Free My Real by Mallory Grant

pop a hot chocolate pod into the Keurig. I love staying over at Ella’s, because she keeps a supply of hot chocolate and whipped cream stocked just for me. I brew a cup of coffee for Ella when I hear her shuffling to the bathroom upstairs.
    “Why in the Hell is your phone ringing at this ungodly hour?” she asks through half closed eyes.
    “Andrew. I asked him the same question. Did you know that people actually work over the summer?” I laugh as I hand her a mug.
    “Hhhhhhhhh,” she gasps. “The Horror! Why would anyone do that?” She jokes as she takes a sip of her coffee. “So, what do you have planned for today?”
    “I’m going running. Wanna come?” I ask.
    “Fat chance. I wasn’t talking about your crazy need to exercise. I was talking about your plans with Lover Boy.”
    “He’s taking me on a real date tonight. Don’t roll your eyes at me. One day at a time.”
     

     
    I got everything on my to-do list done. Running, grocery shopping, laundry, and scrubbing the bathroom all done before lunch time. I’m on a roll today. I decide to take a look at my wardrobe to find something hot to wear for my date tonight. My closet is quite depressing. I have a lot of khaki pants in varying shades of tan and brown, my suit that I wore in my interview ten years ago, one pair of black dress pants, a collection of polos and baby t-shirts, and one matronly dress that I wear for Meet the Teacher night. The only other dress I have was Ella’s and I wore it last night. There is nothing date-worthy in my closet.
    I have to go shopping. I hate shopping . I think back to the last time I went to buy clothing.
     
    “Dave, are you home? Come see what I got.” I yelled into the next room when I heard Dave close the front door.
    “What did you get?” he answered with little interest.
    “Sit, I’ll do a runway show for you,” I told him as I ran into the bathroom. He sat on the bed scrolling though his phone as I walked out in my first outfit. He barely glanced up and then said, “Those pants make you have a muffin top. You need a baggier shirt to hide that you know.”
    I turned and looked in the mirror. I knew I had a few pounds to drop, but I didn’t think they were that bad. I debated trying the rest on for him. He looked like he was busy.
    “Do you want to see more?” I asked.
    “Whatever,” he mumbled.
    I went in and tried on the dress that I got and quickly returned to the bedroom so Dave could see it before he went downstairs. His eyes were still glued to his phone. I stood there a minute waiting for him to look up at me. I was so excited to see his reaction. I saw this dress at the store and thought of Dave immediately. His favorite color was blue. He used to say blue brought my eyes to life.
    When he still didn’t look up, “Dave?”
    “What, Bailey? Can’t you see I’m playing a game?” he snapped at me.
    “Sorry. I just wanted you to see this dress.” I hung my head and started to turn around. Maybe I’d show him later.
    “A dress? Why in the hell did you buy a dress? Where are you going to wear that?” he asked as he stood and left the room.
     
    I shake my head to forget the bad memory. One of many I wanted to put behind me.
    I wonder where that dress is.
     

     
    I pull up to Bailey’s house and there is a car I didn’t recognize in the drive way. The driver side door is just opening as I get out of my truck. I walk around the front of the truck and stop dead in my tracks.
    “Andrew, I didn’t know you and Bailey kept in touch,” Dave says with phony interest.
    Even though we spent a lot of time together in college, I never really liked Dave. I tolerated him at best. He was a douche. My feelings toward him may have had something to do with the fact that he was dating Bailey at the time.
    “What are you doing here, Dave?” I ask as I walk in front of him to block his path to Bailey’s house.
    “I was going to ask you the same question. You’re dating Bailey?” Dave laughs