Thank you LadyVer & Bilko98 my editors.
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The gift, the wrapping paper all-that had been simple and easy to pick. Alex Turner sat around his kitchen table hovering a pen over the birthday card. He was a software guy, words were never his thing. He doubted she'd pay attention to his scribbles, but still nothing even mildly coherent came to him.
The ringing of his cellphone broke his concentration. He looked at the display seeing the name Amy Glenn. "Hey baby, how's work going?" Alex asked his fiancΓ©e.
"Good. I'm just calling to say I'll be working late again. The team and I are working late on layouts."
"Still working on the posters for Inception 2? I thought you finished that when you worked late last night?"
Amy laughed nervously before saying, "Advertising consulting isn't all fun and games, but at least you get to attend a Christopher Nolan premiere. What are you up to tonight, working and hanging with the guys?"
"Yeah the guys, that's rich. I had guys in Palo Alto. I had friends in Texas. I have zero here in Los Angeles. Two places I moved from, for you I might add," Alex said, not noticing that she hadn't answered the question by a mile.
"And I love you for it, honey bear."
"I'm going to Lilly's house for her birthday. I may not have any guys here but I have my best friend so I guess you're off the hook," Alex said preparing for Amy's bound to be hostile response. Only seconds earlier he had reminded her that she was the reason he had quit his dream job in Palo Alto, leaving twice their current combined income to be with her here in Los Angeles, so she could have her dream advertising job.
"You don't need to go her party."
"I want to and I need to."
"Why? Alex, tell me, why?"
"Because, she's my cousin and it's her birthday," he said, with matter of fact laughing. Laughing that just increased Amy's tone.
"She's a pornstar!"
"She's family. I'm only going to be there for an hour or so. You're working late either way. Besides, I'm the only family she has out here."
"She... You know what? It's okay."
"No, you can't stop now. Spill it."
"I don't want her at our wedding."
"It's done, so what are you talking about?"
"I never sent her an invitation in the first place..."
"Amy, what the hell, we never talked about this. I know you don't like her, but Christ, she's family. She's my blood. No discussion."
"Don't pull that family bull. It's not because she's in Los Angeles. Even if she was back in Texas she'd be just as isolated from family. No one in your family wants to even hear her voice. The slut will ruin my wedd...."
"That's uncalled for Amy. God, I can't believe you just said that."
"Okay. I'm sorry, but she can't come," Amy said pleadingly, pouting over the phone.
Alex sighed as the conversation ended with his unwavering defense of Lilly. He lowered the pen, making a cursive swipe. With that, his remarks were complete and the card was sealed. He took the present and letter, exiting the kitchen and the house all together.
He got into his Volvo, slowly pulling out of his garage, now driving through the heavy traffic from Burbank to San Fernando rocking his head back and forth to the tunes of Green Day; anything to distract himself from the argument with his future wife.
She was right though. His cousin Lilly hadn't been invited home to Texas last Christmas and both her parents and his had cut off all contact with her. Sure, he wasn't happy with her choice either and had been happier when she was simply a swimsuit model. But unlike his evangelical family, he understood the simple fact that she had a right to make her own decisions and live her own life.
As the Volvo pulled onto her street he recalled the morning when they were together sitting in Starbucks when she nervously broke the news that she had switched over to the more financially lucrative, adult modeling contract gig. His understanding and guarded reaction had given her hope that her parents would accept her decision. They didn't, and Alex recalled the dual pressures of both his mom and Amy attempting to force him to detach from Lilly.
Alex stood his ground with unwavering loyalty to the cousin that had been more like a younger sister. Alex stopped the Volvo on Lilly's car-filled streetand taking hold of the present, he headed towards her front door.
He waited at the front door and stood there with his image reflecting from the front door's glass. His well-kept, wavy, medium-cut dark brown hair and strong jaw were soon replaced by more feminine traits as the doors opened to a woman with long light brown hair and unforgettable blue-grey eyes.
Alex smiled at the sight of his beautifully fresh-faced cousin. Being tall was something that ran in their family which was why Lilly had been an excellent candidate for modeling. Her height was topped off with an ageless allure that would have eventually landed her next to the likes of Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen.
"Hey, you made it," she said, hugging and pulling her cousin inside. Her full bust pressed against his chest.
"How the hell am I going to forget February twelfth?" he said, as the hug eased and they walked together toward the sounds of the gathering guests.
"It's you. I know you would never forget. I just wasn't sure whether or not Amy wanted you here."
"Amy's fine with it, she sends her apologies. She's just really busy."
"Sure, she's fine with it," Lilly said sarcastically.
"No, really. This present's from the two of us. Happy twenty-third birthday, cuz."
Lilly lit up as Alex presented her with the poorly wrapped gift. "What is it?" she asked.
By the time she looked up from the wrapping paper Alex had crossed over into the room full of guests, mingling with his cousin's friends and colleagues, some of whom he'd had the privilege of meeting previously, to Amy's chagrin.
From the other side of the room Alex watched as Amy's eyes widened, the red and green wrapping paper fell to the floor, revealing a present that only someone who really truly knew and loved Lilly, would have given to her.
Through the roar of the room he looked on to see her pink lips form into a circle as she mouthed, "thank you."
The party moved forward as the rapping's of Snoop Dog filled the room. Alex started knocking back a few as he talked with the other guests. The more he talked and moved around and drank, the more at home he felt and the time seemed to fly by.
Alex continued to mingle and soon was surrounded by a petite blonde named Holly and a raven haired beauty named Karen. He treated the moment with a cool calm as they asked him what he did for a living. He tried to make software engineering seem exciting, but it seemed to him like he didn't really need to try that hard as they giggled and smiled at all he said.
Lilly came by and pulled him away from Karen and Holly. "Amy wouldn't be too happy seeing you flirting," she said, as she guided him to an empty adjoining room.