Learning from love, p.9
Learning From Love, page 9
“I'm trying not to lose it right now,” Willow heard from Micheal as she opened the curtain to reveal herself wearing a lingerie set of a pretty see-through set with the lace at certain parts to remain still. Her thoughts were going to him being pissed at the comment that she made. But she did not want to think like that, as Amanda said.
“Can you repeat I couldn't hear you?”
“I said that I'm trying not to lose it right now,” he said, but Willow didn't see the smirk that was on Micheal's face as he looked her up and down.
“Oh, so then just leave if you don't want to see me anymore,” she replied, seeing the look on Micheal's face at her comment, as he rushed forward to the dressing room and pulled the curtain behind him, to give them some privacy.
“No I, ugh. Ok, it would help if you calmed down. And just look at me, ok? Do you feel anything at all? That might show something like, oh, I don't know. A breeze, perhaps?” He questions with a big smile on his face as Willow looks down and sees that she is only wearing the lingerie, her thoughts so narrowed in on leaving the shop she forgot.
“Ah! I almost walked out in this,” she said, as she went to grab the dress that she came in wearing and pushed Micheal out, who was laughing.
“Mind you, if it were just me and not an entire store full of customers and employees, I wouldn't have complained. But I don't think you would have wanted to be confused as someone trying to steal merchandise,” Michael said from behind the curtain, clearly laughing about the situation. Willow was changing from the lingerie she wore and back into her underwear and bra and the dress she came in wearing and, slipping on the sandals back onto her feet, stepping out of the dressing room with the lingerie on the hangers with a smile on her face.
“I mean, I have to get it now from the look that was on your face. If this was the surprise you were talking about coming here, then it was a pleasant surprise,” Willow said as she walked up to the counter to pay for them. The previous emotions that she felt were forgotten as she saw Micheal smile at her before walking to the main entrance waiting for her to buy the items in hand. And she was then walking out arm-in-arm as he took the bag from her hand.
“So we go to a lingerie store. Now what? You told Vic that you were picking something up.”
“Yeah, something new for myself and something for you as well,” he said as Willow grimaced internally.
“What? Did you get a measuring tape at night and take my measurements?”
“No, not like that. I got a dress of yours via Amanda and got the measurements from that. Since this was about a week ago, I got everything together. They planned this a month in advance, so having you as a plus one of mine was a kind of last minute. But Vic could work things out,” Micheal said as he drove in the house's direction.
“So not only a dress but jewelry?” Willow said as Micheal rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, but it goes together, don't overthink now. I think you need to be dotted on,” he said, as he walked into the walk-in closet, coming out with a gown in a protective covering that was in a hangar.
“I still can't believe you got me a gown. I mean, it's one thing to rent something, but this is a custom gown you realize–”
“What did I say? Don't overthink it. This is technically the fourth date, and I want to take my girlfriend out to this premiere and show her off. And I need to talk about things for the next gallery showing tour that I have to talk about.” Micheal said, opening up the protective covering, revealing a glittering silver gown. With simple straps,
“Try it on. I hope it fits,” he said as he passed the hangar to her. She took the dress with her, walked into the walk-in closet, set the dress on one dresser, and looked at it. She grimaced, trying not to get her head into that space of overthinking the kind gesture of him getting her a dress for the premiere for her. But she couldn’t help but think with this being the fourth date, just like she mentioned, held certain expectations.
“How is it going in there? Need me to zip you up?” She heard from outside where Micheal was waiting—making Willow move to grab the dress, take it off the hangar, and then place it back on the dresser, trying to take calming breaths.
“Stop overthinking. It's just a dress. Put it on and see if it fits and then go from there,” she mumbled as she quickly stripped off the dress that she had been wearing and made quick work of putting on the silver dress. Fixing the straps around her shoulders, putting her hair back behind her shoulders, and walking out of the closet.
“Yeah, you are going to have to help zip me up,” she said as she turned to face away from him. She was feeling his fingers on her back as he zipped the zipper up in her dress. Hands were moving to her shoulders and turning her to face him.
“I want to see your face, not just your ass in the dress, even if it's a nice ass,'' he said as he smirked down at her, moving her red curly hair from her face and back behind her shoulders. Micheal took a step back and looked at her.
“So do I look like a garbage can with a nice dress on or?“his eyebrows furrowed at that comment.
“What's with the self-deprecating humor? You look great,” he said, as his hands were still on her shoulders, rubbing soothing circles on her skin.
“Because I'm the last-minute plus one that is going to be amongst all these hot celebrities and rich people and–”
“You are beautiful, and your beauty is real. Most people that will be there are fake, literally made of plastic. Use their money to create a version of themselves because they aren't happy with what they saw in the mirror, so they used their mass amounts of wealth to boost their egos. Trust me, I'll be a very proud boyfriend with you on my arm,” he said as his hands moved to Willow's face, placing them on either side of her face.
“Yeah, well, can you put that on repeat until we are there? Maybe that'll help with my anxiety over all of this,” she replied.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, misery loves company. You're not the only one that's anxious about this,” he said as he took a couple of breaths.
“But you know that I'm worried that those people are going to ask about the attack since Vic tried to squash some things about it. But not all of it.” He said as he turned around, not facing her and noticing his hands shaking.
“Ok, well, just keep the conversation to your art. It would surprise me too, you know, to think they would take the time to ask questions. But I'll be there for moral support,” Willow said as she took one of his hands in hers, squeezing it.
“Yes, thankfully. And Vic will be there to help as well if I need him. Unless he goes, the 'even bad press is good press thing.'” Micheal said, giving her an uneasy smile.
“Ok, well, how about this? I think this comes with matching shoes. Because I can't imagine walking around barefoot on a red carpet for a movie premiere?” she questioned, trying to get Micheal's attentions off the thoughts that were nagging at him.
“Yeah, and I forgot to show you the jewelry as well,” he said, a smile on his face as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“Well, then I'm also going to say that before this premiere that I'm going to want to see you in that suit of yours. Which will be the first time seeing you in a suit, so that'll be something,” she said as he smirked.
“Oh, because you're going to jump my bones later? Right?” he said as they both laughed.
“Maybe, it's still up in the air after all. After tonight we might just need some stress and tension relief,” she said, sitting on the bed, waiting for Micheal to go grab the rest of the things that went with her outfit and his suit as well.
Willow readjusted her dress. She was feeling the heavy fabric in her hands and having it fall back into place. Looking down at the red carpet that she was standing on, moving her high-heeled feet against the carpet. She was feeling the roughness of the mat against the bottom of her heels.
It was a distraction, a distraction from the camera that was flashing as she felt Micheal's hand moving against her waist, pulling her closer to him. Regarding his hand that was on her side, and felt it shake slightly against her.
“You ok?” she asked, plastering a smile on her face for the cameras. Hearing him take a deep breath in and out and feeling his hand stop shaking after a second.
“I’m good. It’s just nerves,” he said reassuringly.
Just out of frame from the red carpet, there Vic stood, as if he appeared out of nowhere. And he was looking happily at them, a smile on his face as he walked up to them just after they walked the red carpet.
“So, you two clean up nicely,” he said, adjusting one ring on his fingers before hugging Micheal.
“You know, if we had a crystal ball back then, I don't think I would've imagined us like this. You with your art and me being the one that manages you.”
“Yeah, well, you're one that contacted me years ago at my start, not the other way around, you know?”
Vic looked down at his phone, a look coming across his face that Micheal couldn't read as Vic pulled away from him.
“I just need a second. You go to your girl, go have fun,” Vic said as he went to text on his phone furiously.
They both walked out of the premiere, hand in hand, feeling the warmth of Micheal's hand in hers.
“So why is it that this is the first time that I don't feel excited about a movie? I just feel relieved that it's over.”
“Oh, trust me, I'm the same. Usually, these events are more enjoyable, and I thought bringing you along might help me, which it did. I think if you weren't with me at the beginning, I would've bolted after walking the red carpet.”
Seeing that Vic and Eric were standing off to the side, talking furiously back and forth, making Willow feel like there was something brewing. Since Eric and Vic kept on pointing at Vic's phone. Micheal walked up to them as Eric took steps away from them and walked up to Willow, plastering a smile on his face.
“What was that all about?”
“Oh, you know, he can't get away from his phone, pissed that I wasn't working on work during the premiere,” Eric said, shrugging his shoulders, a smirk plastered on his face.
“I mean, I'm working right now, which is funny, considering I know who else is working hard right now, if you know what I mean.”
Willow felt her face heat at his comment, knowing what he was talking about because Amanda said she would hear about the premiere from Eric. Amanda and Tommy were absent. Which could only mean what his comment meant was about Amanda and Tommy.
“Ew, that's my best friend you're talking about Eric, just ew,” she said, smacking Eric's shoulder as he laughed at her reaction.
“Was I talking about your friend?” He questioned, as Willow smacked his arm again.
“God, what did I bring Amanda into, I swear.”
“Well, you didn't bring her into anything more so Tommy would be into—” he said as she interrupted him, by putting her hand over his mouth as she felt him laughing and pulling away.
“I hope you have fun, Willow,” he said as he looked over at Vic and Micheal, as Micheal turned away from Vic, looking royally pissed.
“I'm done talking to you,” he said as he took a couple steps away from Vic and started walking away, as Willow hurried to catch up with Micheal, as he put his arm around her waist.
“So, what is up? What happened?” Willow said, looking from Micheal to Vic, who was talking now furiously with Eric, who was also shocked as Vic had a minute ago.
“Nothing, let's go. I had a surprise that I think would be very good to go off to right about now. I think we both need a break from all of this,” he said, gesturing to the red carpet and where the press was standing a couple of hours before the movie premiere.
“Ok, well before that, you think we could swing by a place and get some food? Cause I'm starving,” Willow said as he squeezed her hand, smiling. All ounces of tension were gone from his face.
“Yeah, food would help right now,” he said as they walked off to the car that was waiting for them—getting inside and directing the driver towards a drive-thru.
Getting out of the car, fast food bags in hand, Micheal gave the driver money.
“No, no, you don't need to,” the man said as Micheal shook his head.
“Take it, as a tip for waiting and dealing with everything,” Micheal said before following behind Willow and getting out of the car too. Watching as it drove off from the property, leaving Willow and Micheal standing outside the house entrance.
“Come on, the longer that we sit here, the colder this gets, and that means the less edible sadly,” she said, waving one bag that was in her hand, making Micheal fish through his pockets for his keys faster—and unlocking the door.
Once inside, Willow took her heels off with a sigh at the front door. She was going to sit on the couch. Micheal toed off his dress shoes, undid his tie, and joined Willow on the couch as she passed him a paper-wrapped item. As she dug into the fries.
“This is exactly what I needed after tonight,” Willow said as Micheal laughed before taking a bite of his burger.
“Why does it taste so good? Like, I don't think I've had fast food that's tasted this good before? And I've had a lot, considering, well, Evan and everything,” he said as Willow smiled.
“Because we are dead tired, so anything is going to taste amazing. But that's not what I'm wondering about. I've been pondering the surprise you mentioned. Is it just a quiet night here because I don't care? That sounds pretty nice if it's just that?”
“No, something more, but surprise. So, I'm going to be keeping it close to the vest, of course,”he said as he looked at her with a smile on his face.
“But it requires packing if that helps,” he said, finishing his burger in two bites before stealing a fry from Willow and getting up and walking out of the living room.
“Hey, ok, that was a hint, but what am I supposed to pack? I have nothing unless you're counting the stuff from what I left here from before,” Willow said, following Micheal up the stairs to the master bedroom, where he walked into the closet, grabbing two suitcases and placing them on the bed. Which made Willow narrow her eyes skeptically.
“You planned this,”
“Um, of course, I did. That's how surprises work. They are planned,” he said as Willow rolled her eyes.
“So besides the stuff that was left here, I mean, how long is this trip supposed to be? Cause I only had enough stuff for a weekend.”
“Yeah, it's for this weekend, and what you have would work,” he said as Willow paid attention to what he was putting in his suitcase as swim trunks went into his suitcase. Along with jeans, shorts and a couple of t-shirts.
“That would all work, plus some things that you picked out today, of course,” he said with a knowing smile. Micheal quickly zipped up his suitcase and went to unzip Willow's. Her suitcase was already packed with everything before Amanda packed for that fateful weekend when the attack occurred. Plus some lingerie pieces that she bought today.
“You packed for me already, ok,” she said, trying not to overthink this romantic gesture Micheal was going for.
“Yeah, since I knew what you would need because I know where we are headed,” he said, re-zipping the suitcase.
“But I think we are going to want to change before we leave,” he said as he looked down at himself and then at Willow as she nodded.
“Agreeing with you on that,” she said, turning her back to him, so he could help unzip her as she slipped out the dress, letting it fall to the ground. She was turning to face him, biting her lip at the sudden feeling of anticipation as he looked into her eyes. Then shook his head.
“I'm going to go change into something that doesn't feel like a mild form of torture,” he said, loosen his tie until it came off, grabbing a t-shirt and sweats from his dresser.
“No kidding,” she said, laughing as she smiled, shaking her head as she grabbed shorts and a t-shirt to change into. She was trying to shake that anticipation, feeling coursing through her body at the thought of the place they would go to and other things on her mind.
Thirteen
“So we have everything packed? Now, are you going to tell me where we are going?” Willow asked, putting her suitcase in the back of the suburban.
“That would ruin the surprised look on your face when we get there, so no,” Micheal replied with a smile as he got into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition on. Sliding an ice chest closer to them that was in the back seat that was stock full of drinks. As well as a bag that was next to it full of snacks, so they wouldn't have to stop anywhere since it was so late at night.
“Fine, have it your way, but if I say 'are we there yet?' repeatedly you're the one to blame,” Willow said as she got into the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt.
Two hours in and Willow was shifting in her seat, trying to fight back the tired, as Micheal leaned back towards the ice chest and grabbed a water bottle, and threw it at her. As the condensation around the bottle contacted her skin, she jumped in her seat.
“God, you might have well just poured the water on me,”
“Good point, I'll do that next time then,” he said as he adjusted his hands on the steering wheel and smirked at her, as he turned up the air. Making it blast harder on her face.
“Water, air conditioning, you’re trying to keep me awake, huh? If you keep at it with the water bottles, we are really going to stop at a rest stop,” she said, as she unscrewed the cap and drank from it regardless of her statement.
Because he had a point. Staying hydrated would help, and she wouldn't be able to fall asleep on him with a full bladder.She squirmed in her seat, as Micheal smiled at her in her peripheral vision.
“So, where are we going? Since you need me to stay awake and everything?”
“That would ruin the surprise, but I want you to stay awake. There is something coming up that will let you know where we are,” he said as Willow grabbed her phone in her pocket.
