Chapter 6

   Angela was curled up with a glass of red wine on the over-sized sofa and looking over some notes from work. The AC was pumping at max but she was still hotter than ever in a tank top and a pair of shorts. She laid the papers down beside her, and stretched out her tanned legs. She let her eyes wander the room. They fell on a picture of Thomas, Blake and herself. She squint her eyes and took a better look. It was from the Stag and Doe, the three of them were toasting with their beer in the photo.

    Even though it had been 7 months since Blake passed even simple things such as photos, certain songs or smells would make her well up suddenly and uncontrollably. The love she had for him and the pain of losing him was so overwhelming. Her eyes began to pool as she tried to focus on the great times. She let out a chuckle and wiped her eyes before the wetness could touch her cheeks.

    She heard the door open and slam shut. Quickly patting her eyes dry and taking in a deep breath she watched Thomas walk down the hall. He started to pass her without saying a word. “Hey, did you get my text?” She asked as he continued on by.

A moment later she heard his bedroom door slam shut. She took the last sip of her wine and walked down the hall. Knocking, she asked, “Thomas, are you ok?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” He grunted through the other side of the door. “I’ll be out in a bit.

“Ok,” she said frowning. She went back to the living room and to her work.

Angela finished making some notes to the marketing plan she would be doing for Ana’s company when Thomas finally entered and walked past her to the kitchen. She heard the fridge door open.

“Hey, did you get my text?” She asked waiting for a reply. “I’m really sorry I stood you up but I lost track of time and then had my two o’clock presentation to do.”

Still silence, nothing but the hum of the air conditioner and TV in the background.

Angela got up and walked into the kitchen to find Thomas leaning against the fridge taking a sip of his beer. “Are you mad at me?” She asked with her hands on her hips.

“I’m cool,” he said, not even glancing in her direction.

"Well then why are you acting like this?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Look, I just had a rough day at work, alright?” He was looking at her in a way he never had before. He brushed past her and went into the living room. She followed and watched him grab the remote from the table and turned the TV to a football channel.

“Ok,” she said, putting her hands up apologetically. “Are you hungry? There are some left overs in the fridge.”

“No, I’m good. I ate before I came home.” He was so short with her. But then his tone changed a bit and he said, “So how did your presentation go?”

“I thought you would never ask,” she said with a smile. She went over and plopped down beside him on the couch. “My new client loved it! We will be doing a photo shoot just after the Fourth of July weekend which means that once it is all finished, we will be working together on a few things. Oh and guess what? I know her, my new client I mean. When Joanne took me to that private event, well it was my new client’s private event. Her name is Ana McAllister, partner of McAllister Stock Cars. Pretty cool huh?”

“That name sounds familiar.” Thomas said looking at her. Taking a long pull of his beer, he laid his hand on her knee. “Listen, I’m sorry for acting like an ass. I was kinda pissed you stood me up for lunch and then my day just went to shit from there.” Thomas gave her a sad look.

“It’s ok. We all have bad days. I am really sorry. I had every intention of going. Speaking of the day though, something weird happened today that I wanted to ask you about.” Angela circled the ring of her glass with her finger. “At the end of the presentation when everyone was gone there was a tense conversation between Ana and Kimberly. All I heard was “He already told you it’s over” and to “let it go,” or something like that. Anyway when Ana left Kimberly was clearly pissed.” She took a sip of her wine. “You’re close with Kimberly. What was that about, do you know?” She was trying not to sound like she was prying, but she clearly was.

“I’m not sure. I know she met someone about two months ago because that is all she ever talks about. How gorgeous this guy was, how he spoils her and makes her feel like no other man. It gets old.” He said, rolling his eyes. “Maybe they are fighting over the same guy?”

    “Huh.” Angela shrugged her shoulders. Turning to the football game Angela’s mind wandered back to her encounter with Steve in the storage room. It made her stomach flutter just thinking about it. She knew they would bump into each other again. He said he did business there. But what floor did he work on? How did he know she would be in the storage room? He must have watched her, she thought. Regardless, the next encounter would be cut short. Things were moving too quickly and she wasn’t ready for any of it.

    “Well I think I will call it a night. I’m exhausted. See ya in the morning.” She bent over and gave Thomas a peck on the cheek.

    ******

    Finishing his beer, Thomas turned the TV off. He turned off the lights in the living room and made his way down the hall. Just before entering the bathroom his head swung around, eyes glued to the mirror armoire in the corner of Angela’s room. Her door was open just a slit, just enough to see her reflection in the mirror.

    Thomas leaned against the bathroom door knowing that she couldn’t see him. Standing there he watched her undressed. He examined her long shapely tanned legs, and let his eyes trail to her black satin panties and then to her breasts. They were covered by a black lace bra but he could see the swell of them over the lace. Licking his lower lip he watched as Angela began to slowly rub lotion on her legs. Thomas’s mouth turned up into a grin as he slid into the bathroom and closed the door behind him softly so Angela wouldn’t hear.