Fated Mate

“Of course you do.” His expression changed immediately Maria flashed him her mean face. “But uh, we can’t take them back. They’re all already paid for.” Lee was shocked, what was she going to do with ten beds?

“But I was only going to pick one! What was to happen to the other nine?” she said taking the catalogue back from him.

He shrugged, “Your sisters were to pick one each if they wanted, and then you were to decide what was to happen to the rest.”

It was getting more unbelievable by the second. Maria snatched the catalogue from Lee’s hand, she was excited, and she really wanted a new bed.

Just then Ann appeared at the door with her signature attitude. “Get out of my way!” She yelled at the delivery guy and pushed him out of the way.

“Hey!” he called back at her as he tried to get back his balance.

“What!” she turned and shouted back at him. She was furious and turning red, confronting her when she was like that was never a good idea.

Lee turned to him and gave him an apologetic smile, “I’m sorry but can we do this at another time? I’ll call you,” she shut the door before he could say anything else then joined Maria next to the couch. They stayed quiet and waited, it was better for her to rant and rave without asking her any questions or interrupting her.

“That ass hole! Why did I even get involved with him in the first place!” She was pacing, the ass hole she was referring to was without a shadow of a doubt Billy. Their fights were becoming a weekly event. “Last night he took me to his apartment and…we had fun, but that’s not the point! Then this morning he said he needed to be somewhere, so, he dropped me off at school before he went to do what he went to do. After I saw the professor, I went back to his apartment because I’d forgotten my house keys. I knocked on the door, expecting the love of my life to open, looking like his godly self.”

Maria and Lee looked at each other, ‘love of her life’ they didn’t think she had heard herself, otherwise she would have stopped talking.

“…and this geeky, pimple faced kid opens the door. I thought, maybe he’s his cousin because he has no brothers, when I asked him if Billy was in, do you know what he told me!” she stopped pacing and faced them. Her voice was higher now, angrier her face redder, they’d reached the climax of the story. “That little alien told me that the tall brunette guy had paid him to use his apartment for one night! He paid for a room to screw me in. Can you believe it?”

Her face changed, she wasn’t in a rage anymore, and she looked miserable, heartbroken. She walked round the couch and sunk in it, covering her face with her hands. Maria and Lee moved to the couch and sat next to her. She raised her head, her cheeks were wet and her eyes were full of balancing tears. They were both shocked by this; they’d never seen her cry before, ever. She really did love him! She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Maria pulled her close and held her. All Lee could do was rub her back. This was both sad, and a miracle. Ann had finally let down her guard, to the point she was crying, but the sad thing was, she’d been hurt by the first guy she’d liked, loved.

“I’m so sorry, honey.” Maria’s voice was soothing.

“I’m sorry you got your heart broken,” Lee said, seeing Ann like that was unsettling. She was no longer this fierce lion. She looked delicate, soft like a rose petal.

“I love him,” she said it like it was a matter of fact.

“We know we heard you the first time,” Maria said.

“I’m so pathetic!” She sobbed even louder.

“No you’re not. As much as you are hurting, I’m glad you let your guard down. Seeing you cry maybe unsettling but it’s a relief.” She looked at Lee in disbelief.

“You’re happy I got my heart broken!” Her sobs stopped and her voice was raised, the anger was back.

Lee kept rubbing her back, not letting her threatening voice scare her. “No. I’m happy you’re in love, finally, but I’m sorry you’re in pain”, the anger flushed out as fast as it had come, she fell back on Maria’s shoulder and started sobbing again.

Maria reached for the catalogue that she had thrown on the table. “Here, pick a bed, which ever you like, courtesy of Mr. Ashat Rivers.”

Ann looked at Lee inquisitively. “Who?”

“Ash,” she answered her.

“Beds? Why would he buy you a bed?”

Before Lee could answer her question, Maria continued, “The bruises weren’t the only things he left her with.” Her lips curved up in a mischievous smile.

Ann broke into a heavy laughter. “You guys broke your bed! So he hides behind that earthshaking smile of his. He’s a stallion! You are lucky he didn’t break you.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“I’m glad I’m the source of your amusement.” Lee smiled, happy that the mood had lightened, but still embarrassed by the topic of conversation.

“That’s not all,” Maria took the catalogue out of Ann’s hand and opened it wide, “he bought her all ten of these beds!”

Ann leaped onto her knees on the couch; she grabbed the catalogue back and held it close to her face. “They look expensive! Look at the curve work! I’m sooo having one of these!”

“Me too,” Maria chimed in. “What are you going to do with the rest?”

Lee carefully pulled her arm a little higher over her chest, resting her fingers on her good shoulder. “If Ash will let me I’ll give the others to charity. But I like my bed.”

Ann’s face got serious. “Does it mean we don’t get the beds?”

Lee laughed, one would think she was stealing the bed from her. “No, you can each have one.”

Ann smiled and went back to the catalogue. “I’m soo loving Ash right now!” She squealed in delight and Maria joined in.

Then out of nowhere she added, “Ashat Rivers, strange name for a hot guy.”

Lee had no idea why but they started laughing. She was glad the beds managed to distract Ann.