she will have the chicken glazed in Foie gras and a bottle of J. Lohr,€ she nods as she walks away. Edie is staring at me.

I'm guessing you'€™ve slept with her ?"€ I don't know why, but I didn’t find that question funny. It made me uneasy.

Why, Edie?€ She blushes.

You two seem familiar, she tells me with a smile.

I know her friend, not her, Edie,I say, clenching my jaw.

Sorry, I shouldn'€™t have, but you have quite the reputation, she jokes, a joke I don't find funny at all.

Grace returns with our order, and I dig into my food, focusing only on my food.

Out of the restaurant, she pulls my head along as we get into a taxi, and we arrive at the movie theater.

She purchases two tickets, along with popcorn and a giant Coca-Cola. As we enter the theater and the movie is about to start, she intertwines our hands with her eyes fixed on the screen.

My heartbeat quickens, feeling a surge of adrenaline in my veins.

I can't seem to breathe, and as I look at her, the world seems to stop. "What is happening to me?" Edie notices and smiles at me.

Oh, her sweet smile, it feels like the earth is moving in slow motion. "Conrad, are you okay?" she asks, and I nod.

I try to breathe, but it feels like my brain has forgotten how to send signals to my body to inhale.

I feel her hand on my crotch, and she smiles.

Once again, my heart starts to beat faster, fluttering.

"What are you doing to me, Edie?" I can't seem to think clearly.

After the movie, as we exit, I see Sara and she walks over to give me a hug.

"Hi, Conrad," I blush, while Edie wears a smile on her face.

"Hi, Sara, how are you?" I ask, and she nods.

"Great, dear. How have you been since I last saw you?" she grins.

"Better, thank God I took your advice, Conrad. Who knows, I might have made a mistake I would have regretted," I smile, turning to look at Edie again.

Just then, her phone begins to ring, and it's Liam.

She tells me she needs to use the restroom, and I nod.

"Who was that?" Sara asked.

"Someone I like," I said as Sara blushed.

"Conrad, that's the first. Well, she is beautiful," I flushed.

A glistening smile plastered across my face.

Sara left and Edie came back with a charming smile. "Who was that?" I asked, and she gestured at the photo booth.

"Come on, let's take a picture," I followed behind, wondering why she wouldn't tell me it's Liam.

Does she like Liam? If she does, why did she sleep with me?

"Your friend seems excited. She was the one with you the other day, right?" I nodded, and she grinned a big smile.

"Wow, she is beautiful. Have you two kicked it?" She asked.

I couldn't take it anymore.

"I have an appointment, Edie. I hope you get home safe," I told her, and she waved goodbye.

I turned and called Ronnie. He picked me up, and I went home.

I tried to remind myself that I'm Conrad Howard, the playboy who doesn't give a shit.

She is toying with me I can't let her win, But I can't seem to forget her or so sweet smile.