Teresa laughed. “Sorry. Umm I, we, umm well we do this thing…”
“Stop. I don’t even want to know. Way TMI, girl.” Friends or not some things were just better off to the imagination or not, whatever.
“Okay, okay,” she said laughing. “Anyway, part of the reason he called was because Flame’s been trying to get a hold of you. He thinks you’re avoiding him.”
“No I’m not. My phone hasn’t rung once today.”
“Are you sure? He said Flame was driving them crazy. He’s devastated and hung over. Not a good combo for him from what Wrath said.”
“Oh I bet. He was trashed the first night we met…” Nope I wasn’t going there either. Again, some things are better left unsaid, and I was pissed at him, but not avoiding him.Shit. I’d turned my phone off last night. Pulling it out of my purse which was still laying on the kitchen counter, I checked it. Sure enough it was turned off. “Well maybe I was avoiding him, but not intentionally. I turned it off last night and forgot to turn it back on.”
“Good one. You know it’s not a bad thing to make them worry once in a while.”
“Maybe.” Turning the phone on, I shoved it in my pocket, and picked up the plates to go into the living room. Most of our meals were eaten on the couch in front of the TV, don’t judge me. It was only the two of us, and we were always careful not to make a mess.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to see his texts, so I took a bite of the sandwich first. Katz’s Deli had the best corned beef on rye in NewYork. Huge, delicious and tons of calories. It was even better when accompanied by their potato salad. Sometimes you just have to say fuck it and eat what you want, today was one of those days. I’d actually dropped some weight over the winter, between missing Flame and all the stress at work. My usual size twelve was probably now an eight. I kinda missed my curves.
Teresa pulled a piece of corned beef out of her sandwich and fed it to Sylvester. This was the reason he begged, and Cyn was going to kill us. How could you not give in to that face? He was adorable and being a tuxedo short hair, he always dressed for success.
“What did he say?”
Swallowing, I took a drink of water before I answered. “I don’t know yet. I didn’t look.”
Laughing, she shook her head and took a bite of her sandwich. Sylvester jumped onto the couch between us and was pawing at my lap.
“Yeah I know what you want. You’re gonna get so fat you won’t be able to jump onto the couch if you keep this up.”
“Meowww.”
Dangling a small piece of corned beef in front of his face, I laughed as he ate it out of my hand and didn’t drop a crumb. And no it probably wasn’t the best thing to feed him but don’t judge me until you have a cat staring you down while you eat.
I was stalling, I knew it, Teresa knew it, hell Sylvester probably knew it too. So much for a relaxing stress free Saturday. With a sigh I pulled out my phone. “Shit.”
“What?”
“It says twenty missed calls and fifty text messages.”
“Wow. I guess he’s worried, huh?”
“Looks like it.” Dialing voicemail I listened to all of his messages. They were all pretty much the same.
“Don’t be mad. I’m sorry. Really, nothing happened. I didn’t even know her. Are you still mad? Please answer me, you’re killing me, girl.”
The text messages were the same thing except he’d included selfies. One of him pouting, another on his knees and lookinglike he was begging for forgiveness—someone must have helped him with that one. I couldn’t help it, I laughed. He was a goof and I loved the stupid shit. What, you didn’t think I realized it? Of course I did. I’ve known for months, since before Christmas. But there was no way I was telling him first, or at least until I was sure he felt the same way.
I was showing Teresa the pictures when my phone rang.
Chapter Four
Michelle…
“Finally. Fuck. Michelle, do you know how worried I’ve been?”
“Sorry. It wasn’t intentional. I turned it off last night and forgot about it.”
“Did you get my messages?”
“Yup, just now. I’m not mad.”
