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One
Chase
I rumble up to the curb on my Harley, the address Val gave me burning a hole in my pocket. Urgent, she said. Emergency, she insisted. And now, here I am, scanning the street, but she's nowhere in sight. A church looms on the corner, its solemn presence mocking my confusion. She said to meet her at the corner of Hendricks and—
Damn! Now I see her, she’s rushing toward me in a... wedding dress? It’s white and has miles of ruffles. It sure looks like a wedding dress, it screams 'bride'.
Val has ample curves and wild, curly black hair. She has big, soulful, dark eyes and usually a wide, friendly smile.
I consider her my closest friend, thus off-limits. Val has a heart of gold. Which is why, right now, I’m reeling. Why is she wearing a wedding dress and running away from a church? Unless she is getting married... or was.
For a second, I’m frozen, my mind racing with a thousand questions.
I knew she was dating some guy, but she never talked about him much. I didn’t think the relationship was serious. The one time I met him, he seemed like a condescending prick, and I didn’t like how he treated Val. I remember telling her she needed to ditch him. I’ve only been gone for three months. My heart hammers against my ribs as I wonder what the hell is going on here.
She's close enough now that I can see the desperation etched on her face, an apologetic smile flickering across her lips as she leaps onto the bike. "Go, Chase! Go!" she pleads, and I don't need telling twice.
We tear down the street, the roar of my engine drowning out the shouts of the couple emerging from the church, their arms flailing in the air as they watch us drive away.
A few blocks later, Val's body presses against mine, her breath hot on my leather jacket. "Thank you, Chase. I think we've lost them," she whispers, and the weight of her forehead against my back is heavier than any words.
As I drive us down the road, we get mixed reactions from everyone we pass. Some people walking on the sidewalk shout congratulations. Meanwhile, others in their cars honk their horns. I’m wearing my black Harley biker leathers, and Val is wearing a white ruffled wedding dress on the back of my Harley. It’s not a sight you see every day.
I think about the girl on the back of my bike; my friend is a computer programmer. She never fusses with her hair, as her unruly dark curls wouldn’t behave anyway. She rarely wears makeup but doesn’t need to, as she has a natural beauty. She’s typically dressed in cut-off jeans and baggy shirts, but they can’t hide her lush curves.
I’m unsure where Val wants me to take her, so I drive us home.
Val and I live in a large, older duplex. She lives on the left, and I live in a matching apartment on the right. I’ve known Val for almost two years now. She’s a great neighbor because she never complains and a close friend.
The duplex is brick, like many of the homes in this area. It has moss growing up the side of the exterior. There are flower beds in the front of the duplex because Val planted them about a year ago. The flowers currently have bright red and yellow blooms. She told me the names of the plants, but I forget what they are, especially now when all I can picture is Val in that damn wedding dress.
I stop the bike on my side of the driveway. I keep it upright while Val climbs off the back.
She’s standing there looking like someone just kicked her puppy. I take off my helmet.
“Val, is that a wedding dress?”
“Yes, I was supposed to get married today,” there’s a hitch to her voice.
“What? To that guy you were dating when I left? That prick? What did he do?”
“His name is Tony... and... I walked in on him and my bridesmaid, my cousin Cristina... having sex in his dressing room. An hour before the ceremony.”
“Damn! That’s brutal,” I shake my head in disgust.
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?”
Val sniffles a couple of times. I hope she isn’t going to cry.
“He probably just wanted my inheritance,” she sighs, “I knew Tony wasn’t really in love with me, but I thought... oh well, it doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess he planned on having an open marriage.” She grimaces. “Listen, I don’t want to stand out here where everyone can see me in this monstrosity of a dress.”
“So, I take it you didn’t pick the dress? It’s hideous, by the way.”
