The Games We Play

Ali stood gazing at the reflection staring back at her in the floor length mirror. She could hardly recognize herself, draped in satiny white and covered with tiny beaded detailing. The assistant lifted the train to allow air to straighten it for her, laying it gently onto the floor.

“What do you think?” Becky asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Ali turned to the side, inspecting the gathered ruching at the waist. “It’s pretty…” She spread her hands down the front, feeling the rich fabric against the pads of her fingers.

“…that’s it?” Becky laughed. “Ali, this is the seventh dress you’ve tried on..”

“And it’s pretty!” She turned towards Becky and the assistant, named Sue, who had been helping her all afternoon. “Can I try another on?”

“Whatever you like, Miss Diserelli.” Her welcoming smile made Ali feel a little better about her indecisiveness. “Which one would you like to try next?”

Ali stepped down off the small platform and went over to the rack. Thumbing through the dozen or so dresses she picked out initially, she lifted the bottom of a dress that was more flowy and less detailed than her prior try-ons. It had caught her eye all day, but she was purposely saving it for when she was almost finished.

“Let’s go with this one.”

Sue lifted it carefully from where it hung and brought it into the lavish dressing room not far from where the mirrors were. Becky did one more walk around Ali in the current dress, clicking her tongue.

“This one’s a beaut, I’m telling ya.”

“I know. It really is.” Ali looked down, wondering why it didn’t feel right. She’d been doing this whole process based on her gut, not just on the fit and style. With her hands, she adjusted the shoulder straps. Something just didn’t feel right.

“Your next choice is a good one” Becky said encouragingly. “Maybe it’ll be the one?”

Ali smiled. “Thank you for being so patient. I’m probably being super annoying.”

“HUSH.” She lifted a sassy finger at Ali, trying not to break into a laugh. “Now you get in there and try that dress on, missy, and not another word!”

Laughing, Ali gathered the bottom of her dress and hurried off to her dressing room. “Yes, Mommy! Going, Mommy!” The girls laughed and Ali disappeared behind the dressing room door.

In between changes, Ali had been texting James to give him updates. She wasn’t sending him any pictures, but it was nice to think he was along for the ride while she tried stuff on. It made him feel like he was there, even though he was home.

Don’t worry, babe – when it happens, you’ll know it. Like when I found you. ;)

It made her smile, even if he was wrong.

You didn’t find me, I found you!

She put her phone back in her purse and proceeded to try and wiggle out of the tight bodice of the dress. She was getting better at the process, that’s for sure. After a few minutes of straightening, adjusting and pinning, the assistant finished with Ali and she came out to show Becky.

Becky gasped. “Oh, Allison.”

“Nice, isn’t it?” Ali was digging this choice big time. She walked onto the platform in front of the mirrors, seeing her in the delicate sheath dress for the first time in full view. Compared to the previous dresses, this one was definitely closer to the style and fit she was looking for…and strangely enough, it felt more “right”, if that was possible.

Ali did a twirl, and both Sue and Becky Ooo’d and Aww’d.

“It fits your body perfectly” Sue replied, eyes locked on the delicate fabrics that draped over Ali’s fit frame. “It would require very little tailoring, if you were interested in this particular choice.”

In front of the mirrors, Ali let the fabric of the dress slide through her fingers. She spread it out, admiring her backside, then her frontside, and then her backside again. Sucking in her belly, she patted the form-fitting bodice.

“Not too much, is it?”

“TOO MUCH?” Becky stepped up on the platform and spun Ali to face the frontmost mirror. “Do you see what I see?”

“Well, um…” Ali stuttered.

“You have the perfect hourglass figure, and this dress does everything right in all the right places, doesn’t it Sue?”

The curly haired blonde nodded cheerfully. “Amen.”

“And this!” Becky pulled up a little on the sweetheart shape of the neckline so that it lifted Ali’s boobs just a little more. “Even better. See?”

She did look good; it’s just that Ali was too bashful to admit it. Everything about a wedding and planning it and choosing this and purchasing that was all about her. It made her a little uncomfortable, because she wasn’t one to enjoy the spotlight. But weddings were just that: a big, fat, glaring spotlight – right on her.

“I do really like this one” Ali said finally. “Although I think it may need taken in.”

“Around the bust?” Sue asked. “That’s simple, hun. Given the amount of detailing though, we’d have to work carefully, but see here…” Now Sue stepped up on the platform and ran her finger along a seam in the bodice where the beading work and ruching met evenly. “This is here on purpose, to make tailoring easier.”

Ali looked over at Becky, who was nodding excitedly. She gave her a nervous smile, then looked down at the gown again.

“Can I have a second alone?” she asked them.

“Omigod, of course!” Becky held Ali’s hands. “I’m sorry – was I being too much?”

She laughed. “No, Becks – I just….I’m weird, and I wanna do something dorky, and I don’t want anyone to look. Honest.”

Becky frowned. “You sure? Nothing’s too dorky—“

“—Please?” Ali tried to say it with as much love as possible, so she wouldn’t hurt her friend’s feelings. She could see how much Becky was enjoying this entire process, but Ali had one thing she wanted to do, and she needed to be alone to do it.

“Okay.” Becky squeezed her hands. “As long as you are sure I’m not being too overbearing.”

“You’re not! Now shoo….I’ll call you when I’m ready for company.”

She watched as Becky and Sue went back out into the main showroom, leaving Ali to herself on the platform. When she was sure no one was coming back to check on her, she exhaled heavily, feeling dumb for what she was about to do.

Lifting her arms, she envisioned James in front of her, his hands in hers. She rolled her eyes at herself, mortified she was doing this. Swallowing any embarrassment, Ali took two tiny steps to the left, then two tiny steps to the right. She took two more, watching her in the dress as she moved, pretending to dance with an invisible James. Ali twirled, imagining James holding her one hand as she spun beneath. The hem of the dress fluttered as if she were a princess in a Disney movie. The beaded lining along the bodice twinkled up to her cleavage, even in the harsh halogen lights. Over and over she took tiny steps, watching her form as she danced on the platform.

Ali twirled once more then lowered her arms, standing point blank in front of the front mirror. She stood perfectly still, only her chest moving with her breathing.

“I love it” she said, and smiled.

* * *

“Mom, I need you down here.”

“What’s wrong, Allison? Did something happen?”

Ali shut the car door and put the keys in the ignition. “Yes. Something really crazy happened, and I need everyone who loves me to help me.”

“Jesus, hunny – did something happen to James!?”

The sound of Ali laughed made Wendy hesitate.

“Am I missing something?”

“Mom – I found a wedding dress.”

Another pause.

“YOU GO AND ALARM YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT OVER A DRESS?”

Ali was stomping her feet inside her car, practically brimming over with laughter. “Psych!! Sorry Mom, but this IS serious, I promise!”

“Well my god…” Wendy puffed. Ali could hear her catching her breath. “So what do you need?”

“I am requesting your presence in Pittsburgh ASAP. I need help knowing if it’s the one.”

“You didn’t need us to tell you that James was, and I think you chose well on your own.”

It was meant to come out as a joke, and while Ali wanted to smile, her nerves were getting the best of her. “For real, can we focus here?”

“Yes, yes, I am – you just sound so serious right now, and I have every faith that whatever dress you choose will be ‘the one’…your instincts are always spot on, Allison.”

“Soooo…..you don’t wanna come down?” Ali asked. “Orrrr….”

“When do you want me? Because I’ll be down the minute you ask” Wendy said, her tone taking on more of a comforting mother than the teasing friend. “I’m just trying to calm you a little. I know how you get.”

Ali rolled her eyes. “Well thanks….James’ brother is in town tonight for whatever reason, but maybe tomorrow? Can you take off work that quickly?”

“If I called them tonight, yes.”

“Awesome! Oh thank you, mom. I need to call Brittany next…”

“Is she coming too?”

Above and beyond all, Ali wished she was. But Facetime would have to be the only way to bring Brittany into the gathering since she lived out of town. It would have to do until she came to visit a little closer to the wedding.

“It’s really pretty, Mom. It’s like……I don’t know, it’s very me.” Ali heard the excitement in her own voice when she said this. “That’s all I’ve been hoping for is something that screamed me.”

“What’s it look like?” Wendy asked. “Can you give me a hint, or are you going to make me wait?”

“I’ll tell you this much” Ali said, starting her car. “It’s a sheath design, strapless, and has awesome detailing.”

“That’s hardly a hint, Allison.”

“Too bad!” Ali laughed and put her seatbelt on. “And now I gotta go, so I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, but I can’t believe you’re leaving me hanging like that!”

“Byeeee Mom.” She hung up the phone, knowing she was being a bit of a tease, but the whole thing just pushed this wedding business into overdrive. Ahh, the power of a good dress.

Swerving happily through traffic, Ali hardly realized it took almost 45 minutes to get back to the house. On the way, she decided to surprise James with Thai food from their usual spot, and the smell that spread through her car made her almost open the containers and dive in right there without him. Ahh, the power of good Thai food.

As she pulled up to the driveway, she noticed a strange car parked in front of her side of the garage. Reluctantly, she wheeled up next to it, checking out the plates. It was from Illinois, of all places. Maybe it’s Mike? Seems a bit early though…

Ali shrugged and gathered her purse, phone, and the plastic bag full of food. She regretted now only buying enough for her and James; had she known Mike was already there, she would’ve gladly brought home way more.

Stomping her shoes on the matt by the front door, she opened it to hear several voices conversing in the kitchen.

“Babe?” Ali nudged the door shut and kicked off her shoes before rounding the corner to the kitchen. When she entered the room, she stopped dead in her tracks. Four sets of eyes turned to look at her as she stood there dumbfounded. What she noticed first was the look of anger on James’ face.

“Sorry, Ali. My dickhead of a brother decided to spring an extra guest on us.” His eyes moved sideways, glaring at Mike.

Confused, Ali looked over at the two girls who stood next to Mike.

“Yeah, sorry Ali” Mike said half-heartedly.

The taller of the two girls stepped forward. She had a smug smile on her face, sandy-blonde hair that fell in loose ringlets down to her shoulders, and wide blue eyes that held plenty of judgement. She extended her manicured hand out boldly. “Hi, I’m Michelle.”

Ali looked at James as the name clicked, and his eyes went even darker.

* * *

James slammed the bedroom door and pinched the bridge of his nose. Ali was pacing in front of him, nervously running her fingers through her hair.

“So let me get this straight” she said tensely. “That’s your ex-girlfriend downstairs? And your brother’s current girlfriend? And they’re sisters?”

“She’s not my ex-girlfriend, Ali.”

“Okay, so you fucked her a bunch of times…”

“I fucked her like….twice.” James wondered why she was staring at him. “What?”

Ali shook her head and continued walking back and forth uneasily. James wondered if she was going to wear a groove into the floor if she kept going. With every turn she made, he felt worse and worse.

“Look, I had NO idea Mike was bringing her. He never said anything about Michelle coming along—“

Holding up her hand, Ali signalled for him to hush. He did, but he was starting to get nervous. Watching her think, the way she was thinking, was torture enough.

“I’m not upset” Ali said finally, hand going to her chin as she considered more of the situation. “I’m also not going to let this ruin all the good news I had to tell you when I first got home.”

“What about the Thai food?”

Ali looked at him and he shrugged.

“Sorry…”

She resumed pacing, and James resumed being nervous about why she was pacing. The end of her long ponytail swished with every turn she made, one hand on the curve of her hip, the other playing with her bottom lip. If James hadn’t been so pissed off at Mike, he would’ve found this to be cute.

“Okay, I can do this.” Ali faced James and the very concerned look on his face. “And you shouldn’t pinch your eyebrows like that, they might stick.” She tried to get him to smile, but he seemed to be more upset than she was.

“How are you so calm?” James asked her. “I thought for sure you’d flip once you saw the bullshit that’s still standing downstairs?”

Ali shrugged. “I’m the one with the ring on my finger, right?”

James gave half a nod. “Well yeah, but…”

“Besides….you said you only fucked her ‘like…twice’.” She mocked his tone of voice as she said this. “So what do I have to be upset about, really?”

It came out sounding legitimately sincere, but Ali was doing her damndest to remain calm. A deep bite of insecurity panged deep inside her stomach when she shook hands with Michelle downstairs. She knew who she was; she saw her perfect lips and that hair and those eyes that matched James’ eyes. She knew….and it grated her last nerve.

But Ali also remembered James and Tony and what had transpired with that meet and greet, and she wasn’t about to anything even resembling that. There wasn’t any sense in being mad at James for punching her ex if she was going to be a bitch to his.

“So what do we do?” James asked. “Do I kick them out? They don’t have to stay here.” He wished he could read Ali’s face, but he was failing miserably for some reason. Maybe he was more shaken up than he realized.

“It’s up to you, babe.” Ali approached him, touching whatever she could of his toned body to let her know he was still hers. Irony at its finest. She ran her hands up the flat pane of his stomach to the perfect cut of his pecs, feeling the dormant power in his body beneath her fingertips . “Just….if you let them stay……kiss me throughout the night, okay?”

James adored Ali for all that she was, even her silly statements like that one. “I think I can work that out.” He tilted his mouth down to meet hers, feeling some of his nerves drain away at the velvety touch of Ali’s tongue against his.

“And what’s this about good news?” His voice was a purr as their mouths parted.

“I think I found a dress.” The brown of her eyes seemed to radiate a new kind of shimmer in their deep color.

“No way, really?” James suddenly forgot his anger. “You mean THE dress?”

Ali bit her bottom lip and grinned. “I think so. But I don’t know. I need more opinions.”

“Yours is the only one that counts.” James’ finger found the wavy end of her ponytail, twirling its softness. “Do I get to know what it looks like?”

“You know you aren’t allowed.”

“Fine.” James hugged her close, one hand cupping her head against his chest. “This is not just great news, it’s awesomenews.”

Ali felt all the warmth and strength in his arms as their size enveloped her, his chest a protective wall against anything other than happiness.

“Now.” James tiled her head back so he could look into those beautiful eyes. “Shall I reintroduce you to those jerkoffs downstairs as Mrs. Neal?”

Ali giggled. “Yes, please.”

* * *

It was as awkward as Ali expected it to be, and James was definitely uncomfortable. Michelle had literally been a romp in the sack to him and nothing more. She was a bad decision after one too many beer-laden summer nights in Whitby, and a repeat bad decision when James was horny and lonely. Same story, different names…as it used to be with him.

James tried to look at her with new eyes, as a new person with no history with her. He scooped up food with his chopsticks from the Styrofoam container held above his lap, watching as Ali struggled to remain composed. They were huddled around the large island in the middle of the kitchen, James and Ali next to one another with Mike flanked by Jill and Michelle.

For the life of him, James couldn’t see anything attractive about Michelle as he sat there. The spice from his dinner was making his eyes water a little, but he was having no problem seeing. Maybe it was because Michelle was sitting across from Ali and there was just no comparison. Michelle had the look of someone who tried too hard; a trait James one day would’ve let slide if it meant getting his dick sucked. But it was evident now that everything about her spoke of her efforts to impress. Too much lipgloss, too much hair product, too much eye makeup, too much push-up in her bra. That’s about all he saw.

Standing nearby, Mike still seemed like himself, because that’s all he knew how to be. Jillian stole a few glances in James’ direction, but was mostly focused on Ali. James had to give Ali credit; he saw a slight falter in the confidence normally present in her eyes whenever Michelle smiled at her or smiled at him, but she trudged on, talking and laughing as if they’d all been best friends for years. It impressed the hell out of him.

“So I can’t be-lieve you were the one to tame the oldest Neal” Michelle said, the gold bracelet about her wrist sliding up her slender arm as she flipped her hair. “Too bad, too.”

Ali took a drink of water she was sharing with James, her eyes glancing sideways at him for a little help. He came to her rescue, pointing his chopsticks at Michelle.

“It’s too bad you’re still searching for someone, Michelle” he said, swallowing a mouthful of spicy shrimp. “All that effort you put into this persona of yours…shame for it to go to waste.”

Michelle bent her head, smug smile appearing on her full lips. “Your concern for me is outstanding. Always the gentleman, eh Neal?”

Ali cleared her throat, drawing Michelle’s attention back to her. “You said you were in nursing school?”

Jill leaned across Mike towards her. “It’s her sixth year at university. It’s supposed to take less than that.” She nudged her sister and laughed. Michelle simply glared.

“Well slow and steady wins the race, huh?” Ali smiled nervously when she saw Michelle’s face go flat. “Or not… ”she mumbled.

“Hey, Mike” James said, chopsticks now pointing his way. “When’d you say you were leaving?”

“Fuck you, man.”

James sat up, his large eyes even fuller as he pretended to act confused. “What!? Did I say something?”

Michelle exhaled and rolled her eyes.

“Such a grumpy bunch for having won three games in a row, Mike” James replied, eyeing his younger sibling.

Ali glanced between them. Despite having similar eyes, similar hair, and a freakishly similar glare, Mike was distinctly different from James in one obvious way: he lacked the self-assurance that seemed to come so easily to James. She wondered if it was due to Mike being in the shadow of the first-born, the first son to hit the NHL, the first son overall.

When Ali brought her gaze back to center, she noticed Michelle staring at her. She set her shoulders squarely.

“So you’re Italian?” Michelle asked her.

Well that’s off the fucking wall. “Yeah, 100%.”

“Hmm.”

Ali smiled. “And you are…?”

“A mutt” James replied, digging at the bottom of his to-go container.

“I’m Swedish” Michelle said, ignoring James. “I was just wondering….because one time, James once told me that he—“

“I didn’t tell you shit, and don’t pretend you can even remember what the hell I said to you.” His eyes flared. “Seriously, Michelle.”

She seemed quite pleased to have gotten a reaction out of him. Ali stood up from the island, rubbing the back of James’ neck. “Don’t bother, babe.”

“I’m sorry, dammit” Mike said, standing up as well. The same sharp eyebrows that James had Mike had also inherited, and were now bent in such a way that Ali actually thought Mike might explode.

“It’s cool. Just get her out of here.” James pointed to Michelle again.

“How about this…” Ali turned to the group. The level of discomfort in the room was almost unbearable, but she had to try and do something. “…James and I actually have an appointment in an hour to meet with a guy who’s handling the flowers for the wedding.”

James slowly looked over.

“And we promised the guy we wouldn’t be late, so babe – why don’t you go toss something a little dressier on and we’ll get rolling.” Ali looked at Mike, seeing his face soften a little. “And when we get back, maybe all this will be diffused a little? Would that work, Mike?”

He looked puzzled, but also relieved to hear he had a chance to fix his faux pas. “Yeah, sure…You okay with that, James? You said you didn’t have any plans tonight?”

Ali shot a glance over at James when he opened his mouth to respond. He quickly smiled and stood up. “Yeah man, guess this slipped my mind.” He bent and kissed Ali, making sure to linger a little to rub salt into Michelle’s wound. “Thanks for remembering in time.”

“No worries.” She patted James on the back as he turned to leave. “It was nice meeting you, Michelle.”

When Ali held out her hand, Michelle folded her arms over her chest, rejecting any offer of friendship. Ali could have cared less, and was happy to not have to touch her again.

“Sorry to run, Jill.” Ali brushed past her and headed upstairs behind James.

Their voices could clearly be heard in the kitchen, even as Ali climbed the stairs two at a time. They began arguing again, Michelle’s voice the loudest and angriest of them all. Ali smiled a little to herself as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

Still in his wind pants and Bauer workout shirt, James now wore a smile that was a mile wide. “How do you come UP with stuff like that!?”

Ali felt pretty proud of her quick plan as well, and it showed. “I just thought of something that would get us out of here. Wedding planning seemed like a legit excuse, right?”

James cupped her face and kissed her. “I owe you, babe.”

“Yeah, you owe me dinner too, because mine got cold” she replied, slapping his rock hard ass. “So think of a place while you get ready, because you’re buying.”

“Deal.”

The couple quickly scrambled to throw on something that would look as if they were meeting someone for wedding business. James tossed a chunky grey sweater coat over a black t-shirt and donned his favorite dark jeans. Ali kept what she had on, but wrapped a silky scarf around her neck to dress it up a little. Knowing it was all for literally nothing, they had fun just doing whatever and wearing whatever. They hurried downstairs to see Mike and his two girls standing there, all looking quite upset.

“So we’ll catch ya later?” James directed the question at his brother.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“And, uh….you’ll be gone, I hope?” he asked Michelle. Next to him, Ali bit her lip to stifle a smile.

“Whatever, Neal.”

“Good. Glad that’s settled.” He took two long strides over to Jillian and hugged her. “Sorry she’s your sister and he’s your boyfriend.”

Jill laughed, as did Ali, but they were the only ones to laugh.

James walked over and took Ali by the hand. “Shall we, babe?”

“We shall.”

As they turned to leave, Ali glanced back over her shoulder. She gave Michelle a little wave before heading outside to her car.

When her and James were alone inside the vehicle, they looked at one another and laughed.

“We’re something else, aren’t we?” Ali asked him.

James nodded. “It’s why I love us.”

They bumped knuckles.

“Ready, Mrs. Neal?”

“Ready!”

James threw her SUV in reverse.

* * *

Notes