Chapter 16

Being at the track was a blast. Steve took Angela for a ride in the race car and introduced her and showed her around while Joanne and Ana hung out together. At first when he blurted it out to his sister, she was worried, but Ana seemed happy for them and it seemed almost legitimate that they were seeing each other now. The rest of the weekend passed in bliss as far as she was concerned. They took walks together, sat on the beach, made love…and most importantly, came to know one another better. The night of the party, Angela dressed in a red sundress that hugged her curves she’d specifically bought for the fourth. She curled her hair in long curls across her shoulders and slipped into a pair of red wedge sandals since the party would be held down near the beach. When she was ready, she met Joanne at the top of the stairs and Joanne said, “Damn, I’m going to stop hanging around with you if you don’t stop showing me up.”

Angela laughed. “You look gorgeous, stop it.”

“Sure, as soon as I grow me a set like you and my eyes get to be big and brown and surrounded by foot long eyelashes, I’ll believe it.”

“Every man there tonight will be lusting after you in that little blue number.” Joanne was wearing a blue mini-dress that looked great with her long blonde hair and blue eyes. Angela sincerely thought her friend was beautiful. Joanne wasn’t lacking in self-confidence usually, but she’d had a run of bad luck with men lately and that had dampened her spirits some.

“We’ll, see,” her friend said, linking her arm through Angela’s. “Shall we go, or are we waiting for Prince Charming?” Angela felt herself blush.

“He’s meeting us down there,” she said.

“Onward then. I have men to entice.” They both giggled and headed out to the party. As soon as they got down to the beach, Ana, dressed to kill in a festive dress, greeted them.

“Wow, look at you two. I’m glad at least one of you is taken or I’d never get any action.”

“Right,” they both said. Angela looked around. Ana had done a great job organizing the party. There was a temporary bar set up with American flags waving from all four posts, a bandstand where a live band was warming up, a temporary dance floor that had been put in over the sand and then off to the side was a volleyball net, a bonfire and lots of tables and chairs set up around it.

“Everything looks great,” Angela told her.

“Amazing,” Joanne agreed. “But where is the alcohol?”

Ana laughed and said, “Right this way.” Angela started to follow them when she felt a touch on her arm. She turned to find her Prince Charming there, looking good enough to eat. He was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt with an American flag on the pocket and a pair of faded Levi’s that fit him like a glove. This man could wear rags and make them look stylish. His hair was finger styled and he had just a tiny shadow of stubble across his chin that gave him a more rugged look than usual when he was in his business attire and completely clean shaven.

“Jesus, you make my chest hurt,” he said. She felt her face go hot again and she said, “Same here. You look great.”

“You look so good that I won’t need fireworks tonight, they’re already going off in my head.”

He took her arm and that’s where she stayed for the rest of the night. He introduced her to everyone, they ate together, they danced and he whispered things in her ear that he planned to do to her after the party was over. Angela couldn’t remember the last time she was so happy…it had been so long.

When it was time for the fireworks, Steve spread a blanket underneath one of the palm trees that grew along the beach and they lay down together, looking up at the sky. It was a clear night and the stars were all out. They were close to the other party-goers, but as far as Angela was concerned at that moment, they were the only two people laying underneath the satiny blanket that shined down on them. The band played a few patriotic songs and then a woman Ana introduced as Gretchen went up and sang the Star Spangled Banner. Flags were waved and then the fireworks show began. The fireworks were shot out over the water and each one burst in a brilliant display of color, lighting up the sky and everything underneath it. Angela watched them, but she also delighted in watching Steve’s face. He obviously loved them and she loved seeing the child-like look of wonder in his eyes as he watched them. When the night was over she knew that she was falling hard for this man. The four day weekend had allowed her to get to know him some, and what she knew, she liked. Steve was polite and respectful in spite of how assertive he was sexually and in business. He even treated his sister with respect and that was an important quality in a man, Angela thought. He loved his race cars and when he talked about them, his face lit up almost as much as it did underneath the fireworks. His father had instilled a love of the machines in both of his children and then passed the business on to them to run after his death. They both seemed to revel in it.

Angela’s only concern at the end of the weekend was Thomas. She knew now more than ever that she had to find a place to live, and soon. She had the feeling that Thomas wouldn’t be as happy for her as Ana and Joanne. She wasn’t going to let that dampen her spirits, however. For the first time in too long she felt something akin to joy…and she planned to hold on to it.

**

The next day she was sitting at the desk, preparing paperwork for the photoshoot that was happening on Wednesday. The weekend had renewed not only her spirit, but her energy. She’d been locked in her office all day, on a roll with her plans for both of her original clients as well as her new one. It was about eleven forty-five when there was a knock at her door.

“Yes?” The door opened and a courier was there.

“I have something for Ms. Angela Black,” he said. Angela smiled. Steve sent her flowers…again.

“Come on in,” she told him. He came in carrying a huge vase of her favorite, yellow-ish, orange and red passion fruit lilies. She could smell them already as he approached her desk. She was smiling from ear to ear. “Oh they’re lovely!” she said. There must have been at least three dozen in the giant crystal vase. She signed for them and tipped the courier and after burying her nose in them and breathing in their gentle fragrance, she tore open the card.

It said, “I thought these were beautiful. Not as beautiful as you, however. Nothing is. I’m sorry for everything and I’m sorry I missed you when you got home last night. I still hope we can be best roommates. –T-

The flowers weren’t from Steve, they were from Thomas. She sat there for a few minutes, stunned. Yes, the apology was nice. The flowers are beautiful. They’re her favorite and since Thomas was at her wedding there was no reason to wonder how he knew they were her favorite…but for some reason the fact that he’d sent the same flowers, only a bigger bouquet in a bigger vase than Steve had sent to her, kind of gave her the creeps. Something about it was just off. She had to find an apartment. She stuck her hand down inside of her satchel. She hadn’t used this one over the weekend. It’s her “work” purse mostly. She dug around inside and suddenly realized the newspaper clippings with the apartments in them weren’t there. She dumped the purse out on her desk. They were gone. What the hell? There was suddenly another knock on her door.

“Come in!” She was still looking at the contents of her purse, bewildered when the door opened and closed. She didn’t look up until she heard, “Oh good, they came.” She looked up into Thomas’s green eyes. He was smiling at her. His eyes fell to the pile of things she’d just dumped onto the desk. “Did you lose something?”

Angela felt her hands tremble. Should she ask Thomas if he took the paper from her purse? But why would he do that? Surely he’s not that adamant that she stay another month or two with him that he’d try and sabotage her efforts…is he? Maybe she just misplaced them. “Um…yes, actually. I had some newspaper clippings in here. They’re gone.”

“Hmm, did you look in your desk? Maybe you only thought you put them in there.”

“No, they were here. Did you take them out?”

Thomas chuckled. “Seriously? Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you don’t want me to move.”

“I wouldn’t go in your purse. Sheesh! Give me some credit. I’ve got you until September anyways, right?”

“Thomas…I told you I was moving as soon as possible.” He rolled his eyes and plopped down in the chair across from her. With a smile he said, “So, how did you like the flowers?”

“They’re lovely, but you shouldn’t have.”

“Of course I should. I owe you an apology. I don’t want us to fight anymore. I want you to be happy.” Angela was suddenly feeling guilty about accusing him of things. He’d always been such a good friend…

“Do you mean that? You really want me to be happy?”

“Of course,” he said, still smiling. “I missed you this weekend. Let’s have dinner tonight, jus the two of us.”

“I can’t, Thomas. I already have plans…” His demeanor changed almost instantly. He sat straight up in the chair and said, “With who?”

Angela winced. Here it comes, she thought…another fight. It had to be done though; he needed to know about her and Steve. “With Steve,” she said. “He and I are dating now.”

Thomas stood up. Angela could almost see him smoldering as he said, “I talked to Kimberly about him. He’s fucking her, Angela! Are you that stupid and naïve?”

“Don’t call me stupid!” she said, angrily. “And before you go around shooting off your mouth, you should get your facts straight. He dated Kimberly but broke up with her weeks ago. She’s having a hard time taking no for an answer…but he’s saying it. Now, that is all that you and I will say to each other about it. It seems to be the root of our “arguments.”

“I just don’t want to see you hurt.” His tone was softer…but it seemed forced.

“I’m a big girl, Thomas. I have to make my own decisions. I don’t believe he will hurt me…but in life, you have to take risks sometimes. I think he’s worth it.”

“Why? Because he’s rich? Is that it? Or is he just a good fuck and you haven’t had one of those in a while?”

“Get out of my office,” she said. She crumpled the card she still had in her hand and said, “Your apologies don’t mean anything any longer. You just turn around and do the same shit again.” She tossed it in the trash. Something dark flashed in his eyes and he turned to go. He was almost to the door when he turned back and said, “I just worry about you.” His eyes were soft again and he sounded like the Thomas she knew so well. She wasn’t buying it though. He wasn’t worried. He was angry…or at least that’s how it appeared to her.

“Don’t,” she said. “I don’t need you to worry about me.”

“Will I see you at home later?”

“I don’t know, Thomas.” He waited for her to say something else and when she didn’t, he left. Angela dropped down into the chair and put her hands on her head. He’d been such a good friend for so long. What the hell was happening?