I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
An empty pizza box sat on the coffee table along with two pairs of pajama-covered legs.
"I think you would look good in this one," Courtney said pointing to a form fitting simple, yet elegant bridesmaid's dress with a sweetheart's neckline.
Tilting her head to the side, Courtney's best friend put down her wedding magazine and studied the dress.
"Imagine it in mint green with a green, white, and yellow bouquet," Courtney said.
Fighting a yawn, "It is better than the other one that you showed with the deep v back."
"You would've looked sexy- -"
"Yeah, sexy in a whorish sort of way."
"Well, you did say you hadn't gotten any in a while," Courtney laughed. "I was just trying to help you out."
Her friend picked up a pillow and threw it at her.
"I'm not that desperate."
Courtney gave her a knowing looking.
"Well, not, yet. I appreciate the looking out though." She paused. "Isn't this going to be a small wedding?" she inquired.
"Small, simple, and elegant. Not like my last one. You and Mikey as the maid of honor and best man, respectively. My dad is going to walk me down the aisle and little Mikey will be the ring bearer."
"Have you told Caroline, she's being replaced?"
Courtney stood up and stretched. "Well, this pregnancy has me beat, so I'll see you in the morn- -"
The woman jumped up and stopped her from leaving. "Why haven't you told her?"
Courtney paused. "She has a bit of a temper."
"Please tell me you're going to tell her before the wedding? I really don't want to have to beat someone down at your wedding to keep my rightful place beside you."
"I promise to tell her before the wedding." Her friend glared at her. "I promise." Courtney walked to the guest bedroom and the woman followed. She turned down the covers. "I think everything you need is in here."
The woman looked around the bare room. "Nene, where's the pictures, knick-knacks?" her friend asked.
"At Jay's. I'm just staying here until the wedding."
The woman nodded, as Courtney yawned. "One final question. Since I slept the entire car ride here, can you tell me where I am?"
Courtney grinned. "You'll find out in the morning, but trust me you're going to love this city."
Her friend wondered if she should push the issue, but she decided to let it drop. She nodded her consent and simply said, "Goodnight."
Courtney walked to the doorway and paused. "I'm glad you're here."
"So am I."
"I love you."
"Love you, too."
Courtney closed the door and the woman fell instantly asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
A few hours later, a noise in the kitchen woke the woman up. She could hear drawers being opened and closed. Instantly alert, she rolled out of bed and grabbed her gun out of her purse. Her gun was loaded and ready to use. She stealthily moved out of her room. She quietly checked to make sure Courtney was okay. Courtney was sleeping without a care in the world.
On the tips of her toes, she got to the doorway of the kitchen and aimed her gun at the leather clad back. She took in the suspect who was using the light from the fridge to see in the kitchen. She ran down a list of men in Courtney's life. Jay was out of town on business, her father and brother wouldn't be in her kitchen this time of night. This wasn't her psycho ex-husband was it? And why were the hairs on the back of her necking standing at attention?
"Court, are you just going- -" the man said in a monotone voice.
"This isn't, Courtney. Assume the position." The woman quickly but cautiously moved towards the suspect. "Put your hands on the counter and spread your legs," she said with authority in her voice.
"Wait- -"
"Do it now." She cocked the gun.
He put his hands on the counter and spread his legs. She stood behind him and was patting him down when he elbowed her where her chest and stomach met. The unexpected hit caused her to fall backwards. Using her momentum and her attachment to his jacket, she flipped the suspect over her head, and they both landed with a loud thud onto the kitchen floor. Recovering first, she scrambled onto his back and bent his arm into an unnatural position.
Suddenly, the kitchen was flooded with light, as Courtney stood in front of them, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"What's going on?" she asked.
The man tried to talk and the woman increased the pressure on his arm and growled, "Don't move! Nene, go- -"
"Let him go!" Courtney yelled as the man grunted. "It's Jay, my fiancée!"
The woman slowly got off of his back and stood up. Jay cautiously stood, nursing his arm. Courtney ran to him, gently rubbed his arm, and murmured softly to him.
The woman stared into the blue eyes of her first boyfriend, her first love, and her first lover, Jason Quartermaine. Keesha Ward had unwittingly stepped into a nightmare of monstrous proportions. She darted her eyes from the seemingly hypnotic gaze of her ex to Courtney's when she realized that Courtney was talking.
"Keesh, did you think Jason was a robber?" Courtney asked.
Keesha nodded and said, "I'm going to bed," and headed back to her room.
"Keesha, I want you to introduce you to- -" but Courtney was talking to Keesha's back.
Keesha closed her room door. Jason was engaged to her best friend and little sister. What in the world was she going to do?