Chapter 43 - 43

I floated through the rest of the day in a fog of misery and depression. By the time five rolled around, I could hear my bed calling my name adamantly and I was more than prepared to meet it.

"Hey, Jordan told me we were all going to the club tomorrow," Lizzie said excitedly as she came into the office.

I shook my head sadly, feeling my bed call my name louder. Lizzie probably knew what was going on with Reed better than I did consider Jordan was Reed's, right-hand man. Nevertheless, I hadn't the heart to ask her to betray Jordan's confidence. Lizzie's face dropped for a moment but immediately she began to glow again.

"That's okay!" she said excitedly. "You can still go shopping with me, so you'll be prepared next time you can come."

I immediately agreed, knowing that a shopping trip with my best friend was exactly what I needed. Forget ice cream and crappy romantic comedies, a 'shop ‘til you drop' day with a woman who knew exactly what that phrase meant was definitely in order.

"That sounds perfect, Lizzie. Let me just grab my coat and we can head to the mall. Maybe we could grab some dinner before we head home," I said feeling excited as well.

"Dinner, yes. But forget the mall wait until you see where I'm taking you. It's the only place in town to get the best fetish wear," she said finishing in a stage whisper.

Fetish-wear? Like the clothes, those women had worn in the club? I began to shake my head slowly not even wanting to consider it, on the other hand, an image of Reed's face when he had seen my sexy but modest underwear today popped into my head and the idea of shocking the hell out of Reed was too irresistible to pass up.

"Let's do it," I said, a mischievous twinkle sparkled in my eye causing Lizzie to laugh.

We agreed to meet downstairs so Jordan could give us a ride to the store since Lizzie rode in with him and I didn't own a car.

While I was waiting, I stared out at the people passing by not really thinking just enjoying the peaceful moment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of Reed with 'Madam Witch' on his arm. But when I turned to look all, I saw was an overly crowded street. The whole incident left me feeling frustrated and angry all over again. The eerie similarity of this moment to my overall situation bothered me. I realized that's how I had begun to see Reed, as someone who was there one moment and gone the next.

I rubbed my temples, feeling a bit of a headache coming on. I wondered, not for the first time, if I had made the right decision about keeping things going with him even though I knew he was in the middle of something with his wife... or ex-wife.

"Mia!" Lizzie called from behind me.

I turned around to find her and Jordan at the front door already. I pushed all my stress aside determined to have a good time with her even if it was only for Lizzie's sake. Jordan was talking on his phone, yet he still managed to wave hello to me.

"Who is he talking to?" I asked Lizzie in a whisper as soon as I joined them.

"Jack, he's an old army buddy of Jordan's apparently they are very close since they talk almost as much as we do," she whispered back with a giggle.

That was saying something considering Lizzie and I talked multiple times a day. I couldn't imagine being closer than that with anyone.

Well, maybe Reed.

"Marine buddy, dear. Not army. Don't insult us, Lizzie, you know what will happen then," Jordan warned over his shoulder.

Obviously, it was his way of letting us know that he could still hear us. I bit my lip to keep from asking what would happen especially when I saw Lizzie pale slightly.

"Sorry, Sir," Lizzie said quickly.

I saw her visibly let a breath out when Jordan nodded signaling that she was forgiven. We changed the subject to work and started gossiping about nonsensical stuff just to punish him for eavesdropping.

"Okay, girls. I know for a fact that Chrissy is not sacrificing a small goat so she can have bigger breasts. Knock it off," he interrupted in exasperation.

He was trying his hardest to sound stern, but the small smile at the corner of his lips made that almost impossible.

We reached the car across the street just in time for Jordan to get off the phone.

"Yep, will do. No worries. Got it all in control on this end. Everything should be ready when you return. Yep, later," Jordan said hanging up the phone and opened the car door for us.

Lizzie shooed me in first and then crawled into the passenger seat. As soon as Jordan got behind the wheel, he embraced her in a deep kiss. When he pulled back, he whispered something in her ear that caused her to laugh. I found myself aching for Reed again and had to look away trying not to seem upset about it.

"Alright, ladies, let's go shopping... are you sure you don't need a man's opinion? I've been told I've got great taste in clothes," Jordan said starting the car.

He began maneuvering the sporty vehicle expertly into traffic. He peaked in the mirror and wiggled his eyebrows at me. I laughed despite my misery and shook my head at him. Lizzie gave him a look that said she had his number on this one.

"You just want to tag along because you heard I needed new underwear," she warned him.

"Hey, I've got two beautiful women on my arms getting ready to go lingerie shopping. How can I pass that up? I'm a young hot-blooded man, it would be a sin not to at least offer my opinion," he said with a shrug.

"Lingerie? I thought this was a fetish store," I said confused.

"Yes, it is. But they also supply lingerie for the party nights at the club and this Saturday happens to be one," Lizzie said.

"Oh, I really am not getting this down very well, am I?" I asked sadly.

"Mia, you're doing fine.. You've actually been in this scene for what two weeks now? My first two weeks hardly a night went by when I wasn't being gagged for sticking my foot in my mouth," Lizzie reassured me.