A/N Last chapter before Anna heads to London. It is so gratifying to see how invested you all are in these characters. Thanks for all the faves, follows and reviews.
I don't own…
Anna, Gwen and Jane had been shopping in the retail district of Edinburgh for hours and nothing they saw seemed quite right. It was getting less and less fun by the minute. Gwen kept picking out skimpy, sexy, really tight dresses which Anna declined. Jane, usually so practical, was proving to be no help either, siding with Gwen more often than not.
They were walking past a very expensive looking shop when Gwen stopped to look in the window. "How about this one?" she asked the other girls, pointing to a red dress on display.
"Gwen," Anna sounded exasperated, "I probably couldn't afford a pair of knickers in that shop, much less a dress."
"But that's what John's credit card is for," Gwen reminded her.
"Nooo, John's credit card is for the plane ticket and lunch, I'm buying the dress. I thought I made that clear."
"And John made it clear that he wanted you to get the best, most beautiful dress you could find regardless of the cost."
Anna was truly puzzled now, she hadn't shared all the details of her conversation with John with her girlfirends. "How do you know what John wants?"
"Because he texted me this morning to let me know." Gwen began digging for her phone.
"What?" Anna asked shaking her head.
"Yep, and I have the text right here because I knew you wouldn't believe me." Gwen looked over at Jane and said, "Oh yeah," she bobbed her head, "John Bates knows my phone number."
Jane rolled her eyes and laughed but Anna grabbed Gwen's phone, "Let me see that." What she saw was indeed a text from John.
I'm counting on you to help me out with Anna's dress today. I know she won't want to spoil herself. If anyone can convince her (badger her?) you can. There's a selfie of us in it for you if you succeed. You can even post it on facebook. :) JB
Gwen waited for Anna to finish reading before she said "You wouldn't deny me the opportunity to get a selfie with John would you? Not if you're really my friend."
"If you were really my friend you would side with me and not John." Anna answered.
"Sorry Anna, but I would throw you under a bus for a picture with John... just saying." Gwen smiled wickedly.
Anna looked toward Jane, pleading for help. "Sorry," Jane shrugged her shoulders, "his text seems pretty clear to me. He really wants you to use the card to buy your dress. Just let him treat you this one time. He's obviously excited for you to see his play and meet his friends. He just wants everything to be perfect. Can't you indulge him this once? Think of it as a 'break a leg' present for him. It doesn't mean you have to use the card ever again."
"I thought you were the steady one in this trio." Anna exclaimed.
"I am. But John's a really nice guy. I'm sure buying you the dress will make him happy and he deserves that on his big night. That's all I'm saying. Besides, I feel a little weird using the card to buy us an expensive lunch if you aren't getting something too. He's your friend."
"So you're ganging up on me?" Anna looked back and forth between Gwen and Jane.
"That's what friends are good for." Gwen responded happily while Jane just shrugged her shoulders again.
"Alright," Anna gave in, "you two go in. I'm just going to text John to make sure. I'll be in in a moment."
Anna shot off the following text to John:
Hey, no fair getting the girls on your side. They're supposed to be MY friends. A
She got an immediate response:
All's fair… Now go buy a smashing dress that will make all the other guys jealous that you're with me. J
When Anna entered the shop Gwen immediately approached her carrying yet another armload of form fitting, low cut dresses.
"Honestly Gwen, I'm going to London to see John's play and meet his friends, not to be his mistress. What will they think of me if I show up in something like any of these dresses?"
"They'll think you're gorgeous, but that's not the point. The point is that John won't be able to keep his eyes or his hands off you."
"They'll think I'm a gold digger is what they'll think, which is another reason I don't like John paying for everything, but I won't reopen that conversation. Remember, they've already been through Vera. They don't necessarily have to trust John's judgment at this point."
"She's got a point, Gwen." Jane interjected, "Maybe you should let Anna pick out a dress she's comfortable with. She's probably nervous enough meeting all John's friends."
"Finally," Anna exclaimed, "someone's on my side!"
They looked around the shop for awhile pulling out various dresses and deciding against them for one reason or another. Then Anna pulled out a little black, sleeveless dress with a high collar. It was very simple but something about it called to her. She ran her hand over the black lace that covered the skirt and even the fabric felt wonderful.
"Wow," Jane said. "I could totally imagine you wearing that."
Just then a saleswoman approached saying, "Can I help you ladies with something?"
Anna responded immediately, "Yes, I'd like to try this on please."
"Wonderful, would you like to try it now or should I start a dressing room for you?"
"I'll come now." Anna said, following the saleswoman to the back of the store. Once inside the dressing room, Anna slipped the dress over her head and zipped it up as high as she could reach. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. It fit perfectly. It came to just above her mid-thigh and hugged her body in all the right places. Her arms and legs were bare, but the collar went almost ¾ the way up her neck and the back of the dress was solid. Anna felt it was the right balance of exposed and covered skin. In truth, she had never fallen in love with a dress so quickly. She could just picture herself in ir, walking arm in arm with John all decked out in a suit, or a tuxedo even.
She was pulled from her daydream when both Gwen and Jane complained, "Come on, Anna. Let us see it."
She opened the door shyly and stood before them, her eyes shining.
Jane spoke first, "Oh my god, Anna. You have to buy that dress." Anna smiled at her reaction.
"Gwen, what do you think?" Anna asked.
"It's much more demure than anything I would have picked, but I think it will drive John wild in any case. I think you should get it."
Anna looked at the price tag hanging under her arm and was shocked. "It's $500!" she whispered to her friends, "I could get something for one third of the price somewhere else."
"Maybe you could get something, but you couldn't get that somewhere else, and it really is perfect." Jane tried to convince her.
"But it's so expensive. I can't pay $500 for a little black dress."
"You can't, but John can. Please Anna? You look fantastic." Gwen pleaded.
Anna wavered, "Maybe I'll just text him and ask if it's okay." She really loved the dress.
"Arrrg," Gwen said in frustration, "Jane, come with me to look at shoes before I find a blunt object and hit her over the head!"
Jane chuckled and looked toward Anna, "Maybe I'd better take her. We don't want your red carpet photos to include a black eye."
When she was finally alone, Anna went back in the dressing room and sat down to text John.
I found a dress. A
Great! Did you buy it? J
Not yet...it's $500. A
Is that expensive? J
For a DRESS? Yes! You're such a man. A
Thanks for noticing. ) J
Seriously, you should buy it. J
Do you want to see it first? A
No, I mean yes I want to see it, but not until Friday at the premier. J
Are you sure? That's really a lot of money. A
Grrrr, how many times do we have to go through this same argument? Nothing would make me happier. Please? If you could see me you would see that I am literally on bended knee begging. Do I need to send you a pic? J
God no! Ok Ok. I'll get it. A
Yay! Can't wait to see you. Have fun with the gals. I'll call tonight when I get back from the theatre. BTW, tell Gwen I said good job. J
What was she going to do with that man? He was simply too adorable for words. Anna left the dressing room and was making her way to the front of the store when she passed the intimates section. For some reason, the mannequin on display wearing a very lacy, revealing, skimpy set of black knickers and bra caught her attention. It was almost like the feeling she had when she saw the dress for the first time. She didn't know why, but she knew she wanted this underwear and she knew she wanted to wear it under her new dress on Friday night.
A wicked thought crossed her mind, Maybe this is how I can thank John for the dress. But as quickly as the thought came, she pushed it aside. After John had put the brakes on the physical side of their relationship, Anna had decided she would go into this weekend with no expectations as to where it would lead. She was just going to enjoy being with John in whatever capacity he allowed. But she still wanted the lingerie, just in case.
Anna found the right size and slipped the bra and panties onto her arm underneath the dress. She didn't want Gwen and Jane to see her buying them and get the wrong idea, or the right idea, actually. She walked passed an aisle and looked to see that they were still absorbed in the quest for shoes they could in no way afford. She quickly went to the counter and got out her own credit card. She placed the intimate items on the counter and said, "I'd like to pay for these separately, please." She couldn't let John pay for this part, she just couldn't. "And could you put them in the bag as quickly as possible?"
The saleswoman smiled knowingly and said, "We also have garters, if you're interested."
Anna blushed profusely, "No, this will be fine." She looked down at the counter and tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear. Then she got out the credit card John had given her and used it to pay for the dress. She still felt a little guilty, but she hoped John would be happy with her purchase and the fact that she had given in to his wishes. She was relieved that her purchases, all of them, were safely tucked away in the shopping bag before Gwen and Jane reached her at the counter.
John called that night as promised, after Anna had already gone to bed. She wasn't asleep yet, she had been staring at her new dress which was hanging on the back of the door. She absolutely loved it but she still couldn't quite believe she had spent so much of John's money on it.
"Hello," John said cheerfully when Anna finally answered, "I didn't really expect you to be up still, not after your big day in Edinburgh."
"Just waiting for your call. Then I'll be right to sleep."
"Anna, you didn't have to do that."
"Yes I did. I miss you and I'm not going to waste any time I could be spending with you, on the phone or otherwise. Besides, tomorrow's Sunday, I can sleep in."
John chuckled, "You say the sweetest things."
"Only to you."
John's smile widened even further, "Good. So tell me all about Edinburgh. Did the three of you have a nice lunch?"
"We did. And you'll be happy to know that we went somewhere quite expensive and spent loads and loads of your hard earned money." Anna teased.
"Good, maybe you're finally coming round," he replied brightly, "I hope Gwen and Jane enjoyed themselves. I'm really fond of them both. They're good friends to you."
"Mmmm, I'm not so sure about that, Mr. Bates" Anna grumbled, "You seem to have quite a fan club there. I can help them with homework but I certainly can't compete with expensive lunches, autographs and selfies posted on facebook."
"Not true," John countered, "I'm sure there are plenty of selfies of the three of you on facebook. In fact, I can't believe I've never thought to check before. Anyway," he continued, "did you buy anything else besides the dress?"
"No, why would I?" Anna shot back, sounding defensive. Her eyes involuntarily drifted to the bag containing the sexy new bra and underwear. "You said to buy a dress and I bought a dress. What else would I buy?"
"I don't know," John was confused by the turn in the conversation, "maybe you saw some shoes or a purse you liked. You could have gotten something with your own money, how am I to know?"
"Well I didn't, I only bought the dress," Anna had calmed a little but still sounded a bit annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause such a fuss. I'm just making conversation."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I guess I'm more tired than I thought. I apologize."
"It's alright. I guess we're just destined to disagree about the money issue. We'll have to watch how we talk about it from now on. But Anna, you are my girlfriend now. It's alright for me to buy you gifts."
"You're right, it is. It just feels strange when I'm the one buying them for myself is all. I guess it's different if you pick it out for me on a special occasion."
"So are you saying I have free reign to buy you gifts as long as I buy them myself and they come wrapped and everything?" John's voice sounded far too eager and Anna knew her point needed clarifying.
"No, that's not what I'm saying at all, John Bates. I'm saying I'll try harder to appreciate you trying to spoil me and you can try harder to not go over the deep end with your gifts."
"I'll try," John agreed, "but I won't promise. You really have no idea how much pleasure it gives me to see something I know you'll love and then be able to get it for you. It's the same with my mother. Only part of the gift is unselfish on my part. I'm also buying the good feeling I get knowing I'm spoiling you and making you happy."
"And you say I say the sweetest things. I'll take your point into consideration. You've given me a new perspective." Her voice took on a quieter, more intimate tone, "I can't wait to see you. Only 6 more days."
"I know, believe me. It's funny, it's all the little things I miss about being with you. I miss watching tv with our stocking feet tangled together on the coffee table, and I miss having your arm in mine while I take Beauty for a walk."
"I miss bumping into you in the kitchen while we're cooking, and I really miss you taking Angus out in the morning and all the breakfasts you cook for me every day!"
"Huh, so much for the romantic portion of this call, hey?" John wasn't offended, he knew Anna was teasing him.
"Well I can't be too sweet, we still have to survive 6 whole days."
"Yeah, sure, that's it. It's all for my own good."
"Exactly, and now for my own good I'd better get some sleep. I'll talk to you tomorrow at 7:00 right?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."