The part that was the hardest was that she was not looking for them. Margaux was shopping in an exclusive intimates boutique, but she was not expecting to see them.
First she saw Eliza. Eliza was beautiful. Out of the corner of her eye, Margaux could see her own reflection that she knew looked like vintage Hollywood. But she was focused on Eliza, who even dressed casually was modelesque.
Rafe walked in behind her. His hand on her shoulder and her hip, and his lips pressed to the nape of her neck.
They looked like an advertisement. Rafe flopped into a plush black velvet chair, while Eliza walked around picking up things. She juggled a glass of champagne that she was handed, and delicate lace and silk pieces that she picked up.
Margaux had no intention of walking out of the dressing room, going through those curtains until Eliza and Rafe left. She pulled her hair back, and pulled her face back from the curtains as Eliza walked toward the dressing rooms. Once she was behind the curtain, Margaux heard thumping as Eliza moved about.
Then silence.
When she heard Rafe’s voice, she became breathless. It was surreal.
“How do you think this looks?” Eliza whispered.
Margaux could imagine her holding up the piece for his approval, or maybe she was wearing it?
Rafe’s voice was heavy and inaudible to her, when he answered Eliza.
Silence.
Then the sound of kissing like running water.
Constant.
Thumping against the wall…Were they making love?
Margaux put her clothes back on, and bundled up all of her unpurchased undergarments like a bouquet.
She burst through the curtains, picked up her champagne glass which she left on the table. As she walked away, she smiled at the sales clerk.
“Nothing today?” the clerk asked with a smile.
Margaux shook her head, and smiled back.
“Excuse me—”
Margaux turned around and she saw Eliza who was dressed a bit less than she was before. They stared at each other for a long time.
“Margaux,” Eliza smiled. “What a surprise!”
Margaux smiled at her.
“Hi, I was just leaving…”
“Wait,” Eliza walked toward her, and touched her arm. “Rafe is here…maybe we could all have coffee…or something stronger?”
Eliza’s eyes were pleading. She was not sure if she wanted to show off her advertisementesque coupling…or if she was really trying to be nice.
“Sure…” Margaux said.
“Let me get dressed!”
Margaux was frozen in place as Eliza went behind the curtains again, and Rafe came out and looked at her for a long time…
“Hi,” Margaux said shyly, wondering if he understood the coincidence…or thought she was stalking them…
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uh oh! Awkward!!! 😀
I love how you can just adapt this wonderful storyline for each week’s prompt
xx
thank you, this is awkward though, huh?!
Oh I wonder how this meeting will go! Will Rafe be able to keep his eyes off Margaux and will Eliza be okay if she sees his interest? Intriguing…!
Rebel xox
i am not sure either–going to depend a lot on the next prompt! xxx
Poor Margaux! I so wanted her to be able to escape the store!
I love your line about the clothes like a bouquet. xx
thank you! she almost did! 😉
This one is just fabulous! Two things I particularly love about it – that you acknowledge real life issues like having to juggle the champagne and the underwear, when loads of people would just have her breezily carrying both with ease, and that middle bit, about kisses like running water? I feel it marks a bit of a departure from your usual style and it works *so well* xxx
awww, thank you. secret: i spill almost everything i have in my hand and have perfumed myself with coffee, tea and wine! xxx