1. All characters are 18+
2. No characters represent real people
3. Enjoy the fiction
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CHAPTER 8
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I spent Sunday afternoon with Melody, taking her to two lingerie stores. I had no problem with shelling out a little money to buy her new underwear, since I was the one who would be taking it off her. At the first store, she sent me selfies of the outfits she was trying on. But at the second store, she was able to sneak me into the try-on room so I could watch. We didn't have sex in the booth, but it didn't stop us from getting a glare from the saleslady as she saw me leave the booth.
Monday morning, I found Ricky and talked to him about the double-date with Melody and Harmony. We set it up for Friday night, and I texted Melody with the news. I also told Ricky to give me some money and I'd buy him some flowers for Harmony. "I'm getting some for Melody anyway," I told him, "so I can save you a trip."
"Cool," he said, giving me a twenty dollar bill. "Grab me a good bouquet."
Of course I had a special bouquet in mind for him. If he gave Harmony some glittarium flowers, she would hopefully latch on to him and leave me alone. I still wrestled with the fact that I was setting up my girlfriend's sister with a jerk, but I didn't see another good option.
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Friday afternoon, I stopped into the flower shop to see Chen. As always, he was happy to see me. I picked up a normal rose bouquet for Melody, and a glittarium plant for Ricky to give to Harmony.
The plan was for me to meet Ricky at my place and give him the flowers. Then I'd pick up Melody and he'd pick up Harmony, and we'd meet together at Bruno's for dinner. Sounds complicated, I know, but that was the best way I could figure where Harmony would receive the glittarium without me there.
Ricky was waiting outside my place when I got there. He was nicely dressed, decent enough for a first date. "Got the flowers?" he asked.
I looked down at the flowers in my passenger seat. Roses for me and glittarium for him.
But I had a vision just then, of a heartbroken Harmony, crying over being used and tossed away by asshat Ricky. Melody was in the vision too, consoling her sister, and yelling at me for introducing her to Ricky in the first place.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't give the glittarium to Ricky. I gave him the roses. "Here you go," I told him. "See you at Bruno's."
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Mel and I were waiting at Bruno's when Ricky and Harmony arrived. Harmony was smiling, but as expected, there was no wild, sexy look in her eyes. Not like there was in Melody's eyes, after I'd given her the glittarium flowers. I knew she'd be all over me tonight.
But I watched Harmony and Ricky. I could tell that Ricky was trying to get attention, but it wasn't as effective as he wanted. Melody and I both tried to keep the conversation going with him, learning more about him, and helping him to learn about Harmony. Typical double-date stuff. But at the end of dinner, everyone could tell they weren't quite fitting. Ricky was a cocky jock, and Harmony was an intellectual musician.
"Hey man," Ricky pulled me aside, close to the end of the night, when the girls had gone to the restroom. "I don't think Harmony's jiving me."
Inside, I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'm getting that feeling too," I said honestly. "Worth a shot, though, right?"
He kinda shrugged. "Actually, I kept getting this feeling that she's into you."
"Really?" I feigned ignorance. "What makes you say that?"