“Second-Hand Dress”

“Well that was fun,” Ami giggled, as she wrapped a towel around her body and headed out of the steam-filled bathroom.

“Just...fun?” Colin teased, as he stepped dripping wet out of the shower stall and into the bedroom after her. “Not ‘amazing’ or ‘wonderful’ or the like? Just...’fun’, then?”

She giggled again and threw her towel at him, which he managed to catch before it hit him square in the face. “All of those things and more,” she told him, playfully, then began searching for her clothes.

“One little problem, luv,” he told her, after he’d dried himself off. “ ‘Fraid we won’t have time to stop by your flat in Coff’s so you can change before the wedding.”

“Hmm...well, I don’t think I can possible show up wearing this,” she replied, holding up the remains of the silk top she had been wearing the night before. Apparently, in their heat of passion, they’d had some problem attempting to remove it and opted to just rip it off instead.

“Oh...my...um... sorry ‘bout that,” Colin chuckled, sheepishly. “Guess we couldn’t manage the buttons. Hold on and I’ll check my closet and see if I have something you might be able to wear instead.”

“Umm... thanks, I’d appreciate that,” she told him, watching as he pulled on his briefs and padded over to his closet. “Unless you happen to have a dress in there, though, it looks like I can’t go with you to the wedding.”

Colin stopped, thought a minute, then turned and said, “Wait here, I’ll be right back,” then strolled out of the bedroom. A few minutes later, he was back, holding a colorful ankle-length dress in his hands.

“Here,” he said, handing it off to her. “Should do fine in a pinch.”

“Umm... Colin?” she giggled, “should I be worried as to why you just happened to have a dress in my size hanging in your spare closet?”

“Oh... no, no,” he assured her quickly, so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea, “It belonged to Kate, my ex... must have left it here when she left. Been meaning to toss it out, but... well... good thing I didn’t, eh?” He grinned, then headed back over to his closet and pulled out his only suit.

“You don’t think she’ll mind me wearing her dress?” Ami asked, skeptically.

“Kate? Nah,” he chuckled. “Luv, if it had meant that much to her she’d have been over here ages ago to pick the thing up. Trust me, she could care less...about me or the dress. Besides, I doubt she and that weirdo husband of hers will even bother attending the wedding today.” He kissed her on the forehead and slipped on his pants. As he stood there dressing, Colin couldn’t help but think about his recent conversation with Kate about her pregnancy. He furrowed his brow, closed his eyes, trying to bury his emotion over the fact that he may well be the father of her unborn child. Not today, Mate, he told himself, as he buttoned his shirt. Don’t let her spoil this, not today. He let out a sigh, and glanced over to Ami, watching her as she fretted about in front of the mirror – holding the dress out in front of her, as if she were deciding on whether or not she would actually wear it.

“Luv, it’s alright, it’s not going to bite you,” he giggled, walking over and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“Well, if you say it’s cool, then okay,” Ami told him, then pulled the dress on over her head and slid it down her shapely body. After applying a little light make-up and drying her hair, she stepped out of the bathroom. “How do I look?” she asked, doing a little twirl in front of Colin.

Colin let out a whistle, “Stunning,” he told her, taking her all in.

“Thanks,” Ami replied, a shy smile spread across her face, “You clean up pretty nice there yourself, Mister.”

Just then, the doorbell rang. Curious as to who might be paying him a visit this early on a Sunday morning, Colin rushed over to the window and peered out through the curtains. “Ross,” he said, “Huh, must be here to give us a ride, then. Perfect timing, that.” He turned and motioned towards the door, “After you, Luv,” he said, and the pair headed down stairs to greet their friend.

TBC...