“Oh, I must have forgotten to mention it,” she said, and she seemed rather put out.
“These friends, who are they exactly?” she asked.
“David Carter and his friend Mike. They used to go to my school, and they are over here until they start university in the autumn. I suppose Dave is the nearest thing to being my boyfriend.”
“Your boyfriend? You never mentioned a boyfriend?”
“Sorry, I did actually, but it didn’t seem relevant. Besides, they are heading south in a few days, and we are heading west.”
She frowned, and then smiled, as if working out how to arrange to get Simon closer to me over the next few weeks. She was so transparent, she liked everything to go her way, and I began to feel very sorry for Simon.
“I want you to wear one of the evening dresses from the collection tonight.”
“Fine, can I choose?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’d like to wear the black one with no back. It is lovely.” I said, without hesitation, as it was a dream of a dress.
She smiled, she adored having her creations praised, and knew that the extra publicity would help establish orders.
I went and collected it from the place it was being stored, and on my way back to my room, at about six pm, I met the guys. They were in high spirits and had managed to secure decent evening attire.
Simon kept looking at me strangely, and I was uncertain what I felt about him. He was just such a gentle bloke, and by feeling sorry for him, I found I had a tender spot for him in my heart.
We all went to my room, and Dave and Mike went very quiet when they took in the splendour I was living in. Dave took one look at the double beds and then at me. I blushed and looked away.
I had often imagined him in bed with me and making love to me. But now it was a real possibility, I found that I was a little scared. I had been to my doctor, and had been on the pill since my last period, but that was in case, rather than for anything planned. Things were moving so fast in my life that I was less in control now than I had ever been.
Mike turned on the TV, and an American baseball game was on, and Simon started telling them what was happening and why. I was forgotten, and I felt miffed. All this time without seeing him, and now Dave was watching some silly game.
“Ahem.” I said, and only he looked up.
I was standing with my hands on my hips, and he got the message. He grinned sheepishly, and stood up and came over to me.
“Sorry. We got on well with Simon, he is cool.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and I smiled. This was better.
“So, what time do we have to go out?”
I shrugged.
“It is an after dinner thing, so I thought we could go and have dinner somewhere, and go on from there.” Simon said, without turning round. I smiled, he was always aware of what was going on around him, he was a lot more astute than he looked.
“Do you know a fancy restaurant that we could go to?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I’ll make a reservation for four, if you like?”
“Aren’t you eating with Natasha?”
He coloured slightly. I understood and smiled.
“Oh, I get it.” I said, and he went redder.
“What?” asked David.
“Nothing.” I said, and smiled at Simon.
“Come on.” he said, frowning.
“My Mom wants us to get together.” Simon said.
“What, you and Sandi?”
“Yeah.” he said, going even redder.
Dave looked at me, and I smiled, I still had my arms around him.
“What do you feel about it?”
“I’m fine, I have my bloke, and Simon knows that and respects it.” I said, and he smiled, but he was not entirely happy.
Simon went to the phone, and made a reservation for the four of us at La Maison. It was a French restaurant not far from Flames.
I went into the bathroom and had a shower, I had worked hard all day, and was gently glowing, as polite ladies said. Actually, I had been sweating like a horse, but the antiperspirants had worked a treat. I took my evening clothes in with me, and was going bra-less tonight, as the evening dress displayed my naked back, so I could not show a bra strap.
I slipped on my stockings and suspender belt. I loved the feel of the stockings, the sheer smoothness was mildly exciting. I slipped on some black lace panties, which were so small as to be a token covering only. By the time I slipped on the dress, I was partially aroused. I came out of the bathroom, and the boys were still engrossed in the game.
I sat at the dressing table, and concentrated on getting my make up just right. I went from a damp seventeen year old to looking like a twenty five year old vamp.
The dress was amazing, and I simply adored it, it was so elegant and felt wonderful against my skin.
My hair was flowing across my shoulders, and I knew that I looked pretty damn hot. I put on some of the diamonds that Dad had given me, and I nodded at the result. The drop earrings, matching necklace and a lovely ring looked just the ticket with the black dress. I was a far cry to that miserable boy of a few months ago.
I turned round, and found myself staring into Simon’s eyes. He had been watching me and not the game. Dave and Mike were oblivious, and I experienced a strange tug on my emotions.
I smiled, and he smiled back, then he looked down, only to look up, with a faintly sad expression on his face. Dave turned round and saw me.
“Wooah. Sandi, you look scrumptious, babe.” he said, and would have come and messed up my carefully applied make up.
“Dave, anything but ‘Babe’, okay?” I said.
“Okay, anything you say. Should we get changed now?” he asked Simon.
Simon was still looking at me, and I felt the colour rise in my face. I licked my lips and he reddened, and shook his head slightly. Then he turned and spoke to Dave.
“Yeah. If you guys come to my room, we can change there.”
They left, and I found myself in a rather confused state, I had fallen for two guys, and they were so different.
Dave was my rock, the boy who had been there for me when I went through my troubles, and yet although I loved being with him and he made me feel good, he was from my home town, and was a ticket to a secure but possibly a rather dull existence.
Simon was something else, I found him charming and gentle, and he made me feel safe. He represented a different world, and one in which I had never been anything other than who I was now. I found that appealed to me, for Dave would always remember Alex, and that was not something I wanted to have in my life anymore.
I stared out of my window, and tried to get my thoughts in order. I thought that I loved Dave, or was it just a sex thing? Well, I didn’t have to do anything, did I? I could just play the waiting game, and see what happened. Perhaps Mr Right had yet to come into my life, or perhaps it was Dave, or even Simon.
I felt frustrated, and then I thought of Natasha, with her scheming ways. I almost decided not to even consider Simon because of that, and then felt sorry for him again.
Shit.
Why couldn’t life be easy?
On a whim, I called Jenny in England, and to my delight she was still up, as it was around midnight at home.
“Hi Jenny, it’s Sandi.”
“Sandi? Oh my God, where are you?”
“In New York. I’ve met up with Mike and Dave. We are all going out to dinner together, and then to a night club.”
“Oh that sounds great. I spoke to Mike a few days ago, and told him about you. How is he?”
“He’s great. He misses you, and Dave is the same old Dave.”
“That sounds ominous. What’s up?”
“I don’t know; if I did it would be easier. I suppose Dave knew me as Alex, and I have left all that behind me. I still feel a lot for him, but I think I’ve changed too much. He seems to be the same, and I have moved on.”