The Green Dress
by Cheryl, posted on April 29th, 2011 in Red Writing Hood
This is a work of fiction, based on the prompt “Describe a fight” from The Red Dress Club. It is the third installment. You can read the first one here and the second one here.
Kristi was somewhere in the back of my closet.
I could hear her occasional muttering and the screech of hangers across the metal bar.
“Aha!” she said “You can wear this!”
She emerged from my closet, waving an emerald green silk dress triumphantly in her hand.
“Sure,” I said. “Just put it on the bed.”
“Okay. I’ll be back at 8 to get you. I’m so glad you’re coming, Cam. It’ll be fun!”
My front door closed as Kristi left. I hadn’t moved. The dress pooled on the bed. I watched it like it was a snake poised to strike.
I didn’t want the memories to come back, but I was powerless.
I had bought the dress specifically for Justin’s friend’s 30th birthday party at The Edge, the hottest bar in Chicago. I wanted to look amazing and found the dress at a small boutique and I splurged. It was simple in the front but dipped low in the back and fit like a second skin.
We were almost late to the party. I sauntered into the living room where Justin waited on the couch and twirled in a slow circle. He let out a low whistle before he stood and pulled me to him. His hands were hot over the cool silk as he kissed me.
“No way,” I said, pushing him away. “I do not want a wrinkle on this dress.”
The bar was packed. House music blasted and there was a special drink in honor of the birthday boy. It was some sort of martini, maybe. I wasn’t sure, but they were good. And strong. I’d had more than a few when a couple friends dragged me out to the dance floor. This was a dangerous combination, me and alcohol and dancing. It’s like someone else takes over my body.
I had no idea where Justin was. Probably out on the roof deck smoking cigars. We were soon joined by some guys I didn’t know. I started dancing with a tall, cute guy. I tossed down another drink and we kept dancing. He put his hands on me, my waist first, and then traveled lower. I pulled away but his hands were all over me, and that’s when Justin grabbed me.
“Get your fucking hands off my wife,” he shouted.
“Sorry, bro, I didn’t know she was married.”
Justin pulled me out of the bar and I stumbled on my sky-high heels.
“What the fuck, Cam?” he yelled into the sudden quiet as the bar door closed behind us.
“I don’t know, I was just dancing, and then…”
“You didn’t seem like you did much to stop him. That guy was two seconds away from shoving his tongue down your throat.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Justin this mad. I wondered how much he’d had to drink.
“That’s bullshit, Justin. We were dancing. It got a little carried away. That was it. Calm down.”
“Really? Then why don’t you go back in there? I’m sure he’d be happy to feel you up again.”
I smiled as it hit me. He was jealous. My always-chill husband was actually jealous.
“Justin. Please. It was just dancing. You know I only want you. I love you.”
I wrapped my arms around him. His body was tense and it was a few moments before he relaxed. We caught a cab and when we got home he practically ripped the dress off me. We made crazy love on the floor, my head resting on the dress.
The next morning he left to get bagels from the shop a block away. He collapsed on the sidewalk from a brain aneurism, the bagels falling from the bag and rolling onto the street.
Tags: a hot green dress, cam, fiction
Andrea Says:
JDaniel4's Mom Says:
Cheryl Reply:
April 30th, 2011 at 1:09 am
Thanks for going back and reading and commenting on the first two installments. I really appreciate it and I’m glad you’re interested in reading more! This probably made a little more sense after reading the first two.
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