- Chapter 4
“Come with me to get my friend Bella from the airport today,” Liz said to Ricardo as they worked on one of their projects.
“Bella?”
“Yeah, she’s Harrison’s daughter.”
“Wait? What!”
“You are friends with your boyfriend’s daughter? How old is she?”
“She is twenty. We actually knew each other before I knew her father. We were friends. I met Harrison through Bella.”
“Oh wow, Liz, you have a crazy life.” Ricardo couldn’t stop shaking his head.
He agreed to come with Liz to pick up Bella from the airport. Ricardo really didn’t think Liz should stay with Harrison. In his opinion, if it looked like a cheater and text like a cheater, he was probably a cheater.
“Yeah, I guess I never thought of it as too crazy.”
“Well, it is. But yeah I’ll come with you to get your friend.”
Waiting for Bella, Liz couldn’t help think back to when the two had first met and all the fun they had had in college together. Bella had always been the person to get Liz to go out and relax. If it had been left up to Liz, she would have spent all her time working or studying.
“Liz!” Bella yelled from the other side of the terminal.
Bella started running full force toward Liz and Ricardo. She continued screaming and did not seem to notice every other person in the terminal who was watching the scene unfold.
“Prepare yourself. I think she’s going to tackle you.” Ricardo said as he took a step away from Liz.
Before Liz could even process that comment, Bella had jumped up in the air and did indeed tackle Liz to the ground. Bella had all the force of a linebacker.
“Liz, I missed you!” Bella continued as she jumped up and reached her hand out to help Liz up.
“I missed you too, Bella.”
“Hi, I’m Bella, the best friend,” Bella said as she reached her hand out to shake hands with Ricardo.
Bella never had been shy. She didn’t wait to be introduced; she didn’t need to confine herself to the traditional customs of the world. Bella had always been the type of girl that just did what she wanted.
“I’m Ricardo. I work with Liz.” He said as he chuckled.
Ricardo had never met anyone with more energy than he had. For most of his life, Ricardo had been the life of the party, the guy everyone asked where the good times were at. But standing next to Bella, Ricardo felt tame. He kind of liked not being the most outgoing person in the room.
“Liz, do you have to work today? Are we going out tonight? What time is it here anyways?”
Liz looked at Ricardo for an answer to the question on if she had to work. They were caught up on most of their project so technically they could take the rest of the day off. But Liz wasn’t about to do that unless Ricardo wanted to also.
“We are done with work for today. You girls should go out and enjoy yourselves.”
“Yes. Perfect. Let me change and get dolled up and then you can show me all the party spots Liz.” Bella said as she moved toward the baggage claim area.
Liz and Ricardo waited while Bella grabbed bag after bag.
“I don’t know party spots except that one bar we went to. You should come with us.” Liz said as she looked at Ricardo for help with the plans for the night.
“I did hear about a sweet club. I guess I could go with. I mean two hot chics as my date for the night…twist my arm why don’t you?”
Ricardo headed over to the baggage area when he saw Bella struggling with her four bags. There was no physical way Bella could carry all of them and Liz wondered how Bella had even made it to the airport with all those bags.
“Did you bring enough shoes?” Ricardo joked.
“I think so. I have ten pairs.”
“Ten pairs of shoes? How long are you staying? Until next year?”
Bella liked this guy, he was funny. Plus Ricardo was very handsome. She liked his tall, dark and handsome look. It fit very well with the kind of guy she was looking for.
As the three got back to the hotel, Liz gave Bella her key to the room and let her head up and get started on getting ready. Liz knew it would take Bella a couple hours at least.
“I’m going to get her a key to the room and then probably take a nap until six o’clock. Does that sound good to you?” Liz said as she looked at Ricardo, who was fumbling with all of Bella’s bags.
“This girl has got to learn to pack lighter.”
Liz laughed. She knew Bella so well and there was no way anyone would ever convince her that packing less than her entire closet would be a good idea.
“She’s packing for an emergency.”
“A shoe emergency?” Ricardo couldn’t help but laugh.
“Let me help you,” Liz said as she grabbed the two small bags.
Liz and Ricardo entered the elevator and headed up to her room. Liz couldn’t help but think about the elevator at Harrison’s hotel, with the man who operated it for her. She thought about how she had found Harrison and his secretary in his room in their pajamas. Liz thought about the text message she read on Harrison’s phone. She couldn’t help but still be worried that Harrison was hiding something.
All of a sudden, Ricardo leaned against Liz in the elevator and kissed her passionately. Liz pushed him away gently.
“You just looked like you needed a good kissing,” Ricardo said.
“In any other life I would be all for kissing you, Ricardo. But for now I think I need to figure things out with Harrison before I consider anyone else. Is that cool?”
“Yeah, I guess I can find someone else to start kissing.”
Ricardo didn’t seem hurt at all by Liz’s rejection. He smiled and held the elevator door for Liz as they brought Bella’s bags to Liz’s room.
“See you at six o’clock,” Liz said as the room door closed.
Liz felt exhausted. She couldn’t even imagine going out tonight. Instead, she wanted to just sleep.
Liz’s phone rang with a call from Skype. There was only one person this could be and Liz didn’t want to miss the call this time. She hurried into her purse and grabbed the phone and swiped to answer the call.