"No, I'm paying for whatever we end up getting." I shook my head and moved away from him.
"Fine, but my mother sent this hundred dollar gift card to this place. She got it at Christmas from my grandma and doesn't want it. They won't give her anything but store credit, which does no one any good, right?" He laughed and moved up beside me, pressing the card to my chest. "Take it. I have plenty of suits."
"Alright, fine, but tell her that I said thanks. I'll come over and tell her myself soon." I found a black suit that didn't look too terribly bad. "What about this one?"
"They're all the same. Just get one, try it on, and let's get the fuck out of here." He picked up a dark gray shirt and handed it to me. "This would look good, and that black tie over there."
"Shouldn't I wear white?" I walked over to the tie rack and grabbed the tie as a stiff-looking guy glanced up from the register and gave us a look of open annoyance.
"Can I help you two?" His voice was almost as condescending as his glare.
"Nope. We're just looking, but when we start buying, you can take our money. That sound good?" I lifted my eyebrow and tilted my head just a little.
The guy swallowed hard and glanced back down, mumbling his agreement.
"How do you do that?" Sam whispered as we walked to the dressing room.
"Do what?" I walked into the hallway, trying to ignore the anger that fluttered in my chest over the clerk's attitude.
"Make other guys almost shit themselves."
"It's the tats," I called behind me before walking into a dressing room. "You should get some."
"Fuck, no."
I laughed and tried on the suit, liking it quite a bit. I walked out and Sam glanced up and gave me two thumbs up.
"You riding with us over to the wedding or taking your bike?" He stood after I changed back into my jeans and sweater.
"My bike. I'd almost feel naked without it." I shrugged and put the clothes on the counter. "Besides, I need to make a good first impression, right?"
He chuckled. "And, what message are you hoping to make by riding your bike up to their fancy house with all their friends around?"
I glanced over at him. "The one that says, 'fuck you,’ big and loud. The bastard threatened me and my mother. Just me being there is enough to tell him Val's mine. Period."
"Okay." Sam lifted his hands in the air as if surrendering and backed up a little. "I should call ahead and tell them that Billy Bad Assis headed their way."
I laughed. "Keep it up, funny boy, and I'll tell the pretty girl whose panties you're trying to get into that you sleep with the closet light on."
"She already knows." He poked my side. "She sleeps with it on, too. Ask me how I know."
"Oh Lord." I rolled my eyes, paid for my stuff and walked out next to my best friend as he dove into every intimate detail of having slept with Lucinda. Some part of me wanted to shut him up, but I couldn't. He felt like he'd found his match in life. I understood his excitement all too well.
*
I changed at home and walked into the living room about thirty minutes before I needed to get on the road.
My mom glanced up from the couch where she was reading and smiled.
"Wow. Don't you look incredible?" She got up and fixed the collar of my shirt before brushing her hands down the front of my chest. "You're going to be okay, right? They're not going to hurt you?”
"Mom. They're rich people with a chip on their shoulders, not axe murderers." I smirked and pulled her in to a hug. "I love you. Don't wait up."
"Okay, but please text me and let me know how you're doing throughout the night. I know you're a grown-ass man and all, but please...or have Val do it. She won't mind." She touched the side of my face. "I love you, too. Be safe."
"Will do. Lock up and don't answer the door." I walked to the door and glanced back at her. "See you tomorrow."
"Get out of here and stop stalling." She dropped back down on the couch, and I left her cuddled up with her book as I jogged through the freezing cold. It seemed like winter was never going to relent.