23 - Ethereal Madness

“Did anyone see me? I said to Kyle as I hurriedly hopped into his car after I made him park a few blocks away from his company because I didn’t want anyone to see me leaving work with him.

“I doubt,” he said, “Because suddenly everyone is interested in seeing who you get off work with.”

I smacked him playfully, “A lot of busybodies you have as employees sir.”

“I don’t care about that.” he said.

“Well you should and I don’t want anybody to find out that we’re, well you know – fucking.”

Kyle chuckled as we got down from the car together and he walked over to take my hand in his as we walked into yet another fancy restaurant with bright golden chandeliers, waking those damn butterflies that I wanted to stay dormant but I stepped dead in my tracks just at the door of the restaurant and looked up at him.

“What’s the matter?” he asked in that husky voice of his.

“I mean I don’t want to sit down at another fancy restaurant and just – eat. That’s boring.” in all honesty, I found zero excitement in just sitting down at a restaurant and just eating. I did stuff like this with Shawn all the time and I was just over it. I needed that shot of adrenaline in my veins and do all the crazy things we used to do together in college.

“We could get drunk.” I suggested with raised brows but Kyle shook his head.

“Your pitch is tomorrow, we’re not doing that.” there was this finality to his tone that aroused me and I was pretty sure he could see the glint in my eyes, and by this time we had turned around completely and was heading towards the car.

“Okay hear me out, we go to a drive through of the greasiest fast food we can think of – burgers, crispy French fries.”

“Ugh Aria – those things are bad for you.”

“Same as alcohol but you still drink it.”

Kyle looked me dead in the eye and he said, “No I don’t.” and my mouth fell slightly open suddenly recalling that I was the drunker one the last time we shared a drink.

“Who are you and what have you done with Kyle Hart, you were popping back shots after shots in college.”

“This isn’t college anymore Aria – I’m a better man now.” he said but in a way that felt like he didn’t even believe it.

“A friend of mine is opening his wedding themed fashion line here in California, we could go – it’d be fun.” he said.

“Ouu wedding dresses.” I echoed smiling.

“And then after, I’ll take you to the drive through and you could get as much greasy food as you want.”

We arrived at the location just about thirty minutes after, and I held in my breath as I took in the sight of the wedding-themed fashion line – it was ethereal. There were beautiful wedding gowns and bridal dresses flowing from hangers and the mannequins – a sanctuary of white and adorned with layers of delicate flowers that painted the surrounding in gentle hues.

The air was thick with the fragrance of roses and jasmine, their intoxicating sense weaving around me and its way through every corner of the space. Soft light filtered in, offering a soft glow on the meticulously designed wedding gowns and equally tuxedos.

“Wow.” I whispered to Kyle who held tightly unto my hands as he led through the scanty throng of people to greet his friend, a long haired man with a ridiculous goatee but that didn’t hide the handsomeness that seemed to wane through regardless. He had eyes that squinted when he smiled and he was more of a hugger than the regular handshake and he pulled Kyle into hug.

“You made it.” the man smiled and then he looked at me, throwing a questioning look at Kyle and Kyle seemed the catch the hint and he pulled me forward.

“Oh this is Aria – and Aria this is Orion, we’re old friends really.”

I stretched out my hands for a handshake, but Orion looked ridiculously at me and pulled me in for a hug instead, “If anyone didn’t tell, I’m a hugger and it’s so nice to meet you, Aria.” his look was telling but I couldn’t tell what, like he knew about me – much more about me than he was willing to let on.

“I really appreciate that you’re here mine, I’ve been so stressed all week that this was going to flop badly.”

“Flop? Are you serious?” I waned in, “Your dresses are incredible and so ethereal.” I admired one of the long pleated dress that flowed so perfectly on the floor.

“Exactly – that was the aesthetic I was going for. Ethereal – out of the ordinary – perfection.”

“And you nailed it, didn’t he Kyle?” I said, “When I get married, I definitely want to be putting on something like this.” I had my eye on a particular dress that looked like ball gown from the Victorian era.

Now Orion was looking me at me curiously, an impressed look on his face, “Why do you have to wait till then, when you can put it on right now.”

My eyes widened in surprise and I shot Kyle a look, “Really?”

“Oh yes, honey. I need models who can appreciate the inspiration behind my designs and you’re perfect.”

“I’m not a model.” I was doing the self-sabotage thing again.

“You’re perfect honey, come on.” Orion pulled me along with him to the dressing room and before I could say anything else, the dress was before me in all its magnificent glory and I couldn’t help but gasp and admire it. Orion helped me put it on and began fastening the corset at the back.

“Have you and Kyle been friends that long?” I asked him.

“You know, adult friendship can be weird. We can go from not speaking and being so busy with our individual lives to talking on facetime for a few hours but yea, Kyle has been a constant supporter of my work and I’m glad he’s happier now because he has had a lot of shit go down.”

“Kyle was unhappy?” I looked at Orion through the large oval mirror with golden rims.

“Few years ago, he was a mess and he wouldn’t talk about it to anyone. It was deep Aria, deeper than a broken heart. I had never seen him so depressed and just miserable.”

My heart skipped a beat and my hands went down to instinctively clutch my stomach, “And he didn’t tell you anything?”

Orion shook his head, pulling hard at the strings of the corset that I could feel all the air rush out of my lungs, “He just said he had done something unforgivable but he wouldn’t tell me what?”

I stared hard at my reflection on the mirror and I had no idea what to say but immediately, Orion pulled me out of the reverie of my thoughts.

“Just wow,” he exclaimed, “You look – ethereal.” he said to me and I believed it and I looked at myself one more time and when Orion held my hands delicately, leading me out of the dressing room to Kyle waiting for me and surprisingly dressed in a tuxedo from Orion’s brand – my heart skipped another beat for the umpteenth time that day because of Kyle.

I looked at Kyle and our eyes locked, and without words his eyes spoke volume, sending shivers to my spine.

“You look beautiful.” he said to me, moving closer and taking my hand in his and the only thing I could think of that moment was what unforgivable thing he had done that had left him so miserable.

Was breaking my heart the unforgivable thing or was it much deeper than that?