Beyond Love and Lies

Chapter 15- Dress

    “Hey, Girls!” Mickey greeted the two exhausted women resting on the floor and couch. He just walked out of his room after having a bath and found them slumping, “How’s the gala gown hunting?” He asked.

    Andy nudged her head up from the couch, “Hi to you too, bro.” she said before heaving a deep sigh. She was tired. She and Charlene had been going around the mall and shops trying to find their perfect gown for the company’s annual gala, which will happen in the fortnight.

    “Hello there, Mics, we’re good, just f*****g tired,” Charlene grunt as she answered back with her eyes closed. It was nearly eight o'clock, and they hadn’t had dinner yet. It took them a tremendous amount of time selecting and choosing the right gown for the party.

    “How many dresses are you girls going to wear on that night!?” Mickey queried, preparing the dining table. It was Sunday, and he did nothing all day but to stay at home and let the girls had their day out. He wondered how finding a dress was super exhausting, like what he observed right now.

    “Just one, why you asked?” Andy said, getting up from the couch. She picked up the paper bags containing the new office dresses and the gown she would be wearing on the night.

    Mickey chuckled. “God! It looked like you’ve been to the battlefield the way looked now. I really don’t understand you, girls,” shaking his head.

    “I bet you don’t, but it’s a girl thing, man. We went shopping for our new office outfits, too. We’ve been wearing the same suit almost every week, right Andy?” Charlene said, still resting on the floor.

     “Yeah,” Andy huffed,

    “Wow, that’s great. I should go shopping too, but the thing is, I always wear the same black and white suit to work, so it doesn’t matter what I wear, I guess,” Mickey sniggered.

    “Don’t worry, Bro, I shopped new clothes for you.”

    “You did?!” Mickey excitedly exclaimed.

    “Yes, of course! here!” Andy said, giving the three paper bags to Mickey.

    Mickey took it and checked the items inside. “Whoa!” he got new jeans and four pairs of Calvin Klein shirts. “Thank you, Andy! you didn’t have to, but thank you!” Mickey said as he side-hugged Andy.

    Andy waved her hand, “Stop, don’t mention it! You know how I love shopping for you!.” She was aware of Mickey’s style and preferences of clothing. She made sure he was always well-dressed and neatly good-looking.

    “Love you, sis!” Mickey said as he placed the plates and the utensils on the table.

    “Aww, so sweet….I got you a new tie, Mickey!” Charlene said as she sprung up from the floor.

    “Oh, wow! Is it a gift-giving day today? Too bad, I just cooked for you,” Mickey bantered as he took the food he cooked from the kitchen counter, opening the cover of beef lasagna and chicken vegetable salad. He placed it down on the table soon as it was ready.

    “Oh, that’s more than enough, Mics. We are starving,” Charlene said. “I'll give the tie later. Let me feed my monsters first,” She added as she washed her hands from the sink.

    They settled themselves on the table. Mickey started serving the food to the ladies.

    “Thank you, hot chef…” Charlene said, smelling the mouth-watering meal in front of her,

    “Thank you, my lovely twin,”

    “Well, enjoy the food, my ladies,” Mickey replied as he sat down and ate his meal.

    “This is so freaking good, bro,” Andy praising the food. Mickey was indeed champion in the kitchen.

    “Oh, my God, you're right! , woman,” Charlene butted, “Whoever your future wife or girlfriend is indeed lucky!”.

    “You're very much welcome, guys. It might take a while, though,” Mickey said, chuckling. Being tied down in a relationship wasn’t his primary concern, though he had some flings he shared some steamy nights with. He wasn’t lacking manly needs and skipping the bedroom department.

    “Yeah, make sure you used condoms. We don’t want any knocked-up woman to show up at your door, do we?”  Charlene kidded.

    “Charlene!!” Andy whisper-yelled. Mickey laughed. “How could you say that!” she added.

    “Oh yeah. Your nun of a sister will go ballistic if that happens. What you say?” Charlene blurted, teasing Mickey before winking at Andy.

    “Woman!, your mouth!” Andy said as she poked Charlene’s waist.

    “Stop, woman! I’m eating!” Charlene dodged Andy’s hand, laughing at Andy’s mortified reaction, “You looked flush, sister Andy!” she added, making Andy’s face turned beet-red.

    “Shut up, woman!” Andy tittered, glaring at Charlene.

    “Hey, Girls! Stop!” Mickey said, laughing. “Come on, Don’t you worry about that! I'm no saint, but I’m clean and safe, trust me! I’ve got supplies, so chill.!”

    “Mickey!?” Andy screeched.

    “I'm just  pulling your leg, but trust me, Andy, You won't get niece or nephew any sooner.”

    “I trust in your words, Mics. I want to hear Andy’s words,” Charlene fibbed.

    “You know me, woman,” Andy snickered. Charlene knew she hadn’t dated anyone seriously after her heartbreak ages ago. Charlene had been teasing her to go on dates that she wanted to set up for her, but she declined. Charlene even once asked to maybe flirt with Damien.

    It had been two months since the day Andy and Damien almost shared a kiss. It also had been two months since she was trying to avoid meeting or being with him alone. Damien still had so much effect on her and wondered if she could continue doing that. He had been busy lately and rarely did staff meetings in person. He ensured it by using video conferencing, which gave her relief and, at the same time, dismay for not seeing him often.

    “Come back to Earth, Andy!” Andy heard Charlene squealed, breaking her thoughts about Damien. She was zoning out while talking with her two favorite people in the world.

    “I'm sorry, just remember something for tomorrow,” She lied before sipping her drink. She would never ever admit her infatuation to their boss.

    “Work? I don’t f*****g believe you. You must be thinking about boss again,” Charlene teased,

    Andy choked on Charlene’s words. She started coughing as the water went on the wrong pipe.

    “Andy, you okay?” it was Mickey rubbing and tapping her back,

    Andy waved her as she recovered from choking and Charlene’s valid words. She was indeed thinking about their boss and was caught off guard by Charlene’s bluntness.

    “Woman, you okay?” Charlene worriedly asked. Andy sent death glares before flipping her finger at her. Charlene couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She had never seen Andy annoyed and flushed at the same time.

    “I’ll kill you on your sleep, lady.”

    Mickey laughed. Charlene smugly smirked.

    “Yeah, sure, by the way, woman. I'm going to sleepover here tonight if it's okay with you,” Charlene asked cooly to Andy, making puppy eyes, acting as if she didn’t clown Andy minutes ago.

    “With all my heart, lady, would you like an easy death or hard death on the bed?” Andy joshed,

    “To die in pleasure, woman,” Charlene kidded back, “Come on, is it really okay to sleep here?” she asked.

    “You shut up, lady, this is your second home. You didn’t even go home last night!” Andy said. She loved hanging out with Charlene, It has been a year since they found each other, and she couldn’t be happier to earn a sister from her.

    “Thank you! and because of that, I’m going to wash the dishes!”  Charlene offered.

    “We have a dishwasher. You know that,” Mickey and Andy said in chorus. Making them laughed.

    “Ooops!” Charlene said. “Whatever, I’d wash it still,” she said before winking.