Ch 25: Dressed to Impress

Breaking up our chill vibe, Lyle bustled in, clearly agitated, holding up a few large garment bags. He wore crisp dark jeans and a bright pink polo with a navy sport jacket. Luke ushered him into the living room where Lyle draped the bags on a chaise lounge near the corner.
“I’m so sorry. I heard.” He put one hand on his hip and hung his head in a pose meant to show his sorrow. Then he walked over to Luke and lightly patted him on both shoulders - a pitiful hug.
“Katie said she should be OK. Injured her leg, some scratches. We’re waiting for more information.”
“I know. I know.” He scampered around to the garment bags and unzipped the top one. “What are we going to do?” Lyle asked Luke.
“I told Katie to reach out to her people and see…”
“No. About the red carpet. It’s tomorrow, Luke,” Lyle said exasperated.
“That’s not important now, Lyle. We’ll figure it out. I can just go alone.”
“Oh, no.” Lyle shook his head. “No, darling, no.” His face now looked disgusted. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought Lyle was the actor in the room.
“I’m glad you’re here, for once you did something right,” he nodded his head in my direction. “When our captain needs something, it’s all hands on deck.”
I saluted him in mock agreement. “Aye, aye,” I said. Luke held back a giggle.
“When I heard the news, I gathered all the gowns I could find from other stylists, designers. Since we don’t know who you’re taking, I grabbed a bunch of different sizes.” Lyle started pulling various beaded and sheer gowns in jewel tones from the bag.
“Lyle, Lyle. Calm down. This isn’t helping Gina. There are more important things than what somehow wears on the red carpet,” Luke said.
Lyle looked aghast. He held his hand to his chest as if someone just shot him. During his melodramatic performance, Luke rolled his eyes. “I see. I see how it is,” Lyle said in a sneer. He shoved the dresses back in the bag and slung the bags over his shoulder, making a move to leave. “I can see where I’m not wanted. Some people just deal with grief differently,” he said.
Luke sighed. “Lyle, stay.”
“I’m just trying to help you, darling,” Lyle said. “We can’t do anything for Gina right now.” Luke nodded, trying to placate Lyle. “And please don’t say fashion doesn’t matter.” Lyle raised his chin up a little, showing more confidence. “Just because I ran over here wearing rags, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten fashion.”
I looked at his outfit - not as formal or even as flamboyant as his usual, but still fitted, ironed and sophisticated. “What can I help you with?” I asked to take the attention away from Luke.
Lyle draped the bags again on the chaise. He pulled out a gorgeous shimmering bright blue dress, and held it out. “Try this on. I want to see how it looks.”
“Me?” I looked around in surprise. I know Lyle said I needed new clothes. I didn’t think this is what he meant.
“Yes. I need to see it on a female body,” he said.
I reluctantly walked over to Lyle, grabbed the dress, and headed to the one of many bathrooms in the hallway. Since I had been training old Mrs. Rosa before heading over to Luke’s, I wasn’t even wearing the proper undergarments. I knew my ample chest wouldn’t look right in a gown if I were wearing a sports bra. I took it off along with my workout pants and socks and slipped on the dress.
I was surprised to see the color complimented my hair and complexion with its vibrancy. It was a little tight, and although I could manage it over my ample hips, I couldn’t zip it all the way. Otherwise, it actually looked pretty good on me.
I sucked in my stomach and glided down the hall to Luke and Lyle who were sitting on the couch. Luke’s face lit up when he saw me. Lyle skittered over, and I indicated the zipper. He pulled and tugged. I sucked in my breath harder, hoping he wouldn’t pinch my skin. He gave one more hard yank, and the zipper closed.
“I must say, looking pretty good, darling.” Lyle nodded in approval.
I spun around and posed with my hand on my hip like I’d seen so many stars do in the tabloids. “She looks great,” Luke said. “You really clean up well, Stella.” He continued to look me over, pausing at each and every curve. I felt a little uneasy about the scrutiny, but flattered at their comments.
I certainly didn’t feel comfortable in that dress, its tight fabric sucking in my body, but I felt pretty. Luke stood up and bowed like a gentleman and asked for my hand for a dance. We assumed a traditional ballroom posture, clasping hands on one side while I placed my other hand on his shoulder. Since neither of us actually knew how to ballroom dance, we pranced around the room, pretending we were at a ball. Luke started humming a waltz and our feet tried to mimic the 3-beat count of the song.
When he stopped humming, he placed his arm tightly around my back and attempted to dip me. I swooned toward the ground, Luke looking over me. We locked eyes, and his intense gaze gave me shivers. I didn’t want to break the spell as he dipped me further.
He tried to bend me deeper, our gaze transfixed on each other. It wasn’t that my body couldn’t bend that way; I’m fairly flexible. The problem was the dress.
Rip! A seam on the side of the dress popped. I scrambled to stand up and hold the bodice of the dress. Lyle ran over to investigate the damage. He started pulling at the dress, but I held on tight, not willing to let go and expose what were then my bare breasts under the dress.
“Oh, this dress is a one of a kind from a special collection. I knew I shouldn’t let an ostrich try it on when it’s meant for a swan,” Lyle said.
I turned on Lyle, pushing him away with my elbow, still holding the dress up to my bosom. I was embarrassed enough and tired of Lyle’s backhanded comments. “I’m no ostrich,” I said. “You asked me to try it on. Maybe it’s poor workmanship that made the dress rip.”
Luke stepped over and wrapped me in a cashmere throw that had been resting on the couch. “Here. You looked gorgeous. I mean, you look gorgeous.” He shook his head, not sure what to say. “Just go change. I’ll deal with Lyle.”
I’ll never know what Luke said to him, although I’m sure whatever it was didn’t make Lyle happy. I stood up to Lyle and didn’t just run away. Back in my workout gear, I felt more like myself. Even though I enjoyed the fairytale fantasy Luke and I enacted, it predictably ended in disaster. With details about Gina still unknown and Luke seemingly in better spirits, I decided to head home.
I tried to tell myself I didn’t care who Luke took to the red carpet event the following night. If Lyle had it his way, Luke would probably take a toothpick. Little did I know, Luke had already made his decision.