We finished up our breakfasts, talking a little more just catching up with one another. I missed my mother—both my parents in the last few weeks, but even longer than that. I’ve never really expressed how hurt I was while training during the academy. I remember wanting to quit more than once and feeling like I wasn’t cut out for this career. But it was the will instilled in me by my parents that made me forge ahead. All the stories I heard growing up of what my grandparents went through just to come here and fend for themselves spurred me on.If they could endure that, I sure as hell could endure this,I spent many nights repeating over and over to myself.
I insisted on taking care of the bill once we finished. After giving my mother a kiss on the cheek and promises that I’d do my best to set up that date, I headed home. I planned to get some sleep before I needed to return to work that night, but not before stopping over atCharlie’sto see my favorite girl.
Chapter Sixteen
Angela
“You’re really going to do it? You’re going to walk into the lion’s den again?”
I frowned at how dramatic she made it sound. I hit the speaker button so that I could talk while I continued to apply my makeup at the vanity in my bedroom. “Yes, Janine. I’m going to go to dinner with Eric over to his parents’ home. And stop calling it the lion’s den.”
“But what if she invites his ex over again?”
“Eric’s not thinking about her, and I doubt his mother would do that again. He was so pissed the first time.”
“If you say so.” She sucked her teeth.
I laughed at her sarcasm. “I’ve already been assured she wouldn’t do that.”
“From Eric, but what about his?”
“Not from Eric. From his mother. She got my number from Eric and personally called to apologize for our last encounter and invite us to dinner. No surprises this time.”
“At least she had the class to invite you personally.”
“Right? I think that was a good sign. So tell me what’s going on with you.” Picking up my black eyeliner, I stuck my head closer to the mirror, pulling on my cheek to make my water line easier to access, and began applying the liner. I heard Janine sigh through the line.
“Same ol‘, same ol‘. Matt is still acting a fool. I think I’m over it. I’m so over his shit and this city in general.”
I snorted, switching eyes. “I’ve heard that before.”
“I think I’m serious this time. Matt obviously isn’t in the mood for marriage anytime soon. Boston is full of yuppie professionals who are more into playing games than building a family. Maybe it’s just me.”
“Well, if you're for real, you know my cousin still rents out her place and is looking for a tenant while she travels. You’d have plenty of opportunities to find a job in interior design here in Williamsport.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. I pulled out my powder brush, dabbed it in the brown powder that matched my skin perfectly, and tapped it a couple of times on the edge to remove the excess before I applied it.
“Hello?” I called, swirling the powder around my chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead?my typically shiny areas.
“I’m thinking.” Janine’s voice was pensive. “Can I get back to you? How long before your cousin rents out the place?”
“I don’t know. Her current tenants are moving out at the end of this month, and I think she has someone staying for a month after that, but she wants someone long-term.”
“Hmm, I need to think about this.”
I could picture my friend biting her thumbnail, contemplatively. She rarely made a decision without thinking about it in a thousand different ways.
“Okay, I have to go, but I’ll give you a ring this weekend.”
“’K, bye.”
Just as we hung up, that familiar rhythmic knock on the door sounded. I cursed, wishing he was just five minutes late.
“Coming!” I yelled, rushing to the door still in my tan camisole and high-waist jeans.
“Hi, I’m running a little behind. Oh, sorry,” I said, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I was talking with Janine and got a little sidetracked.”
“How is she?” Eric asked, stepping in and shutting the door behind him. I took a second to admire the black pants he wore instead of jeans and a blue Polo shirt. We’ve talked before about Janine and the many good times we had in college and afterward.
