144 — Mrs. Smith’s birthday

I’m looking at myself in the mirror, turning around, and inspecting every part that the dress doesn’t cover. This black dress is one of those Cathy picked out for me, and I haven’t tried it on; I think if I’d put it on in the store, I wouldn’t have bought it.
It’s beautiful, yes. Very pretty. Its light and loose fabric feels comfortable against my skin, especially when the long skirt brushes against my legs. However... *It’s too revealing.*
The top looks like a black corselet that supports my belly and isn’t too tight, but the cloth around my breasts is made of lace that almost shows more than it should, riding up on a strap with gold drops. It certainly matched the jewelry Cathy had also chosen, a vintage necklace with small diamonds. I told her it was too much, but she didn’t seem to mind.
I sigh, touching my belly slowly, stroking and pulling at the fabric to make sure it’s not too tight. So I look at myself from the side, trying to see if there’s any change in my belly... if it’s grown a bit and is showing signs, but there’s no difference yet...
“You look amazing.” Julian’s voice startles me, and I quickly take my hand away from my belly, hiding it behind me. I turn to find him standing in my bedroom doorway with a discreet smile. He’s wearing a tight dark green shirt that highlights the color of his hair and his eyes, which shine with something I can’t quite figure out. He looks so handsome that I hold my breath and struggle to rid myself of lustful thoughts.
“Are you sure?” I ask in a withered voice, returning my gaze to the mirror and resting it on the cleavage, on the lace that seems to reveal too much of my breasts. “I don’t know if I should wear something like that today.”
Julian approaches slowly and stops behind me; his hands wrap around my body, at my waist, stopping at my belly, opened over the corset.
His solid body against my back and warm breath against my ear tickles, but our eyes keep staring at each other through the mirror.
“Why wouldn’t? You look so beautiful... I’m even thinking of taking you straight to the hotel.”
I suppress a silly grin that threatens to rise... “Did you get a hotel?”
“The best in town.” He brushes his lips against my temple, still looking at my eyes through the reflection. “You deserve the best, after all.”
“Well, I guess that’s proof that I should change it.”
“Why would that be?” Julian raises an eyebrow, and I feel an even greater urge to laugh.
“My dress is making you horny.” I retort and wobble my hips, rubbing my ass against him, though his erection is poking my lower back. “I can feel you hard.”
His smile widens even more.
“Babe, I’d be hard for you even if you were disheveled and wearing granny clothes.”
I can’t help laughing, and my low chuckle echoes through the room. Julian turns me around slowly, his hands on my waist, moving up the curves of my body as he looks, this time, straight into my eyes.
“You look amazing, and you’re going to be the most beautiful woman in that restaurant... why would you change it?”
I seal my lips, suddenly feeling down because I realize I’m going back to old habits. Eric always told me to dress modestly when meeting his family, and I kind of got used to it.
“I want you to wear this when we go to the hotel.” He whispers against my ear, and his words reverberating against my skin send a shiver down my spine. “Because I’m dying to take it off.”
I bite my lip, and my hands reach for his shirt carefully so that my fingers don’t wrinkle the fabric, but I move up slowly, feeling his solid chest, until I reach the nape of his neck.
Julian pulls his face and looks at my lips, his breathing getting heavy.
“Use it for me, huh?” Julian says hoarsely, and although it sounds like a request, the intensity in his eyes tells me that this is an order. “And keep thinking while you’re there, with all those people, that *your man* will be waiting patiently to take it off at the end of the night.”
I give him a teasing smile, brushing my lips against his... “Is this your way of encouraging me to go and leave Mrs. Smith’s birthday?”
“I’ve waited too long for this Saturday, girl... I’m kind of anxious for that.”
“Anxious?” The word escapes my lips with a certain concern, and Julian just shakes his head and gives me a light, slow kiss, just the brushing of our lips.
“I’m just kidding, babe.” He rests our foreheads against each other, closing his eyes. Although his words are peaceful, I feel the opposite. “I’ve waited this long... I can wait a little longer.”
I also close my eyes, stroking the short hair with my thumb.
“I won’t be long in the restaurant... Wait for me.”
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Julian stops the car close to *The Hiverd*, the restaurant where Mrs. Smith will be celebrating her forty-seventh birthday. And that brings me a certain sadness because I wanted to be with my mother, celebrating this age that she never reached. Mom died early, at thirty-five... so young, so full of life, even in that bed.
I gasp, feeling my body heat up and my breathing become heavy.
My heart starts to beat too fast, and a sudden urge to cry tightens my throat.
I hold on tightly to the car seat, closing my eyes because I’m not seeing the sidewalk of New York City... I’m seeing the white hospital room in Nevada.
“Angel.” Julian’s voice is like a boat saving me in the middle of the ocean. I look at him with my eyes burning with tears... and his hand reaching for my face is so warm and gentle that it brings peace to my chest. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
His thumb dries the corner of my wet eyelash, and I close my eyes once more, pushing these sad thoughts away because today is the day I’ll tell Julian I’m pregnant. Today is the day we cross the most important line in our lives, and I need to be ready for his reaction — whatever it may be.
“I’m fine.” I look straight into his eyes, sighing. “I’m ready.”
Julian’s expression tells me he’s not sure, but he just gives me one last caress before pulling his hand away and leaning back on the car seat. He looks out of my window at the restaurant’s facade, and I follow his gaze. It’s a vintage-style building, really elegant, and now I understand why Julian was so keen for me to wear something flashy: the place screams luxury... Which is also a surprise, considering that Eric’s family isn’t rich. They have a nice house in Manhattan, with Mr. Smith’s stable job as a bank manager, but coming to a restaurant like this is certainly a new thing...
“Do you want to come in too?” I ask after swallowing hard, turning my eyes to Julian, who also looks at me, now with a subtle smile.
“Don’t worry, babe... I’ll be over there in that bar, waiting for you.” He points with his head, guiding my eyes to a small, discreet bar that hardly stands out... If it weren’t for the neon sign, I’d have trouble finding it. “You can call me when you’re ready.”
I nod, my voice coming out thin and low, “Okay...”
Then, sighing one last time, I open the car door.
The late fall breeze ruffles my hair, and I lift my eyes, looking up at the starry sky. I slam the door slowly behind me and hear two knocks. Julian also gets out of the car and walks towards me with a confident and elegant posture. On the sidewalk, women passing by are staring at him... However, I can also feel some eyes on me.
Julian stops beside me and holds me by the waist, looking at a group of men passing by, and begins to guide me towards the restaurant entry. I suppress a giggle because I really like the way he gets possessive... it awakens a petty satisfaction that becomes a warmth in my lower belly.
And finally, at the restaurant’s entrance, Julian kisses me on the corner of my lips, making me feel butterflies in my stomach. “See you later, babe.”
I watch his broad back move away until he walks into the bar, and I don’t think too much about it... I just let my feet lead me inside the restaurant, already feeling the atmosphere change completely as the warm light envelops me.
My eyes wander around the tables, which are almost all full, with elegant people chatting quietly, smiles on their faces. The clink of cutlery sounds loud, and the mixture of smells, perfumes, food, and drink makes my stomach churn. I breathe deeply, stroking my belly as I try very hard to ignore this sudden nausea.
I approach the maitre d’, and he greets me with a slight bow, his hand close to his chest. “Good evening, Miss.”
“Good evening... Could you take me to Mr. Smith’s table, please?” I ask softly, with a polite smile.
“Yes, of course... please, this way.” The man says, pointing gracefully with his hand as he walks slowly. I follow him at the same pace, my heels clicking and adding to the chaotic sound of this place.
Honestly, there are so many lights, colors, and smells that I’m starting to feel dizzy.
As I make my way through the place, my eyes quickly catch Mrs. Smith’s smile; she’s so elegant in that dark red dress and pearl earrings that gleam in the warm light. It’s a ten-seat table, right on the side of a window that allows a view of the sidewalk... and there’s only one empty — right next to the woman who sits at the end.
My heart warms, and I feel touched that she has actually remembered me... If I hadn’t come here, I would carry this guilt and regret for the rest of my life. And the moment our eyes meet, Mrs. Smith’s smile gets even wider... making me sure that I did the right thing.
The maitre d’ stops beside the table and points to the empty chair... but my steps slow down and stop. The man with his back to me, right next to Mrs. Smith’s, gets up and reaches my chair, pulling it out.
Those black hair, those clear blue eyes, and that disguised smile... I know them very well.
And I knew we’d meet here tonight, but still... It seems that I’m not prepared enough.
“Angel.” Eric’s voice scratches my ears and twists my stomach even more, bringing back memories of that night when I heard the sounds he made with my best friend. His gaze travels all over my body, from head to toe, back to my face, straight into my eyes... And I wonder how he’s still able to do that.
“Eric,” I say his name, but I don’t like the feeling... my mouth is bitter and dry.
“I’ve missed you, honey.” He says, with a weepy expression and eyes glistening with tears. “It’s good to see you again.”