Season for Love. Velvet Carter
get a jump on design ideas for RR’s spring/summer line.
“Oh, shit!” he said underneath his breath when he saw the picture of himself and Heather lying on the beach in Italy. I’ll bet Lark saw this picture.
Heather and Dash had met in design school and had dated the last two years of college. They both had similar interests—both were talented designers and loved to travel—and they had quickly fallen in love. He’d had every intention of proposing while they were visiting his family in Italy—he’d even bought a three-carat diamond ring—but he hadn’t followed through. Unbeknownst to Heather, Dash had overheard one of her phone conversations while she was standing on the balcony in the guest room of his parents’ home overlooking a grove of lemon trees.
“No, I haven’t asked him yet... Yes...I promise I’m going to tell Dash the truth tonight. I love you, too, babe. ’Bye.”
“Tell me the truth about what?” Dash had said, walking out onto the balcony where Heather was standing.
She whipped around. “Uh...Dash...hi.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“That was Stacy.”
“Your roommate?”
“Yes.”
“Why were you calling her babe? What’s going on, Heather?”
“I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while, but Stacy isn’t just my roommate. She’s my...my...girlfriend.”
“Yeah, I know she’s your friend.”
“No...Stacy is also my lover.”
“Lover?” Dash’s eyes widened. “When...when did you turn gay?” he’d asked in total disbelief.
“I’ve always been bisexual, Dash. I...”
He cut her off. “Heather, why are you with me if you’re into women? Has this entire time we’ve been together been a lie?” Dash stood silent for a moment as the news of his girlfriend’s true sexual identity sank in.
Heather stepped closer to Dash, but he moved back. “No, it hasn’t been a lie. I love you, Dash.”
“Apparently you love Stacy, too.”
“The truth of the matter is I want to be in a relationship with both of you. Stacy and I have discussed it, and we want you to join us in a polyamorous relationship.”
“A poly...what?”
“A polyamorous relationship is a committed relationship between multiple people,” she explained.
“Look, Heather, I’m not into threesomes.”
“It’s not a freaky ménage à trois. Our relationship would be exclusive, exactly like a regular relationship, except with three people instead of two. I really think it could work. Whenever the three of us are together we always have so much fun. Remember the time we ordered in pepperoni pizza and watched that sci-fi movie from the eighties? We all laughed so hard at the bad special effects that our sides hurt. Remember?”
“Of course I remember. What does that have to do with anything? Watching a movie together is a far cry from having a relationship.”
“I was just reminding you how well we get along. To warm up to the idea, we could start out slow by going on a date with Stacy,” she had said, trying to sway him.
“I don’t think so. Sorry, but that’s not for me. Heather, you should have told me the truth about your sexuality and let me make the choice whether or not I wanted to be with someone who is bisexual. Instead, you made the choice for me.” Dash was hurt and a bit confused. Heather had never let on that she was also sleeping with a woman. Now it totally made sense why Heather and Stacy had only a one-bedroom apartment. Heather had told Dash that Stacy slept in the living room on the pullout sofa. Looking back now, he realized that was obviously a lie.
Dash didn’t have a problem with homosexuality. As far as he was concerned, whom a person slept with was their business. He just chose to sleep with one woman at a time.
“I’m sorry, Dash, for not telling you sooner.”
“So am I,” he had said with disappointment in his voice.
“Don’t let this interfere with what you and I have. I truly love you, Dash. Although I was hoping the three of us could have a relationship, I’ll be content with just you and I.”
“I don’t think so, Heather. I wouldn’t want you to resent me later. You should be able to have the type of relationship you desire.”
Heather had moved closer to Dash, and this time he didn’t shy away. They hugged for one last time.
“I wish you the best, Heather.”
After Heather’s true confession, he’d cut their vacation short. Dash had planned to take her for a gondola ride in Venice and propose, which of course had never happened. Dash hadn’t spoken to Heather since they’d returned to New York over a year ago.
“Hey, man, you look deep in thought,” Vance said, approaching his friend.
“I was thinking about Heather.”
“Instead of breaking up with her, you should have invited her roommate to join you guys in Italy. Now, that would have been a trip to remember,” Vance said, chuckling.
“I don’t like sharing my woman or my body.” Dash had grown up in a religious family with good moral values, values he’d carried over into adulthood.
“You’re a better man than I am. I for one would have enjoyed both women...together and separately.”
“I’m sure you would have.”
Growing up, Vance had always been more adventurous than Dash. Vance’s parents were extremely liberal and had allowed their children to explore and express their imagination.
As they were talking, the older gentleman and the redhead staggered out of the bar arm in arm. Vance took a seat next to Dash.
“So...congratulations on the new gig.”
“Thanks, but it’s not official yet.”
“I got your message, and I’ll be happy to look over the contract. But why are you going to work for another company when your family has a multimillion-dollar textile business in Italy? You could move there and live a life of luxury. You could have the plant manager do all the heavy lifting, so you could work a few days a week and play the rest of the time.”
“I’m not ready to kick back just yet. Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for the opportunities my family’s wealth has afforded me. My grandfather started that company with nothing and made it into a thriving business. I want to do the same with my designs. I don’t want to ride on the coattails of my family’s success—I want to make my own mark on the world of fashion.”
Dash was tired of people thinking all he had to offer were his good looks. He was well educated and had a natural gift for designing clothes, jewelry and even handbags.
“That’s admirable of you, man. Most people in your position would relax and enjoy the spoils.”
Dash and Vance had been best friends since high school. They had been the stars of the school’s soccer team and had remained close friends after graduating.
“Excuse me, but those two women at the end of the bar would like to buy you guys a drink,” the bartender said.
Dash peered down the bar and saw two attractive women, both dressed in tight black dresses that exposed way too much cleavage and both wearing heavy makeup. The ladies were exposing nearly all of their teeth and indelicately waving their arms.
“I’ll take a pass,” he said. Dash had spent more than enough time drinking with random women and was ready to find that special someone to settle down