Jade

Prologue 

My prom dress was a green sparkly halter top princess skirt vision, or nightmare, depending on which decade you ask me about it. It was the perfect pretend wedding dress at sixteen. I would put it on do my hair and makeup and walk down the pretend aisle, to my pretend fiancé and have the most breathtaking pretend wedding imaginable.

Every girl did this at some point… right?

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that I always had a picture of what my wedding would be like and more importantly what my life would be like.

Can I just say now that reality does not match fantasy, life does what it wants when it wants.

But I’m getting ahead of myself so let’s start where it must always start… at the beginning.

I’m a city gal through and through, born and raised in the epicenter of modern metropolis, the big apple, New York City, Manhattan to be exact. The story of my birth is fairly unremarkable like many others, born in Mount Sinai, no complications, a happy bouncing baby girl.

My mother, an outspoken environmentalist and my father, a trust fund baby met out of the most unconventional of scenarios. My dad was a minor contributor to a housing development in Indiana and my mom was the crazy lunatic that pee’d on him, well actually threw her pee at him in protest to save mother earth.  I mean whatever happened to red paint? Anyhow it was what we now call the pee throwing incident that made him confront her, quite dramatically as I was told, blue eyes, blazing skin all flushed and looking into her big beautiful brown eyes he knew it was love, blah blah blah…

After that he whisked her away to New York to live in his world, meet his disapproving family, his snobby friends and face all the obstacles and odds to live happily ever after, and I mean happily ever after even though being the most unlikely couple.

Are we seeing a trend here?

Unconventional scenarios.

Unlikely coupling.

But I digress, when I say my parents are unlikely I mean completely opposite.

She’s black.

He’s white.

She was poor.

He was rich.

She’s liberal.

He’s conservative.

Picture flower child meets Mr. Belvedere…

I guess they’re right, opposites do attract.

Whilst being opposites worked for my parents there distinct differences meant I was constantly flitting back and forth between what they thought were the best actions for me.

For example, I went to a public elementary school because my mother said, Public school is just as good as any other, it teaches strength of character.

This by the way was basically hell on earth because seriously, what ten year old is not going to pick on the kid that gets dropped to school in a Lincoln town car? I did however develop and hone my smart mouth so perhaps she was right.

Next I went to prep school because my father said, It’s time to cut this ‘be like everyone else crap’, Michaela, that’s my name by the way, was born to privilege and should experience the fruits of that privilege.

So, I spent four years of my life at the St. Sebastian’s Prep, wading in my privileged waters. Little did he know that privilege included bossy faculty and stuck up teenagers. Further opportunity to get the art of the sarcastic comeback just right.

It is after this that I had my ultimate rebellion, in as much as you can call it a rebellion. Seeking some educational stability and some much needed freedom I turned down the likes of Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown and University of Pennsylvania to attend New York University. Now don’t get me wrong NYU is not a bad school it is actually a wonderful institution, just not an Ivy League institution. Much to my parent’s chagrin, even my mom, go figure.

It was however where I wanted to be, trekking around my beloved city, the theater, the coffee shops, papaya king!

It was my Mecca, I’d be on campus in class one minute then step out the door and be in the city.

It was where I met Dalton.

Dalton Tanner O’Rourke.

And his best friend.

My opposite and the love of my life…

Chapter 1 

Oh shit, I’m so late, I mumble to myself making my way to Kaufman Management Center part of NYU Stern’s School of Business for my Corporate Finance class. Stumbling through the doors I blow tendrils of my dark curly hair that have escaped my top knot away from my face.

It was my own fault that I was late, I knew better than to study with Dalton and Maribell. We spent more time doing shots than actually studying I thought with a grimace rubbing the bridge of my nose where my hangover had a little drummer boy banging insistently behind my eyes.

Never again, I grumbled opening the door to my class and taking a seat next to Dalton, who, by the way looked as fresh as a daisy.

Why don’t you look more like crap? I ask miserably dropping my messenger bag on the floor.

Grinning, Dalton answers while tugging on my hair that once again fell in my face, Because I’m not a lightweight Miks, you can’t hold liquor to save your life.

Not true, I reply. I just happen to be best friends with the only two people in the world that give alcohol tolerance a new definition.

Chuckling to himself Dalton inclines his head to the front of the class where our professor is discussing equity capital. With a sigh I grab Dalton’s notepad and begin to copy his notes in an attempt to catch up. He is once again focused on the lecture and I divide my concentration between the class and reviewing what I missed as I know Dalton is not going to speak again until the lecture is over.

Dalton Tanner or DT and I have been friends for five years now. We met as undergrads studying our business degree. We were both specializing in Finance and sat next to each other in our very first class. We hit it off immediately and have remained friends right into our MBA program.

Everything about his personality echoed mines, we are two of a kind as my best friend Maribell says. She’s constantly asking me why we don’t just make it official, get married and have over achieving little babies. I always laugh her off saying If it ain’t broke why try to fix it. But lately I’ve been wondering if maybe she isn’t right, that we should be together. I mean we’re best friends but to be honest we have both crossed that line before.

I glance over at Dalton briefly taking in his features, he is totally engrossed in the lecture so I stop a moment to study his sandy blond hair, strong jaw, crystal blue eyes and full lips. I think back to our moment three years ago when we were sophomores in college.

It was a rainy night and we were both studying for our Economics of Global Business midterm. I still lived with my parents on the Upper East Side and my mum was not one for extended periods of privacy so I was at Dalton’s. He had his own place in trendy SoHo, it was small but private and just what we needed to concentrate and get work done. Maribell was supposed to join us to also prep for her journalism exam but was having a fight with which ever boyfriend she had at the time so it was just Dalton and I. It was probably for the best because when the three of us get together to study, well, hangovers happen 

Dalton and I were sitting on the floor in his living area reading out of our text books when he asked, Do you think trade policy will be in the exam?

It’s a distinct possibility, I mumble chewing on my pen.

What about government policy and exchange rate regimes?

Mmm hmm, I answer folding my legs and dropping my head lower to my text.

Forward markets, hedging and speculation, he continues.

Yup. I respond.

Dumping and anti-dumping duties? he asks further.

I suppose so, I reply.

What about how to get a girl to pay attention to you?

Definitely. I say.

After a few moments of complete silence I look up to find Dalton looking at me his eyes glittering in amusement.

You haven’t heard a word I said have you? he asks.

I drop my pen from my mouth smile and say, I looked up when you stopped talking didn’t I?

Only because there was no longer the drone of my voice to keep you company while you ignore me.

And they say men don’t understand women, I answer grinning.

Dalton is grinning too when he suddenly stops and looks at me. I see his eyes roaming over my face halting at my lips before leaning in.

It all happened in slow motion yet in fast forward at the same time. His lips touched mines tentatively at first as if testing whether I would kiss back. His lips were firm yet soft and I melted a little into the kiss moving my lips against his. That was all he needed as I felt his tongue invade my mouth deepening the contact and pulling me towards him.

I moaned into his mouth as our tongues danced together, Dalton moved my books off my lap and slowly pushed my back to the ground until he was lying on top of me. Bracing his weight on his forearms Dalton nibbled on my bottom lip kissing his way down to my neck. I began to writhe under him and felt his arousal against my leg as he pressed his body into mines. His lips had just returned to mines when all of a sudden my phone started to blast the chorus of Bitch by Meredith Brooks.

Glancing over to my side I see Maribell’s smiling face on my iphone indicating that she was our intrusive caller, as if the ringtone was not enough, which was handpicked by Mari herself.

I felt Dalton’s finger turning my head back towards him with a slight shake of his head, as if to say, ignore it. I smile briefly before his lips take mines again. Sighing against my lips his hand began to move down to the hem of my sweater when the banging began.

Bang.

Micky?

Bang.

DT?

Bang bang.

Guys hello.

Bang bang bang.

Angry white female in the hallway, open the door before I resort to hysterics, yelled Maribell.

Damn, muttered Dalton as he moved off me to a crouching position. Sensing he needed a moment to calm his umm, man parts I yelled to Mari.

Hold your horses, I’m coming, I also needed a moment to slow my heart rate and cool my flushed skin.

Be prepared to discuss Call Provision next class, I will be calling on persons randomly, do not disappoint me people, says my professor Mr. Limmings snapping me back to the present. I quickly turn towards the front of the lecture hall realizing that I missed most of what was said on top of being late. Sighing I look down at my meager notes from class knowing I would have to stalk Dalton this afternoon to get his take on today’s lecture.

Ready Miks? asks Dalton.

Yeah, what are you up to today?

Ahh, I was going to spend a couple of hours at Sosnoff, but I think I may just head over to Stumble In instead.

Sosnoff Café was were us ‘Sternies’ liked to study and Stumble In was a popular bar with the NYU Stern crowd located near Washington Square Park.

Ugh, why? Sosnoff is good, we could grab something to eat, spend a couple of hours discussing today’s class and reading up on Call Provision like Mr. Limmings asked.

I suppose so, says Dalton thoughtfully, but I haven’t checked my boy Jade in a few, besides I need a drinking break.

Are you kidding, we just drank away our livers last night.

I think you mean you drank away your liver, lightweight, laughs Dalton. You don’t have to join me you know.

I kinda do, I have no idea what this lecture was about so I need you…

You need me to tell you all about it, finishes Dalton tweaking my nose. You do realize Jade will be there right?

Yes, painfully aware.

Jade Elliot was Dalton’s best bro, as he calls it, and works at the Stumble In. He is also one of the most annoying persons I have ever met taking the term ass hat to an entirely new level and was a total jerk to me most of the time.

Yet, Dalton can’t figure out why I don’t like him.

I’ll call Mari, she can jump on my back when I get the urge to strangle him.

You know you can just wait until tomorrow to pick my brain, right.

Unfortunately you know better than I do that my brain does not work that way.

And it really doesn’t, I simply cannot move on to another topic without settling the one before it, I’m extremely pedantic that way.

Yea…, well meet me at six, says Dalton as he grabs back his note book standing up with the rest of his stuff.

Why six, aren’t you going now?

At two o’clock, he says incredulously, besides I have somewhere to be first.

Kissing my forehead, he saunters towards the door and disappears.

Frowning I wonder where the somewhere is as my mind wanders back to the day after our first kiss.

Maribell and I were walking through Washington Square Park on the way to the library for some more studying.

Can you believe what a jerk Cameron was?

Mari we’ve been through this before, it’s perfectly all right that Cameron wanted some time away from you to study. You can be distracting sometimes.

Flipping her long red hair behind the shoulder, Mari stares at me with disgust.

I am his girlfriend, he should be honored to spend time in my presence. I mean look at me, she gestures with her hands up and down.

Maribell was gorgeous, she knew it, I knew it, and all men everywhere knew it.

She had porcelain skin that went perfectly with her burgundy red hair that she kept in long layers framing her perfect heart shaped face. She also had a body to die for; I would hate her truly if she wasn’t my best friend and the sweetest person in the world.

We’ve been friends since elementary school. When all the other kids were making fun of me because of my ‘privileged’ background Maribell was there sitting with me during lunch, walking with me down the halls while kids whispered and holding my hand when I cried when the teasing was too much. She’s tied to me for life and I’d have it no other way.

You are completely full of crap, and you know it, I say, you overreacted so you better find your ass over to Cameron’s to apologize.

Oh god, I know I was being a total bitch. I must be getting my period.

Laughing I put my arms around her shoulder giving her a little hug.

I’m sure he’ll forgive you, I mean like you said, look at you.

Thanks, says Maribell hugging me back.

Sorry I interrupted your study session last night with my drama, it must have been pretty intense you and DT looked all flustered. Did you get into a heated debate or something?

Umm yeah, something like that.

I swear you guys need a referee when studying cuz one day you’re either gonna debate each other to death or end up fucking.

Laughing nervously I shove her lightly and tell her to knock it off.

Hey babe, you two are too much alike, I see domestic bliss in your future.

We’re friends Mari, we click, like you and I click, sex complicates things.

I think you mean sex makes things better, you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how good looking DT is? I mean he’s not my type, obviously, I like my men more hot, less preppy but he’s totally up your alley.

Yes, DT is good looking but I like what we have right now, it’s easy not complicated. I don’t want to jeopardize that for something that might not last.

If you say so, but some risks are worth it, don’t take too long to realize it or you might just wake up one morning and DT will be gone.

I nod at her as we reach Bobst Library to study. Maribell begs off to look for Cameron to apologize, I hug her as she leaves and make my way inside to meet Dalton who was waiting for us.

I find him in one of the quite areas of the research commons.

Hi, I whisper pulling a chair sitting next to him.

Hi, he whispers back leaning forward to kiss me on my lips. I turn my head slightly and he catches my cheek.

I look at him and smile to ease some of the tension that suddenly builds. Dalton looks at me strangely and asks.

Where’s Maribell?

She went to find Cameron to make up.

That girl is nuts, says Dalton chuckling softly.

Redhead. I say.

Yeah, she interrupted something pretty intense last night.

Shifting slightly uncomfortable I look at Dalton and say, Yes we’re kinda lucky she did.

Are we?

Yes.

Why is that?

Could you imagine if we slept together, we’re friends it would have been so awkward for us after, I answer laughing nervously.

Dalton’s eyes dims a little when he asks, Friends huh?

He looks at me intently as I answer.

Yes.

After a few seconds he nods and turns back to his laptop, he stares at it for a few seconds more and turns back to me to ask about my study notes from economics class.

Relieved I pull my notes out and drop it on the table so we can compare.

Sitting in my now empty Corporate Finance class I begin to realize I might have been wrong all those years ago to keep Dalton in the friend zone when he obviously wanted to make it more.

Had I been too scared of losing our friendship?

Am I still scared now?

Am I risking it all by not taking a chance?

I decide tonight is the night I’m going to answer all these questions. Grabbing my phone from my bag I call Maribell.

What are you doing tonight? I ask when she picks up.

Well hello to you to.

Hi. So, what are you doing tonight, do you have class?

No, going home to put my feet up with a glass of red wine, why?

I’m meeting DT at the Stumble In tonight, need a buffer for Mr. Annoying.

You mean Mr. Sex on a Stick. Count me in, I’d love an opportunity to rub up on him.

Ugh don’t gross me out.

Why are you going there anyway, you hate Jade and I figure after last night you wouldn’t want to be around alcohol for a while.

Ahh yea, but I need to talk to DT and he insists on going there tonight. What I want can’t wait.

And what is that exactly?

I pause for a moment contemplating what I really wanted, to catch up on class or to start things up with DT?

Undecided.

I can’t even pretend to know what that means. What gives Micky?

Come get ready at my place and I’ll tell you later, I say buying myself some time to figure it out.

Ok…, is six okay?

Yes, we could be fashionably late.

Very well, six it is. We’ll talk then.

Sure, bye.

Bye hun. 

Dropping my phone back in my bag I grab my things and make my way out of class thinking that tonight would be an eventful night.

Chapter 2 

I’m standing in front of my mirror trying to decide what to wear when Maribell barges through to my foyer.

Ok, missy what exactly are you trying to decide with DT? she yells.

Dropping the turquoise dress I was contemplating wearing on my bed I hastily grab a robe and make my way downstairs to the front room to meet her.

You know I only gave you that key code for emergency purposes, you still have to knock first. I use air quotes with the word knock.

Oh please, when you gave me that code did you ever really expect me to knock again? She answers back with her own air quotes only she waves them around crazily.

Apparently not, I say dryly.

Flopping onto my sofa with her overnight bag in hand Maribell looks at me.

Okay spill it, what’s up with you and DT?

Taking a seat on the chair next to her I say, Nothing, we’re great.

So then what are you undecided about?

I…

Pausing on telling Maribell the whole story I decide to keep my thoughts on possibly pursuing things with Dalton to myself for the time being until I knew for sure where I stood on the topic. Maribell means well but if she only knew she would become our ultimate matchmaker and wouldn’t stop until I was barefoot and pregnant.

I just need to pick his brain about today’s class and was undecided as to whether I really wanted to go to Stumble In to do it, that’s why I asked you over, in case I changed my mind, we could just hang.

Emm, okay. Well far be it from me to turn down spending a night in some luxurious digs, says Maribell sinking further into my sofa cushions.

So what’s the verdict, are we going?

I did not hesitate in saying yes.

I just need to find something to wear, I get up and walk back upstairs to my bedroom where the dress I was eyeing was thrown on my bed.

Why, I’m sure jeans and a sweater is fine.

Is that what you’re wearing?

Sister please, she says in her most annoying mean girls voice. If I’m going to Stumble In I’m going dressed so that fine ass bartender will notice me.

This is in reference to Jade, who works behind the bar.

In fact, she continues eyeing me speculatively, when is the last time you got laid?

I stare at her blankly.

I’ve changed my mind, jeans and a sweater will not do, we’re going to get you some sex.

Mari, I say exasperated, will you please… you know…, like… behave. I do not get laid.

Obviously, you’re wound up tighter than the girdle of a Baptist minister’s wife at an all you can eat pancake breakfast.

Ugh Mari, nice analogy. 

I’m serious, I mean, you’re going to a bar to study. Who does that?

I’m not going to study, I’m meeting DT.

To discuss class, same difference, she says grabbing my dress off the bed.

And this, she continues waving the dress in the air, is only appropriate if you are going to a garden party or a tea party or the kind of party your grandmother throws. You are not wearing this.

With that said my lovely blue dress is rolled into a ball and promptly thrown in a corner.

Stalking over to my walk in closet Maribell starts rummaging through my clothes.

Now let’s see if we can’t find you something hot, we’re gonna leave the boys dumbstruck.

Knowing this could lead nowhere good I take back control of the situation.

Mari, why don’t you go get dressed, you can take a hot shower, turn on the jet sprays and pamper a little bit. I’ll find something else to wear that will knock even your socks off.

I see the indecision on her face as she tries to decide between dressing me up and my awesome shower. Eventually the shower wins out and I’m