Man I Feel Like A Woman Ch 08

The next day, I woke up with guilt all over my body. Not only I slept late at night, but the question that Quinn asked me, I didn't answer. I was going to tell the typical, "I don't know." But he quickly said that I didn't have to answer because he didn't want to know.

I frown at the face he gives me after...a forced smile. I place my hands over my eyes and shook my head. "Why?" I say to myself. "Quinn is a good-great guy. Why am I still being pulled towards Victor?"

Victor is my best friend and I already love him. But I'm starting to have feelings for Quinn as well.

"Fuck this world," I tell myself.

A knock came before the door opened, I took my hands off to see Sharp and Ethan. "Good morning sis," Sharp said.

"We have news," Ethan said right after. "There will be a welcome party this weekend. Dad said you must attend with Quinn since you are the fiance."

"A welcome party?" I ask, sitting up. "For who?"

"Ash Cain," Sharp said. "The family found him finally and they are on their way home tonight."

I can yell out all the swear words if I could. But I didn't. "So the party is like in two days, what should I do from now on?"

"Well there are things like welcoming the new member of the Cain family," Ethan said. "We must give a ceremonial magical welcome, blah, blah, blah but Dad is in charge of it. You, on the other hand, we must accompany you to your fitting."

"My fitting?"

Sharp nods. "Quinn asks the guards to take us. There isn't a set date for the wedding but you need to at least find a dress in the meantime. You don't wanna think about dress shopping last minute right?"

I shrug. "I guess. You two are coming?"

"Yeah," Ethan said. "All three of us barely goes out to the public, so you don't have any friends that are girls. But you have the next best thing, which is us."

I smile. "You guys are the best."

Sharp smiles and slides his hands down his body. "Wait until we get into a tux. We'll be handsome badasses."

I laugh. "Okay, I'll start getting ready."

The three of us with Conner and Marco entered the bridal shop a few miles from our property.

"May I help you?" A short-haired blonde woman came. She was well dressed, as do the other woman. My bet is on that she is the top dog. I mean, woman.

"Yeah," Sharp looks around. "We're the ten o'clock appointment."

Her eyes turn big. "Party for Lightning?"

Sharp nods. "That would be us, three."

She snaps her fingers and two women appear by her side. "We would be glad to help you. Ms. Elizabeth, please follow me while we scan for some dresses that you would like. Marie and Lilly would help the two gentlemen get their measurements."

I followed the lady. "Um, Miss...?"

"Please, call me Tara. I've known Quinn for a long time and I was thrilled that he called saying that he is engaged. He made the appointment yesterday and it happens that I am free in the morning today."

"You known Quinn? How long?"

"Since he was in diapers. You think he would actually makes time for his cousin. But I only get news by my co-workers or on the phone," she rolls her eyes.

I smile. "But I am glad to meet you, I don't really know much about Quinn though..."

She stops and places her hand on my shoulder, "Hey it's okay, it comes with the job description. Don't tell anyone unless you are sure you trust them. Since it's been years since Quinn started dating again, I know that he is doing this for your family. I know Aaron a little, Quinn trusts him more than your mother. She's a bitch in my opinion."

I shrug. "I wouldn't know, I haven't met my mother yet."

"Hopefully you meet her after you're married. Which style of dressing do you prefer?" Tara asks.

I shook my head, "I wouldn't know. I don't really go shopping for myself."

Tara smiles. "Then this would be fun because we are gonna try a lot of styles."

When the dress was chosen, the three of the girls did my measurements and helped me with shoes. I asked Tara if she would accompany me with hair and makeup because that's where I don't know most things.

She was more than thrilled to help me and gave me her number to let her know when the appointment would be set.

Sharp, Ethan and I stepped out of the store and it was lunchtime.

"Fuck," Sharp said. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Shopping was fun, I think I had more fun doing that than being in prison."

"What's your reason going to prison again?" Ethan asks.

"It's best not to say unless I really have to," Sharp says. "The B & E is just the cherry on top of a sundae."

I shrug and turn to Marco. "Where could we eat?"

"I prefer we eat at the house, there's a lot of people looking at us."

I look around and did see a couple of people pointing and whispering, they also have their phones out. "What's wrong?" I ask Marco.

"You guys are practically celebrities," Marco said. "Sooner or later, they will find out your names and a crowd will form. Can we please get into the car? Quinn and Sebastian rather have us safe."

"Party poopers," Sharp shakes his head. "It's probably what Dad agrees on?"

"Yeah," Conner said, opening the door for us.

All three of us grumbled and got into the car. When we arrived to the house, there was two additional cars. One, I recognized to be Quinn's from his house and the other, I didn't know. So when I got out of the car, I didn't wait for Marco and Conner to go ahead and open the door.

I went inside the house to find a gathering in the living room. Heads turned and I recognized Victor's glaring face and Quinn's "oh-you're-home-early" smile.

"Sweetie," Aaron stands up. "How was shopping?" He walks up to me. The voice was also awkward. Like geez, can they just speak the truth?

"Fine," I said, hearing the guys step into the house as well. "I met Tara, she's awesome."

"That's good," Quinn said. "You got her number?"

I nod. "She's going to come with me for my hair and makeup rehearsal."

"Great!" Aaron cheers.

"Dad," Ethan said. "Drop the act. What's up? I be careful with words too, Sharp doesn't like secrets, lies and surprises."

Sharp nods.

Matt stands up and spoke, "We're just discussing the party details. That's it."

Sharp took a deep sniff. "There's something else you're hiding."

I gulped and turn to Sharp. "Let's go to the kitchen, please. I'm hungry."

Just like that, Sharp took his gaze from the group to me. His face softened. "'Kay sis, let's go eat." He puts his arm around me and led me to the kitchen.

'Nice save' Ethan mouths.

I shrugged at him. I doubt I would get anything out of Matt or Dad. So I'll ask Quinn later.

After eating in the kitchen, Quinn walks in. He was in his uniform, of course, but his hood was down. Which was odd, of course. "Can I borrow your sister? I would like to talk to her as we walk around the garden."

Sharp nods. "As long as she's done eating."

I nod at Quinn and took his hand where he was holding it out. We past the living room where the Cain family was still there, the conversation died down when Quinn and I appear.

"So how was dress shopping?" Quinn asks me, smiling. "Sorry I didn't get to tell you last night."

I smile at him. "It's fine, I had a lot of fun."

We walked out of the house and entered the garden. "What's going on?" I ask him once we're out of sight from the windows.

Quinn looks down. "I was talking to your dad while you were gone when Victor barged into the house, demanding you to come downstairs."

I shook my head. "Why?"

"I do not know, but he was angry when he saw me," Quinn says. "He lunged at me but Matthew was there in an instant, pulling him off."

I reached behind him and pull the hood over his head. "No wonder you have it down."

He smiles and puts it down. "I don't want my hood up when I'm around you."

I smile. "So what else was going on?"

"His parents apologized, of course. We went to go ahead their welcoming party details, Victor is gonna work with your father on it, so it's like a win-win situation."

"So he will be in the house more often?" I ask.

Quinn nods. "He did say I was a girl stealer."

I blinked. "He said that?"

Quinn nods, again.

I scoffed. "After all these years, he says that. What nerve!" I kicked a rock.

"Um, penny for your thoughts?"

"Not appropriate for being your wife," I tell him.

He laughs. "Want to change subject?"

I nod.

"Have dinner with me," Quinn said. "I do cook a pretty good meal."

I look at him and smile. "Oh, you do?"

Quinn nods. "I say so myself."

I nod. "I would like that very much."

"Good," he smiles. "'Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Did you know that you have a power of persuasion?" Quinn asks. "I saw the way Sharp was, he is like a predator earlier. Like he needed the answer to feed him."

I shrug. "I don't know my powers."

"I'm starting too," Quinn said in awe. "It's pretty brilliant, Bee."

I stopped. "What did you call me?"

Quinn stopped as well. "You don't like the name?"

I shook my head. "My guide, um, you, calls me that. He said you would explain."

"The truth?" Quinn said. "Beatrice means she who makes me happy. When I'm around you, I'm always happy would I'm with you. I'm happy when I think about you. You brought me back from my own black hole."

I tiptoed and reached up to kiss him. His hands went on both sides of my face then down to my hips, bringing my body closer to his. When we broke apart, we stayed near each other for a good minute.

"I need to show you something," he tells me. He went down on one knee and brings out a box out of his pocket. "I know it's kind of late for this, but better late than never, right?"

He opens the box and inside was a 2 carat diamond ring, with a silver band with tiny diamonds on it. "Will you marry me?" he asks.

I giggled and nodded.

He smiles and slips the ring to my ring finger. "Beautiful," he said.

I raise my hand in front of my face, "It is."

He chuckles and pulls my hand out of my face and brought it to his lips. "I wasn't talking about the ring. I'm talking about you."

Wow, I'm an idiot. "Oh," I looked down, feeling the heat creeping up on my cheeks. "Thanks," I say, looking up to find him staring.

He smiles. "If there's anything to your concern, anything at all, just tell me."

I nod. "Of course."

Quinn nods towards the house, "I'm gonna drop you off. I have a meeting tonight with your mother and her family."

"Oh, really?" I ask as we head back.

He nods, looking around. "I have to discuss a few concerns I have to what they have been doing. It alerted all three of us, so we don't like it one bit."

"You'll be careful, right?" In a concerning voice, I look at him.

Quinn gives me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, all the can is hurt my ears with their yelling. We're almost untouchable if they throw any magic at us, we'll know. If it helps, I can call you after the meeting and then I will take you to my place and cook you dinner."

I nod. "It would help." It would, especially all the stories Tara told me whenever she encounters my mother. Like she doesn't have any good in her body. It makes me wonder how Dad and her got together like actually.

Quinn and I stopped in front of the house. He kisses me on the forehead, "I'll call you tonight."

I smile. "I'll be waiting."

He smiles and heads to his car. Quinn looked and waved at me one last time before getting in.

Throughout the day, I dodge Victor in the house. I took the long way into my room and I put a sign on my door that I was training, which I was of course. Whenever I need to go to the kitchen, I would take the same route. I did improvement when it comes to the elements, the only thing I need help on is trying to do it at the same time.

To help me out a bit, I put some music on. I start getting into the mood when Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne came on. I swayed my hips and nod my head with the beat and started singing. A while later, I noticed that I got water out of my glass surrounding me in a gentle wave and the flames from my candle would go on and off with the beat of the drums.

I giggled at what's happening until the guitar solo where the door barged open. The water dropped on the floor and the flame died. I groaned and turn around to find the person who ruined it.

At last, it was the guy I've been trying to avoid.

"Victor," I breathe out. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" I grabbed the towel near by and started wiping the floors.

"Sorry about that," he bends down and move the things that were on the floor out of the way of the water. "I didn't mean to barge in like that, I thought you were in trouble. I've been knocking for a few minutes."

I sigh. "It's fine, I just had my music on too loud." I stood up once I was done, VIctor mimicked.

"Well, looks like you're doing good," he said, rocking back and forth between his heels and toes of his shoes.

I shook my head, "Not good enough. I still have a lot to improve on."

"Do you think we can talk?" he asks.

I nod. "You're in my room anyways." I wave my hand and the door closes. "What's up?"

"I need to apologize."

I cross my arms and sat on my desk chair. No way on the bed, it just shows I'm comfortable with him in here. Which I'm not. "For?"

Victor sits on the bed. "My behavior, like the last time we talked?"

I nod. "I remember."

"I was a dick."

I shrugged, "More of an asshole."

"That too." Victor sighs. "I didn't mean those words. You're my best friend, we practically grew up together."

I nod. "You do realize that it would take time to forgive you, right? Especially on what you did earlier today."

"Oh, right. That." Victor emphasizes. "I just got angry. I apologized to, uh, your fiance."

"He has a name," I tell him.

"Yeah, I don't really pay attention to names. All I know he's one of the Know-It-All Order."

I sigh and got up. He stood up as well. I put my hands on his shoulders, "Thanks for apologizing." I turn him around.

"Is this one of your exits for people?" Victor asks. "Usually Matt gets it, but this is my first time."

I ignored him. "I appreciate that you apologized in person and I will take it to consideration." I start pushing him to the door.

"It is one of your exits!" Victor sounds excited. "I'm surprised I'm actually getting Z's boot."

"Please call me if you would want to talk more," I tell him. "I'll be here when you need me. But as I was doing earlier, I am quite busy. We will talk soon, I promise." Victor was fully out the door.

He turns around. "That actually was fun."

I smile at him. "I'll probably talk to you later but if not, I will see you anyways Victor. Give Matt my love."

"But what about me?" he asks.

I grab the door and slowly close it. "I'll see you later, promise." When I fully close the door, I sigh in relief.

"Wait! We're still friends right?" I hear Victor through the door.

I sigh and open the door just a peak. "We're still friends but I have to forgive you to trust you."

Victor smiles. "I'll take it. See you tomorrow!" Then he starts walking down the hallway.

I close the door and roll my eyes. Typical Victor. I didn't get butterflies in my stomach this time. It's a good sign, right?