Day Twenty-Three: Leather

"Wednesday is a weird night to be clubbing."

"What?" Tana shouts back.

A steady bass beat blares from the club's speakers and thrums in my ribcage. I roll my eyes and slide over the padded bench until I'm next to Tana. "I said, Wednesday is a weird night to be clubbing."

"You're the one who decided to go traipsing all over Europe at the last minute."

"I didn't know you were planning a bachelorette party."

"It was supposed to be a surprise. That was the whole point."

I shouldn't complain. Tana and three of our mutual girlfriends all rearranged their schedules for this. They've disappeared to the washroom and it's the first chance I've gotten to talk to Tana. We've danced a little and are having drinks now but it's strange knowing I still have to get up early tomorrow morning for work.

"Just promise me you didn't plan anything embarrassing."

"Don't worry," Tana says. "I had to cancel the studly exotic dancer when you rescheduled."

"Tana!"

"I'm just kidding." She's grinning, clearly enjoying this far far too much.

"You realize, of course, that I'll get even someday."

Tana sighs. "The way my luck is going you may never get the chance."

She looks so down and I'm trying to think of something to say to cheer her up when the others come back. Tana puts on a smile immediately as if nothing were bothering her at all. "I think," she announces, standing up and rifling through her purse, "that this would be the perfect time for presents."

"What?"

Tana winks and I know I'm in trouble.

ooo

As I close the door behind me, I can't help but think how glad I am to be home. It's only midnight– a little earlier even– but I just feel so tired. Still... it was worth it. I hang up my jacket and head towards my room with my purse and a bag full of "presents," ready to tumble into bed. I'm a little surprised when I find Seth sitting up in bed, reading.

"Eirika," he says, setting down his book. It's hours past his normal bedtime.

"I thought you'd be asleep. Were you waiting up for me?"

"I was curious how late you'd be out."

"Wanted to make sure I didn't come home with an exotic dancer?"

"Something like that," he says, smiling. He's eyeing the bag and I can feel myself flushing. "Party favours?"

"Something like that." I laugh nervously. He raises an eyebrow. "The girls decided to have a little fun with the whole thing."

"Eirika."

"Yes?"

"You're blushing."

"Well... yes."

He tilts his head. "Is there another man in bag?"

I chuckle. "No. No, it's just that... Oh here," I say handing it over to him. "It's mostly for you anyway."

His brow creases. He reaches into the bag and the first thing he pulls out is a leather harness with six straps and a number of buckles. He holds it up in front of him, peering at it uncertainly and then glances back into the bag. "Are we getting a dog?" he asks, pulling out a leather collar with polished silver buckles and a name tag.

"Not exactly."

He raises an eyebrow and looks from the collar to me and then back to the collar. He inspects the name tag... which is engraved with his name. "Ah," he says finally. Brave man that he is, he reaches into the bag for a third time and pulls out a much smaller collection of leather straps and silver snaps. He clears his throat and doesn't quite look up as he says, "Do I want to know what this if for?"

"Probably not."

"Ah. I see." He clears his throat. "You know," he says after a few moments, "leather... chafes."

I laugh and crawl onto the bed next to him and hug him. "Well we can't have that," I say. He kisses the top of my head, smiling (with relief, I can't help but think). We turn out the light and I quite happily go to sleep in my clothes.