Chapter One
Michelle…
“Hi honey, I’m home.”
“I’ve got a surprise,” Teresa yelled from the kitchen with a laugh. “Get out of your school clothes and meet me in the living room.”
School clothes? She sounded like a mother, or my grandmother. Bending down to pet Sylvester and grab my laptop, I headed to my bedroom. Staying in Cyn’s apartment was definitely the best idea she’d come up with before she left. It made perfect sense since it was paid for and we could stay rent free. All we had to do was cover the utilities and keep it clean. No biggie for a couple of women whose men were far away. All we did was work and miss them.
Staring into the mirror as I washed off my makeup, I wondered if Flame missed me half as much as I missed him. It’d been almost four months since we’d seen each other. He called and sent texts but it wasn’t the same. Hell, even the sexting only did somuch for me. I wanted him, his kisses, his hugs and most of all his hot naked body holding me close.
At Christmas, I’d thought he would propose but he didn’t. No mention of a commitment at all. But even busy as he was on tour he still kept in touch—sounded like commitment to me.
“Hurry up, Michelle. Geesh! What are you doing in there?”
“I’ll be right out.” Smirking into the mirror, I shrugged and dropped my clothes in the hamper. Grabbing a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, and pulling my hair into a pony tail, I put my daydreaming on hold.
“Surprise,” Teresa said as soon as she saw me.
I was surprised too. “Are we celebrating something?” A platter of sushi and two bottles of wine on the coffee table had me wondering if I’d missed something.
“No, well maybe. You’ve been having such a hard time at work, and I finally finished the story that’d been kicking my butt. I figured why not a little celebration since I was actually out of work early for achange. I stopped and picked it up. I hope you’re in the mood.”
My stomach growled and I hoped I wasn’t drooling. We both laughed at the loud gurgle. I dropped onto the couch and almost landed on Sylvester, who’d snuck up between us. He too was a fan of sushi, big surprise there. “Are you kidding me? Not in the mood. This is great, and congrats on finishing the story.”
“Thanks. I’m so happy it’s done. I was worried my editor wouldn’t like it but he gave me the all clear and I took off. Figured why give him a chance to change his mind.”
“I don’t blame you,” I said as I reached for one of the wine bottles and the corkscrew. As good as the sushi looked I needed a glass of wine. The tension in my shoulders was getting worse by the day. I needed to figure out what do to about work, and definitely before Raining Chaos got back from their tour.
Pouring our favorite pinot noir, I handed Teresa a glass. We toasted to her finished project and the end of the week. I wanted to toast to the demise of a certain pain in the ass bitch, but I kept it to myself. At thispoint even if she died it wouldn’t fix anything, the damage was done.
The sushi was excellent. Teresa picked a great selection, including my favorite the rainbow roll. Sylvester got his share, there was no way not to. He’d reach up and try to knock it out of our chopsticks. One of these days we’d need to catch him on video. It was hysterical to watch. I didn’t remember him being like this when Cyn’s mom was alive. I guess we’ve been spoiling him.
“Do you have any plans for this weekend,” I asked as I shoved another piece of sushi in my mouth, breathing slowly as the wasabi burned my nasal passages. Congested? Wasabi was the answer!
“Nope, how about you?”
“Only the usual. I wasn’t sure if you were going to visit your mom or not.”
“Nope not this weekend, she’s doing some kind of craft fair with Jack and Sally. I figured maybe we could go to a museum to get out of the apartment. Or maybe go to Central Park if the weather holds.”
“Sounds good. I’m getting tired of being inside. Winter was a bitch this year.”Turning on the six o’clock news we watched for the weather when familiar faces appeared on the screen.
“Oh turn it up,” Teresa said, bouncing on the couch with excitement. I understood, I really did. We missed our men. We’d made a pact not to whine about it except over ice cream and wine once a month. But the longing for them was always there.
Clicking the remote to raise the volume, we listened to the reporter gush about the concert—their last one in London.
Last one? Last one! “Did you know they were done with the tour?” I asked Teresa. From the look on her face she was just as surprised.
“Nope. I was about to bitch you out for not telling me.”
“Do you think they kept it a secret on purpose or did something happen?”
“I’m wondering the same thing. When did you talk to Flame last?
“Two days ago. How about Wrath?”
“The same.”
