Meg looked at her phone for what seemed the thousandth time that night.
10:00 PM.
Eric still hadn't showed.
She sighed and looked at the entrance hoping that he would magically appear.
But he wasn't there.
He hadn't even bothered to call or text.
She rolled her eyes and slumped down in her chair.
This was his event. He had asked her to come to this, to rearrange her schedule, to buy a fancy new dress that she couldn't really afford, to support a local charity for underprivileged youth. Of course she didn't mind supporting the charity but she did mind that she arrived alone and would leave alone.
She and Eric had agreed to meet here after work. She was a layout designer for SpotLight, an upscale fashion and style magazine. He was an investment banker.
She and Eric had lived together for a year now. They'd been dating for three. She loved him so much. They had an apartment in the city. They had a happy life. And when Eric wasn't preoccupied with work, he was the most attentive boyfriend to Meg. Unfortunately this was not the first time Meg was left solo at an event because Eric got distracted at work.
Two years ago it was his mother's birthday dinner that he neglected to show up to, leaving her alone with his entire family. A year ago it was his office party. Six months ago it was his cousin's wedding and now this.
They both worked long hours from time to time but she always made more of an effort to keep their plans. And if she didn't she always called in advance. Did he not care as much? Has he just grown to expect her to be okay with it? A million questions and doubts ran through her mind about her relationship.
"You're not gonna cry are you?" she heard a musty masculine voice ask.
She looked up.
Dimitri. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Don't count on it."
Dimitri had been Eric's best friend since forever. Eric had a tendency to forget plans he made with Dimitri as well. Occasionally, it was the same event such as this and Meg and Dimitri developed their own friendship that way.
"So, he ditched you again did he?"
Meg nodded, humiliated and embarrassed.
"What's this like the umpteenth time?"
She nodded, "The things I put up with for love."
He laughed.
"Well we might as well enjoy ourselves. Care for a dance, milady?" he asked acting all formal for her benefit.
She giggled, in spite of herself.
"Why, yes, kind sir." Did that really just come out of her mouth? She was shocked at her behavior. But something about Dimitri made her forgo all her normal tendancies.
She put her hand in his and he led her to the dance floor. Meg had never been much of a dancer. She had weak ankles and was always unsure of herself. But being in Dimitri's arms, she felt weightless and confident in herself. He expertly glided her around. He was quite the dancer. She looked up to compliment him, only to see that he was already staring at her.
"What?"
Dimitri didn't blink. His brown eyes never leaving her face.
"Nothing it's just..."
"Just what?"
"Your eyes. I never noticed how many different shades of violet they are. When you're sad they're so dark. But now..."
"Now what?"
"Now they are like lavender. They're so beautiful."
Meg blushed. A pang of guilt shot through her. Here she was in the arms of her boyfriend's best friend who just told her how beautiful her eyes were.
"I'm sorry that was inappropriate. Forget I said anything, okay?"
Meg looked at him as they continued dancing. Dimitri was attractive. He had become a close friend to her in these past years. And it seemed he was there more than Eric was. Even though she felt the slightest twinge of guilt, she ignored it. Something about tonight made her want to ignore it. Being in Dimitri's arms felt too right and comfortable for her to forget it all.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why should I forget it?"
He looked at her with a furrowed brow.
"Dimitri, you just said wonderful things about me. A girl can't easily forget when a cute guy says pretty things to her."
She winked. He looked confused.
There was something odd happening between them now. The music seemed to fade into the background. The only sounds they heard were each others' steps and breaths. Dimitri's face inched closer and closer to hers.
His lips lightly grazed hers, not enough to call it a kiss but just enough to ignite a fire within himself and Meg and could not easily be extinguished. Meg looked up into his eyes.
"Hmm."
"What?"
"Now they're more of a royal purple."
She lightly chuckled.
"They turn that shade when I'm impassioned."
He didn't respond. He just held her closer as they continued to dance. They remained like that until the song finished. But both of them were reluctant to let go, knowing that they would call attention to themselves if they didn't. Dimitri was the first to step back.
He awkwardly stood, unsure of what to say. Meg saw this and started to say something but a waiter tapped her on the shoulder, interrupting her thoughts.
"Excuse me, a Mr. Shipman asked me to give this to you with an apology and that he'd see you at home later."
The waiter handed her a red rose with a note attached.
Meg-
Sorry I couldn't make it. Got held up. Be here late.
Love you.
-Eric
"What does it say?" she heard Dimitri ask.
She looked up with her mouth open, ready to reply, but nothing came out. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Dimitri took the rose from her and read the note. His face paled. He looked defeated.
"You should probably get home. Eric might wonder what's keeping you," he said barely audible but stern.
Meg felt awful. She had just decided to ignore her guilt and act on her possible budding feelings she had for Dimitri. But one little mention of Eric and Dimitri backs off. Was he pushing her away? Was he ashamed?
"And we might as well just forget about what happened tonight," he added.
Meg was humiliated. She looked at him with angry violet eyes and turned toward her table. She grabbed her clutch and her phone and made a bee line for the exit. She heard Dimitri calling her name from behind her. She didn't dare turn around. Then she felt his hand on her arm. He spun her around to face him, just before she reached the front door.
"Meg, wait!"
"What? You have more to say to make me feel like an idiot?"
He frowned.
"What? No! Meg, look, I...Ugh. I don't know. I just don't know what to say."
"Don't bother apologizing!"
"No! I'm not sorry for what happened."
"You're not?"
His face inched closer and closer to hers.
"No," he whispered just before he put his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
Electromagnetic energy shot through Meg's body. Dimitri tasted so good. His lips were so soft and gentle. He pulled back and looked at her. Her eyes were still closed, processing what had just happened.
"Wow," she muttered.
He raised his eyebrow.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his, feverishly. Her knees went out from under her in the heat of the moment, but Dimitri was there to pick her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him. Quickly thinking, not wanting to make a spectacle, he carried her toward a coat closet and locked the door. He continued his assault on her lips, running his fingers through her hair, wrinkling her new dress.
Meg was so caught up in this moment. She didn't care that Dimitri had her pinned against a wall in a dark room and was just about to unzip her dress. He had ignited a fire within her that could not be extinguished. She let his hands touch her feverish skin. With equal fervor, she undressed him. She let him, Dimitri, Eric's best friend, make love to her in a coat closet. His breathing was intense in her ear. She felt things she never knew she was capable of feeling.
When it was all over, they held each other close, not content with parting yet. They were sweaty, breathless and fully satisfied. Dimitri put his forehead to hers and lightly pressed a kiss to her full, bruised lips.
They both knew that they had started something on the dance floor that would change their relationship and their relationships with Eric forever. And the worse part was, neither of them wanted to admit that it was far from over.