Party - part 1

"For God's sake, Jan, it is not like that!" Gwen said while finishing to dry her hair.

"How not? Oh, come on! What is the matter? It is not like you are a virgin." She said, then, noticing how uncomfortable Gwen became, she widened her eyes. "Don't tell me that Ethan never…"

"What? No! It's nothing like that!" Gwen said, waving her hands in front of her body. "We did things, but… It was only him."

"And now you are divorced, free. Gwen, Johnatan is very handsome. Why not?" Jen sat on the bed.

"Jen, I just can't even imagine that. I don't like Johnny in this way. I barely know him." Gwen frowned. And yes, he was handsome, charming, had a great talk, but… it was strange to her. She didn't feel attracted, sexualy, to him.

"You have to stop thinking about Ethan."

"I don't th-"

"Cut the crap. I'm your best friend. You may not want to be with him again, not marry him again, but you still think about him when it comes to this, Gwen. He is your past. Not your present - thank God - and not your future, God forbid it."

Gwen looked down. Yes, she may not love Ethan anymore, if she ever did, but this kind of intimacy was not so simple to her. She had to have feelings for the person. And when she did with Ethan, she already liked him. He was her first and only and she was not ready for another man. Just the thought… sent shivers down her spine.

"I'll be open to new relationships, but I am not going to force it. And not gonna go and sleep with the guy just to see how it is."

"I don't want you to force anything. The fact that you are open to someone else is already enough. You deserve happiness. No matter who, as long as that person treats you how you deserve to be treated: with respect, love, consideration."

"I love you, do you know that?" Gwen said and Jan raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, baby, I already have someone else in mind."

Gwen threw the pillow in her friend's face.

They kept getting ready in Gwen's house. Jan wanted to go to the saloon, but Gwen didn't. So, they decided to get ready together, just like old times. While Johnatan was going to fetch Gwen, Augusto Sevilla was gonna be Janet's partner for the night.

"He is so hot!" She told Gwen, who just shook her head, smiling. Janet was not afraid of sleeping around. She was a free soul, as she used to say, and would only stop when the right man appeared. Till there, she would do as she pleased, with whoever she was comfortable with.

"You look amazing!" She told Gwen.

"You think so? Isn't it… too much?"

Gwen looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a v-neck sleeved type of dress, with an empire waist, in wine color. It suited her grandly. But in the front, it was like this, very lady lady, but the back was x-cross, opened till her waist. So, it showed a lot of skin, without being vulgar, but giving some mystery.

She chose a beautiful necklace that was with the pendant on the back, very small earrings and her hair had a empire style bun. The strands on her face were perfect. Light makeup, except for the lipstick, that was black cherry.

"No, it is just the right thing. It says I'm a slut, but serious, but if you want we can have fun, just if I want it, too."

"Shut up! I don't wanna look like a slut! And you look so… glamorous!" Gwen said to Jan. This one was wearing a more dramatic outfit. Her skirt was of a ball gown type, with strapless bodice. All black with tiny little sparkling dots.

"Thanks!" She said. "I hope Augusto likes it."

"He will."

Both men arrived almost at the same time and sent messages to their ladies.

"Let's go." Jan said and they left the apartment.

Johnny was resting his hips on his car, waiting for Gwen. He was curious about her outfit, because she didn't seem the type to wear anything too fancy. But that was a very special event, so he wanted to see what she would wear.

When she and her friend got out of the building, he was mesmerized, and couldn't even breathe. How on earth? She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen!

'Ok, fuck Ethan! I'm doing this because she is everything!' he told himself.

"Hola, mi amor!" Jan said to Augusto, who kissed her on the neck.

"So I won't ruin your makeup." He said in a husky voice and winked. Janet looked at Gwen and smiled brightly.

"That's why I like him so much!" She said.

"See you there!" Janet answered and got in the car.

Johnny took deep breaths and Gwen looked down, shy.

"You are divine. Really." he said and he meant every word. He was, for the first time in his life, thankful to Ethan. If the moron didn't marry this woman and divorced her, Johnatan would have never had the chance to meet her!

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself." She said in a playful tone and they both laughed.

"I love your sense of humor. Now, my lady." He made a curtsey and opened the car for her, offering his hand for her to take it.

"Thank you, sir." She made a courtesy as well and held his warm hand, before entering the car and adjusting the seat belt.

When they arrived at the party, they had to take many photographs and, of course, answer a few questions.

"Are you two in a relationship?"

"Isn't she Mr. Lennox's ex-wife?" After that question, all were curious about the connection Johnatan and Gwen shared.

"Are you two engaged?"

"Please, later. We have a party to attend." Johnatan said and he and Gwen entered the party.

"Thank you." She said. "That was…"

"I'm sorry. I should've known it would happen."

"No, it is ok. Just… Let's just sit somewhere. I wanna a drink."

They went to sit and not much longer after that, Ethan arrived. He got out of the car and, when he offered his hand to someone inside the vehicle, everyone around stuck their necks to see who it was.

"Miss Darla Cooper!" One said.

"Are you both back together?"

"Are you going to marry soon?"

Ethan didn't say anything and kept his face straight and cold. By his side, a smiling Darla was winking and without a word, insinuating that she and Ethan were back together. She made sure to wear a nice ring on her finger, so it would make people think she and Ethan were, indeed, engaged.