The Heart's Dilemma

"I love you Phel, but can you please just pick a damn dress already," my best friend Josh yelled from within my bedroom.

"I'm trying!" I shouted back, growing frustrated by the minute. I've tried on every dress in my closet, and not a single one has made me feel as bad a bitch as I want to be for tonight's banquet. Giving up, I stepped out of the mint green dress, put back on my robe, and returned to my bedroom where Josh had been left waiting for the last two hours.

"Thank God," he said, releasing an exasperated sigh and standing to his feet. He paused, his chestnut brown eyes raking over my attire in confusion.

"Please tell me you finally decided on a dress." "Nope," I admitted, shrugging my shoulders in defeat. "I've given up.

"Sometimes I really want to strangle your ass. But I can't, because then my black ass would be behind bars. And then my black Mama would kick my black ass because not only did I put my hands on a woman, a black woman to be more specific, but I became a stereotype." I rolled my eyes, grabbed the clothes I had on earlier and went into the bathroom to get dressed.

He can be so dramatic sometimes. When I came back out, Josh was leaning against the door, his eyes glued to his screen. And he didn't look very happy.

"You okay?" I asked him, concerned. He looked up from his phone and nodded. "Yeah." Smiling, his dimples make a reappearance.

"I have to go, but I'll see you tonight aight. I nodded, watching him salute me before taking his leave. I knew something was up, and that whatever he was looking at on his phone really upset him. I hope he's okay.

The sound of my phone ringing pulled me from my thoughts, and I reached into my back pocket to retrieve my phone. I stared at the caller ID for a moment, seeing that it's my boyfriend Rider. Answering the phone, I pressed the cool device up to my ear.

"Hey babe. What's up? You forgot, didn't you?" I pause, searching my brain for what I possibly could have forgotten. And then it hits me. Shit. I totally forgot that I was supposed to meet up with his parents for brunch. I had been so busy trying to find a dress for tonight's banquet that it completely slipped my mind.

"Damn babe, I'm sorry." I sighed, shaking my head in disappointment. I'm a very forgetful person so in order to remember things, I make sure it's in my phone and planner. But even that didn't work this time Thankfully, his parents have known me since I was a little girl, so I don't think I'll receive any criticism for standing them up. But even so, I still feel bad.

"How can I make it up to you?"

"No, it's alright," he says with a sigh. "I'm sure you have a valid reason." Not really. I bit my lip. I'll sound like a spoiled brat and asshole if I tell him that I spent my time trying on the plethora of dresses in my closet. But I'll sound like an even bigger asshole if I tell him that I ditched him for Josh earlier. The three of us have been friends for as long as I can remember. But at times, it's hard to make time for the both of them without having one third wheel the other

"Not this time," I tell him semi-truthfully. "I just forgot." He sighs and I apologize once more.

"It's okay, Rai. I'm not going to hold it over your head." I sigh with relief. "But please don't forget about tonight's banquet."

How could I?

His parents host the damn thing two to three times a year. And ever since Rider and I started dating a few years ago, it's become mandatory that I show my face. I hate banquets. It's just a bunch of old rich people sipping on champagne while they talk about stocks or some boring shit. You don't know how many times I've had to listen to them flaunt their wealth and brag about how successful their children are. Which is why I usually just end up drowning them out as soon as they open their mouths.

"I won't," is all I say when I realize I still have yet to assure Rider that I won't in fact forget about the banquet.

"Good. I'll pick you up at six."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too," he replied before hanging up and leaving me to the stress of finding the perfect dress for a banquet I don't even want to attend.

Time flew by, frustration still racking through me at having not yet found a dress for tonight. I practically went to every store in the city, but nothing gave me the feeling I was looking for. Contemplating whether or not I should still attend, a ring at my door yanked me out of my slump. Stepping over the piles and piles of dresses on my closet floor, I dragged my feet towards the door.

Opening the door, I perked up when I saw the mailman with a boxed package in his hands.

"Is that for me, Simon?" He nodded, smiling as he placed the white box in my hand.

"But I didn't order anything." I eyed the package, trying to figure out who it was from, but it only had my name and address.

"Do you know who it's from?" He shrugged. "I don't know. I was just told by my boss to make sure you get it." Turning on his heel, he glanced back with a smile and waved, before returning to his vehicle.

"Have a good evening, Miss Monroe." I gave him a polite smile and waved back, saying, "you too," before closing the door to see what mystery gift awaited me.

Walking into the kitchen, I set the box down on the counter and began opening it up. After removing the bow, I lifted the lid and set it aside. Staring down at the gift inside, my eyes widened. There it was, like a miracle from the heavens, a dress for tonight's banquet. Pulling the royal blue gown out of the box, I held it up to the light, so I could get a better look at it.

I gasped, taken away by how beautiful the off-the-shoulder gown looked. As smooth as the satin fabric it was made out of, the floor length ball gown was truly fit for royalty, hence the color. Checking my phone to make sure I still had time to get ready, I quickly hopped into the shower. And when I was done, I style my locks into a bun and caked on a light layer of makeup. Slipping into the beautiful formal gown,

I was surprised by how well it fit me. Completing the look with the gold necklace and earrings Preston bought me for my birthday last year, I began admiring myself in the mirror. Whoever bought me this gift was truly a Godsend. Maybe it was Rider or Josh. This is definitely something they would do. I know for sure that it wasn't from my parents, because despite how wealthy they are, they aren't ones to just spend money all willy nilly.

My phone buzzed, a text message from Rider telling me that he's here. Grabbing my clutch purse and phone, I turned off all the lights and made sure everything was locked up, before heading outside to greet my boyfriend. Rider is sexily leaned against his white Porsche, his eyes full of lust and desire as they climb up my body until finally reaching my eyes.

"Damn baby, you look so beautiful." His pearly white teeth sink into his lower lip, hunger burning in those baby blue eyes of his. Blushing, I wrap my arms around him, my fingers combing through his dirty blonde hair.

"Thank you, baby," I say, making note of his tuxedo.

"You look beautiful too. He chuckles, the contagious sound causing the butterflies in my stomach to flip about. I've always loved his laugh. It puts a smile on my face, even on my worst days. It's just so full of light and joy. And every time I hear it, it embraces me with warmth and comfort.

"We better get going before your mother scolds us for being late," I tell him, pressing my red painted lips to his cheek, before opening the passenger's side door and sitting down. Joining me on the other side, he puts on his seatbelt and turns on the car. The luxury sports car roars to life, the car along with my entire body vibrating. He eyes me once more and gives his head a shake.

"I'm really trying hard not to take you right here and now, but fuck you look so damn good." Heat warms my cheeks. I'm tempted but decide that I better avoid facing his mother's wrath.

"I'm glad you like the dress you put me in, but we have to get going." He gives me a quizzical look.

"I wasn't the one who bought you that dress. I didn't even know it was a gift until now."

"Wait, you didn't?" I question, looking back at him. He shakes his head, which makes me slightly disappointed that the gift wasn't from him

."Maybe Josh bought it for me then." He nods and pulls out into the road."

"Maybe. Either way, he says, shifting in his seat from the obvious erection in his pants, "your fine

ass is mine tonight."