An expression of complete confusion washed over Tariq's face as he watched Hannah get out of bed saying that she needed to go home. He turned to look at the LED clock on the bedside table. It read 2:30am.

"At this hour? I thought you were staying the night?" he asked.

"I never specifically said that I would," she countered as she looked for her dress that was on the floor, just outside the open bedroom door.

Getting up to pull on his previously discarded pants, "What's wrong Hannah? Why are you suddenly acting like this? I thought you said you'd try not to push me away?"

She did not answer as she turned her face away from him, busying herself as she picked up her dress and started putting it on.

"Let me drive you home at least," Tariq almost pleaded.

"No, it's fine, I'll get a cab," she said as she zipped up her dress.

"Hannah wait..." Tariq implored as he followed her outside into the main living room.

Shaking her head as she got her clutch and her shoes, "I'll see you tomorrow, don't forget we have to get our fittings for the weddings sorted."

Before he could answer, she was gone. The door closed firmly behind her. With a sigh, Tariq stood there and stared at the solid oak frame. Feeling for his mobile phone that was still in his pocket, he quickly sent her a text message.

Tariq:
"Please let me know when you arrive home.
I need to know that you're safe.
I'm sorry if I did anything to upset you."

Like a zombie, he walked back into the master bedroom and headed into the large en-suite. He rested his palms against the pearl-white mosaic tiles as he showered, hoping the cold water would wake him up from this dream. It had to be a nightmare. One minute, Hannah was in his arms all curled up into him and the next, she was gone.

"I suppose that's what they meant when they asked if dreams really come true, then what about nightmares," he said softly as he dried his skin.

Tariq slipped on a pair of boxers then lay on his bed. His face buried into the covers where only moments ago Hannah's body rested, inhaling her scent. Maybe he should not have pushed for her to spend the night. Perhaps it was too much for her too soon. He could not believe that he was missing her already. There was just something about being around her that made him feel so alive. The soft chime of his phone went off about half hour later.

Hannah:
"I'm home.
Don't worry about it, you didn't do anything wrong.
It's not you, it's me."

He could not help but chuckle softly as he read over her words, saying to himself, "That's usually the guy's line."

Turning to rest on his back with his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling until the sun came up. His mind played over the events of the last two weeks.

If he was indeed serious about acknowledging his growing feelings for her, he realised that it would not be an easy road to travel. Tariq silently battled if it was worth it, and it took him less than a second to know that she was.

————— ▲ —————

The next morning, Hannah patiently waited as Mikayla tried on her custom-made gown for the London wedding.

Cynthia idly sat in the next chair, her fingers fidgeting with excitement. Damien, Tariq and Mikayla's stepfather Roger were in another nearby area of the boutique, getting their suites custom-tailored.

Today was just about their fittings. Next Saturday they would come in to finalise the other fittings for the London wedding. This entailed the fittings of the bridesmaid's dresses, including Hannah's maid of honour dress. Not to mention the custom sarees that both the bride and groom's mothers would be wearing.

Hannah specifically wanted this visit to be about Mikayla and Damien and those closest to them. Since Damien's parents could not make it, they would be coming in next weekend to do their own fittings.

Next Sunday, there would also be a big family lunch with Mikayla and Damien's immediate family, as well as some of their closest friends. Hannah's thoughts were interrupted as the dressing door suddenly opened.

Mikayla walked out with her wedding dress clipped to her. It was an Ivory Chantilly lace mermaid cut bridal gown that was layered with Alençon lace appliqué. The dress had a strapless sweetheart neckline with an off-the-shoulder cap sleeve that would still need to have the Swarovski crystals handstitched to it.

The elongated torso had a circular tulle overlay with lace appliqué and bands of horsehair. The bottom half of the dress had flowers embroidered on the hem to match those that were being woven into her mother and mother-in-law's saree. The flowers were discreet, unique and intricate, making the dress extra special. The lower half of the dress was removable so that Mikayla could move around more freely after the church ceremony.

A soft gasp escaped Cynthia's lips as she immediately started crying while getting up from her chair, "Oh my beautiful daughter, look at you!"

Standing as well, Hannah rushed over to whisper, tears in her eyes, "You look like a goddess Miks!" Laughing gently, she added, "Damien is going to die when he sees your ass in this."

The designer asked a few questions while she made additional notes on the alterations that she needed to make. The women laughed and giggled as they spoke about how much they loved the wedding dress and could not wait to see the finished product.

Mikayla changed back into her normal attire while Cynthia went into the changing room to try on an array of different dresses. Hopefully they would be able to find something that she liked for the Tobago wedding.

The island wedding would be a much more relaxed atmosphere, especially seeing as it would be on a beach. Even though it would take place in the late afternoon just before the sunset, the Caribbean temperature would suggest that they got something light and airy.

While they waited on Cynthia, Mikayla tugged on Hannah's arm, "What the frig did you do?"

"With what?" she asked genuinely confused.

"Tariq face looks like a bloody disaster." she raised an eyebrow as she continued, "That and you're not your usual mouthy overly rude self this morning. What did you do Hannah?" Mikayla repeated her question.

Grumbling, Hannah sighed as she replayed the events of the night before. She paused in between whenever Cynthia came out in a different dress so that they could give their opinions on which they liked.

"Seriously Hannah, yuh dotish ah wah? Buh wah d ass is dis I really hearing dis morning!" Mikayla was so upset that she began sputtering in Trinbagonian dialect.

Biting the inside of her cheek Hannah remained quiet, knowing that her best friend was not finished.

Letting out a breath to calm herself Mikayla asked, "Why did you just leave like that? What if something had happened to you?" her face showing how upset she was.

"Oh Miks, please don't be angry. This is why I didn't want to say anything; we should be focusing on your wedding not my disaster of a love life," Hannah said not too pleased that she had upset her.

Her mouth suddenly hung open as she stared at Hannah in bewilderment, "Y-you just said l-love life, not sex life!"

Mikayla visibly started jumping in one spot as she suddenly screamed, causing Hannah to wince and cover her ears as she stepped away from her. The sound of the shriek caused her mother Cynthia to run out of the dressing room half dressed, her bra-clad torso exposed.

Simultaneously, a very concerned Damien and Tariq burst into the private area wearing half stitched jackets and only boxers for pants. Everyone worriedly asked if Mikayla was alright. Upon seeing Cynthia, the two men immediately covered their eyes, in return, she hastily pulled the dress up to cover herself.

Sheepishly grinning, Mikayla bowed her head a bit, hiding her face behind her curls, "Sorry everyone, I just got really excited for a moment."

"Bloody hell woman! I thought you were being murdered or something!" Damien grumbled as he left the room.

Hannah took that moment to take a good look at Tariq before he left. It was the first time that she had really looked at him for the day. Mikayla had been right; he looked a mess. She could not help but wonder if she really was the reason for the haggard look that was etched across his face. Her fingers itched to caress him and kiss his lips softly, she wanted to remove the frown that was creased on his brows.

A slight scowl appeared on her face in response to where her thoughts went. She was not known to be the comforting type. She felt so confused. As the men left and Cynthia went back into the changing room, Mikayla poked Hannah's upper arm interrupting her internal mental battle.

"Wow, I've never seen you look at a man like that," she said with a warm smile.

Ignoring her comment, she asked, "Really Miks? Did you have to scream like that?"

"It's not every day the great Hannah Elizabeth Cupid says 'love life' in regard to well, her life," Mikayla said giddily.

Rolling her eyes Hannah bit the inside of her cheek once more as she remained silent.

Poking her again Mikayla harassed, "Oh stop taking the piss! I know you didn't intend on it, but it's obvious that you like him. As what, well that's left to be seen."

Hannah's mouth pressed into a thin line.

Upon seeing that Hannah was not objecting Mikayla continued, "No one is saying to marry the guy, but if there's a strong attraction there why not go for it and see where it leads."

"Because..." Hannah finally broke her silence as she huffed out.

Mikayla raised an eyebrow as she waited for an explanation. After several seconds passed, she poked Hannah in the arm once more, "Because...?"

"Ugh! Because feelings will get involved and I don't want to get hurt again okay?" she answered, her face slightly flushed.

"Aw love, I really don't think it'll come to that," Mikayla said frankly as she added, "I mean, when I started realising my feelings for Damien, you encouraged me to explore them, remember?" Putting her hands on her hips, she questioned, "Why is it that you can't take your own advice for once?"

Hannah looked at Mikayla with an arched eyebrow, "Don't act like you've never seen a hypocrite before. At least I'm honest about my duplicity."

Mikayla laughed out as she hugged her best friend, "I'll make you a deal. Promise me that you'll at least try and acknowledge your feelings. Don't run away and act stupid like the characters in those cheesy romance stories."

Hannah snorted slightly as she hugged her back.

Continuing Mikayla said, "In return, I promise to help you bury the body if he fucks up."

"Deal! Now enough chit chat. We need to sort out your outfit for the Tobago beach wedding." Hannah's face perked up as she playfully spanked Mikayla on her behind.

Mikayla's groan of protest could be heard as she sat down while Hannah ushered in an attendant with a large rack filled with an array of dresses appropriate for a beach wedding.

————— ▲ —————

Damien and Tariq returned to the fitting room where they were having their suits custom-fitted. The tailors gave them disapproving stares as they had to redo all the markers that had been made. Roger was unable to join them as he stood on one of the podiums literally pinned down.

"Is everything alright? Sounded like one of Mikayla's excited screams," Roger commented.

Shaking his head Damien muttered, "I swear she almost gave me a bloody heart attack." With a slight frown he looked over at Tariq, "What's going on with you and Hannah? I noticed that she was extra quiet around you this morning,"

Tariq wanted to run a hand through his hair, but his hands were restrained at the moment.

"Honestly? I'm not sure. It's like I told you earlier, one minute we were cuddling, getting ready to sleep and the next she was running out of my apartment," he said.

Roger suddenly cut into the conversation, "Hannah? Cuddling? For as long as I've known that girl, she's never been the cuddly type, except maybe with Mikayla."

Damien gave Tariq a knowing 'told you so' smile.

Waving him off with a shake of his head he retorted, "Don't even give me that look, she left remember? High-tailed it out of my flat after 2:30 in the morning as if her life depended on it."

Roger chuckled a bit, "Of course she did my boy. What did you expect? I'm pretty sure that in that moment, she probably felt like her life did indeed depend on it. I know the kind of woman that Hannah is, she doesn't hide her sexuality, but her emotions, yea good luck trying to decipher how she's feeling. I've unfortunately been unlucky to hear some of her girl-time conversations with Mikyala."

"Oh?" Damien could not help his curiousity.

The older man scrunched his nose up a bit as though trying to forget a particular memory as he continued, "Tariq, it's obvious that there's something happening between you two, even a blind bat can see that.

Tariq's fitting was complete and he moved to put back on his clothes, "That's what I thought, until last night."

"Whatever is going on, Hannah is obviously confused by it and is trying to sort what she's feeling. It's more than obvious that you're clearly besotted. You just need to give her time to catch up to you. If you think she's worth it, you're just going to have to be patient with her. I mean I'm sure you've seen what she's like, her mouth alone is trouble," Roger laughed before adding, "it's definitely going to take a strong and secure man to be with her. She'd not settle for anything less; think you can handle that Tariq?"

A look of awareness crossed his face as he replied, "I've never wanted to handle anything more in my life."

Damien grinned, "Don't worry about it, everything will be fine. I'd say that I'd have Mikayla sneak in a good word for you. But knowing my future wife, she already has."

Roger chuckled and nodded in agreement, "Oh of that I have no doubt as well!"

Suddenly a look of realisation came across Damien's face as he said, "Though, come to think of it, Mikayla might have been planning this hook-up even before she met you."

At that Tariq could not help but laugh, it had been his first time for the day.

"There we go! No more sour faces, I'm getting married for crying out loud, this should be a happy time," Damien said as his fitting was complete.

With a sigh he said, "You're right, lets go get some pints."

——————————

A/N: The term "Dotish" is a Trinbagonian slang meaning silly or stupid.