Love's Wild Card

Grace had no choice but to get up. After Alex's wake-up method, sleep was impossible. She wrapped herself in a blanket and headed to the bathroom.

"Emma, I'm going to take a quick shower to wake up. There are drinks in the fridge - help yourself!"

"Oh... okay!" Emma nodded, increasingly puzzled by the unusually close relationship between Alex and Grace. Could a man and woman really be this comfortable with each other?

"Grace, darling, I have to say this - you're not getting any younger," Alex called out while folding the clothes scattered on the sofa. "Even if you're planning to live the life of a wealthy socialite someday, shouldn't you at least develop some good habits?"

"I'll fix my habits when you stop ogling every pretty woman you see!" Grace's voice echoed from the shower.

"That's different! Appreciating beauty is human nature. Your messiness is just a bad habit," Alex replied, finally clearing enough space on the sofa to sit.

"What good habits? I know exactly what goes through your mind! You should see how creepy you look when you spot a beautiful woman. It's embarrassing to be seen with you!" Grace shouted back.

"How am I creepy? That's all in your head. There are many benefits to appreciating beauty - why shouldn't I look?"

"You mean fantasizing?"

"Ahem!" Emma choked on her drink at Grace's blunt comment.

Seeing Emma's reaction, Alex shook his head. His already questionable reputation in her eyes had just plummeted further. Grace really needed to learn some discretion around others!

"Looking at beautiful women is good for your eyes," Alex defended himself. "When you see beauty, your optic nerves quickly adjust, the muscles around your eyes and retina work faster, improving blood circulation. Haven't you heard the saying 'eyes light up at the sight of beauty'?"

"I bet it's not just your eyes that light up - it's that perverted mind of yours!"

"Seeing beautiful women brightens my mood - it's not perverted, it's therapeutic! Haven't you heard 'beauty is a feast for the eyes'? Seeing several beautiful women a day is like having multiple small, nutritionally balanced meals. It's perfectly aligned with healthy eating principles!"

"That's just your twisted logic trying to justify your behavior," Grace emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a white towel. "You might fool others, but you can't fool me!"

"Oh, now you're the expert?" Alex watched as she disappeared into her bedroom. "And you have the nerve to criticize me? Be honest - how many boyfriends do you have right now?"

"None!"

"Hahaha! That's as believable as saying the Iraq War started because Saddam stole Bush's pressure cooker!" Alex burst out laughing.

"It's true! They're just backup options!" Grace emerged from her bedroom, stopping in front of Alex.

"How do I look? I just bought this - isn't it nice?" She struck a seductive pose and batted her eyes at him.

"Nope, looks terrible."

"Liar!" Grace put one foot up on the sofa, mere inches from Alex's lap.

"My nose isn't growing, so I must be telling the truth. Pinocchio would vouch for me!" Alex held up his hand in a mock oath.

"Hmph! If I catch you flirting with any women today, you'll regret it!" Grace glared at him, then started getting dressed right there, using the clothes Alex had just folded.

"Hey, miss! There's a man present - show some decency!" Alex protested. She was treating him like he was invisible!

"Where? Where?" Grace looked around dramatically. "Emma, do you see any men?"

"Nope!" Emma played along with complete seriousness.

"Then I'll continue changing!"

"..."

By the time Grace was ready to leave, it was already 9:20. Public transport was out of the question, so they had to take a cab. But according to Manhattan's weekend traffic history, getting stuck was inevitable regardless of transportation choice.

Sure enough, they crawled through traffic from the East Side to Union Square, then from Union Square to Fifth Avenue. By the time they reached Macy's Herald Square, it was already 10:10.

When Alex, Grace, and Emma finally arrived at the entrance, the rest of the group - Sue, the Haos, Gwen, and Julie - were already waiting.

"Late again, Alex?" Julie teased. The "again" indicated this wasn't their first offense.

"Don't blame me - blame your Grace here. She was still sleeping at nine!" Alex shot Grace a look.

"Traffic was terrible, really awful traffic!" Grace pinched Alex's arm hard while smiling at the group, clearly punishing his "betrayal."

"That excuse is getting old - you used it last time!" Gwen laughed.

"Lunch is on me!" Grace offered.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" James Hao grinned, and everyone else joined in the laughter.

"Sister-in-law, you should keep an eye on James. I personally saw him checking out women with Alex on the street!" Grace quickly redirected attention to James.

"Oh really?" Lisa Hao tilted her head at her husband, her tone rising and falling in a way that made James shiver.

"Don't listen to her nonsense, honey! That never happened!" Alex quickly came to James's defense. After all, they were the only two men present - they had to stick together.

"Emma, this is my wife Lisa. Honey, this is Emma, the new addition to our department," James seized the opportunity to change the subject.

"You're so beautiful, sister-in-law!" Emma smiled sweetly.

"You're the beautiful one!" Lisa laughed. While she couldn't compete with Emma's looks, she had the air of a perfect wife and mother.

"You're all beautiful, okay? Now can we get out of this heat and go inside?" Alex gestured toward Macy's entrance.

"It is getting hot - let's head in!" When Sue spoke, it was like a royal decree. The group of eight made their grand entrance into Macy's Herald Square.

Located in Manhattan's prime shopping district, Macy's Herald Square was known for its prime location, fashion-forward merchandise, and excellent service. As a modern department store combining shopping, entertainment, and leisure, it attracted young, fashion-conscious consumers seeking individual style - mostly women, which meant a high concentration of beauty...

Though it was technically a shopping trip, their main mission was swimsuit shopping. Under Grace's leadership, they headed straight for the swimwear department.

Thanks to the summer season, the department was bustling with female shoppers. There was a small men's section in the corner, but it was deserted.

The sales assistant, recognizing potential big spenders, immediately approached the group of stylish women, enthusiastically showcasing their collection.

"Feel free to browse, and there are fitting rooms available!" The sales assistant smiled, tactfully stepping back after realizing they were all friends.

The swimwear department was extensive with numerous styles. Only Grace had experience buying swimsuits, so the others followed her lead. The women chatted excitedly, completely forgetting about their two male companions.

"Same old story - every shopping trip ends with just us two!" James joined Alex, as his wife had been whisked away by Grace.

"When women outnumber men, I don't mind at all. With more guys around, you might not even get the chance to play the attentive husband," Alex laughed.

"With my wife here, what attention can I pay? Hey, do you know anything about these?" James pointed at the swimsuits.

"A bit."

"Help me pick one?"

"Men's swimwear is just shorts - what's to pick? I only know about women's swimsuits!" Alex smirked.

"You dog!"

"Hehe!"

In the end, Alex and James made their way to the men's corner - the only place they could find anything for themselves.

"Let's go with this," Alex grabbed a pair of blue floral board shorts. "Loose is comfortable - don't want anything too tight constraining the family jewels!" His comment made several nearby women blush.

James, equally clueless, followed Alex's lead and chose black board shorts for a more understated look.

"We'll take these," Alex placed the swimsuits on the counter.

"Certainly, sir!"

"By the way, do you have any swimwear shows on weekends? You know, with models?" Alex settled by the counter, eyeing the attractive sales assistant.

"Not recently..."

"Ah, what a shame!" Alex sighed, turning his attention to people-watching around the store.

"Checking out women again?" James sat down beside him.

"Mm-hmm. Dare to join me?"

"Not really. If my wife catches me, I'll be eating instant noodles for a week!" James smiled wryly.

"She doesn't seem like the type though - looks pretty easy-going!" Alex observed.

"I rule outside, she rules at home. Sounds equal, but there's a big difference - we spend more time at home!" James chuckled.

"Ah yes, the 'wife-fearing husband' syndrome!" Alex nodded. It seemed to be a common affliction among married men.