As to the dresses, she’d found a store and an SA willing to take us on such short notice, and so it was that on that Friday evening, we all piled into Cody’s Junker to head an hour and a half away to the store. I’d used the time on the way there to talk Cody into getting a suit, which he balked at. “What’s wrong with what I wear?”
“You can’t wear jeans and a tee-shirt to a semi-formal.”
“But a suit? Come on, Lisa, can you see me in one of those things?” He started tugging at his collar and the imaginary tie he was imagining there. “Besides, have you seen the prices in this place?”
“Cody, you’re not going to be that guy, are you?”
“What guy?” He’s such a lummox sometimes.
“Why can’t I buy it for you?”
“Lisa, sweetheart, I know you have a big heart and lots of dough apparently, but that’s not my style. If I can’t afford it, I don’t want it. I know we joked around about your trust fund and stuff, and I meant it when I said if something should happen to me in the future that I’m glad you’ve got us covered, but no way am I taking advantage of you.”
“But it’s not taking advantage. What if you had money and I didn’t? Wouldn’t you buy me stuff?”
“That’s different.”
“Why? Because….” I looked at his crotch even though my face had gone ten shades of every color between purple and red.
“Babe, what the hell?” He covered himself and looked around, but the others were still busy picking out dresses. Apparently, mom had already chosen mine.
“Don’t pout, baby; I just can’t take money from you like that.”
“Fine, then I guess I won’t go. It’s fine anyway; Jess and Alexis can go and have a good time.” Who have I become? I walked away as if to tell the SA that I didn’t need the dress, and he came after me.
“Stop-stop-stop-stop, hey, what’s gotten into you? What happened to my sweet angel?”
“Are you saying I’m not sweet because I want to buy you something?”
“No, it’s not that, it’s just….”
“It’s just what?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing. How about I wear a dress shirt and some slacks? I have those already; I just haven’t been wearing them.”
“Fine, but we’re going to talk about this later. It’s silly for you not to accept gifts from me.”
“I never said I wouldn’t accept gifts.” I glared at him because he wasn’t making any sense. “Don’t look at me like that, baby. How do I make you understand? Come ‘ere.” He took my hand and led me to one of the leather benches in the store to sit down beside him. “Ever since I was little, my family and I have been frugal. I learned the value of a dollar from young, and not only that, but I was also taught that it was my responsibility when the time came to take care of the woman in my life financially and in every other way necessary.”
“And I agree with that, but right now, you’ve decided to concentrate on the game and your studies, along with worrying about your dad’s illness. Doesn’t your mom support your dad in every way possible? How would you feel if your mom up and left your dad now because he’s too ill to take care of her the way he used to?”
“She wouldn’t do that; she’s not that kind of person.”
“And neither am I. Would your mom let your dad go to a wedding or somewhere formal wearing jeans and a tee-shirt, knowing that he’d stick out like a sore thumb?” He squinted at me suspiciously as if trying to catch me in my own web, but you can’t beat logic.
“Which do you think is worth more? My heart or my bank account?”
“Your heart, of course.” I love that he didn’t have to think of that answer.
“Ah-hah, so you’re that kind of thief.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“You’d steal my precious heart, which you yourself admit is worth more, but you’d balk at taking something that’s worth less. Devious.”
His eyes widened like he couldn’t believe I’d tricked him, but I was far from done with him. “If we were stranded in the desert and you had no water left, but I did, would you take some of my water?”
“Of course, if it meant surviving and you still had some left for you.”
“So again, you’d take my life-giving water, but you won’t take a few paltry dollars.”
“Lisa….” Oh no, you don’t. I’m on a roll.
“And didn’t you say your parents are the same, that your mom would do anything for your dad?” He mumbled something under his breath which I didn’t catch, but no matter, I’d won this one for sure.
“Ah, but they’re married.” Well crap! Bullheaded much, Cody?
“Fine, let’s get married then.”
“I’m not marrying you, so you could buy me stuff, you nut.”