Chapter Three
Michelle…
There’s nothing like Central Park on a spring day.
Except if you’re hung over, and then it’s not so great.
We’d finished both bottles of wine while watching The Avengers and then opened a third.
Neither of us ate enough sushi to sop up all the alcohol and now we were sweating it out in the sunshine.
Not hung over would definitely have been better.
Still, lying on a blanket, on the soft spring grass, with a gentle breeze blowing through the newly grown leaves, and the sounds of kids running around was a wonderful after being cooped up inside most of the winter. It even improved my mood a little.
I was flipping through the books on my Kindle trying to figure out what to read, when a shadow slid across the tablet screen. Even with sunglasses on and squinting into the sunlight, it was too bright to figure out who was standing over me.
“Hi, Michelle…Michelle DeAngelo, right?”
Okay, so he knew who I was, the voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I still didn’t know who it was.
I got what I call a case of the weaslies—goose bumps and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention.
Rolling to a sitting position to get a better look at him, I still couldn’t make out his face.
“Your voice sounds familiar, but with the sun in my eyes I can’t place it. Sorry.”
“No problem. Bob Williams. I teach first grade at Crane Park. In fact my classroom is just down the hall from yours.”
“Oh yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you but the sun. Bob, how are you?” I still had no idea who the hell he was, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to play along.
“Great, enjoying the nice weather.”
Able to make out more of him as the sun moved behind some clouds, I still didn’t remember him, then some memory triggered of him standing outside his class every morning and waving hi to me as I got to mine.
I’d never heard him speak that I could remember.
He was one of the people who you didn’t notice, they seem to blend in to their surroundings.
Not trying to be mean, but you know damn well what I’m talking about.
We all know at least one person who is a “blender”.
There is absolutely nothing about them that stands out.
Medium brown hair, medium build, medium height, dressed in khaki pants with a beige polo shirt, and medium brown shoes.
Really? He didn’t look like he was out to relax in the park, and once again my Spidey senses tingled.
“I know right? It’s wonderful to get out of the house for a change.” My patience with small talk was at an end. Now how did I get him to move along?
“Hi, I’m Bob,” he said, obviously addressing Teresa.
She elbowed me in the side and turned over to say hi. I shrugged. Hell if I knew what he was up to.
“Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Teresa,” she answered and flashed her shiny diamond in his face.
Way to go, Teresa. At least she had an asshole protector to flash.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t fair. He might be a great guy, but I was hung over and pissed off at Flame after the whole thing last night.
Definitely not in the mood to make nice with a guy.
“Wow quite a rock you’ve got there. Lucky guy.
” He had a strange expression on his face, disapproval?
Maybe for the way we were dressed? Both of us wanted a little color after being so pale all winter and were wearing bikini tops and shorts.
Nothing too revealing. Or maybe he always looked like he sucked on a lemon?
“You’re right he is,” Teresa said with a grin. “Actually Michelle is dating his friend. You might have heard of them, they’re in a band—Raining Chaos.”
“Ahh, no, I can’t say I have. But I listen to mostly country music. They don’t sound like a country band.”
Now he really looked like he was sucking on a lemon and I couldn’t hold back my giggle. I knew what Teresa was doing, and it wasn’t working but I gave her an “A” for effort. “Yeah, they’re definitely not a country music band.”
“How come he’s not here with you?”
“They’ve been on tour. But they’re headed back today,” Teresa answered for me.
I wanted to kick her but couldn’t without Bob seeing.
I didn’t like to share personal info with people I didn’t know, and even if we did teach at the same school, and I still didn’t know that for sure, but either way I didn’t ‘know’ Bob.
“They should be careful leaving you beautiful ladies on your own.” He glanced at his wrist, and then at me. “I guess I should be going. I still have some errands to run. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Watching his back fade into the crowd near the ice cream stand, I breathed a sigh of relief and some of the heaviness weighing me down lifted. Reaching for the cooler, I pulled out a bottle of water and handed one to Teresa.
“What the fuck was that? Do you know him?”
“I don’t think so, but apparently he knows me, huh?”
“It sure seemed like it. Freaky.”
“No shit. I have the creepy crawlies. There’s something not right about him.”
Teresa nodded as she chugged her water. “I know. It’s why I told him about the guys, figured he’d leave you alone.”
“I’m not sure if it worked or not. I don’t like telling people about Flame, though. I haven’t told you yet but there’s been grief at school over him.”
She pulled her sunglasses down her nose and looked at me over the upper edge. “What kind of trouble? Have you told Flame at least?”
“Nope, no one. He’s been so busy and exhausted with the tour. I can handle it. At least I hope I can.”
“Spill it…”
Why had I opened my damn mouth? Ugh. I’d managed this long without telling anyone.
Chalk another one up to the hangover and the weaslies.
That’ll teach me to drink when I’m freakin’ pissed off.
“After Christmas break the principle called me in to her office. She said a complaint had been filed about my relationship with Flame.”
“What? How did anyone even know?”
“I guess it made the papers over Christmas, and someone, she hinted it was one of my student’s parents, apparently complained. She reminded me of the rules of behavior. Apparently making the news, social media and the paper’s who’s who page is not a good thing.”
“So what does that mean?”
“Basically I’m on probation. If I step out of line they can fire me. I haven’t been there long enough to make tenure and at this rate I’m not sure I will, or even if I want to. Teaching is not at all what I expected.”
“Do you really teach though? Isn’t it more like babysitting a bunch of five year olds?”
“No, it really isn’t. You’d be surprised how smart these kids are.
But there’s the stupid core curriculum now and it even applies to kindergarten.
You wouldn’t believe the freakin’ rules we have to follow.
I wanted to work with the kids but everything is so strictly formatted they take the fun out of it.
They are only five, they should be able to have a little fun still. ”
“No shit? That sucks donkey balls.”
“Yeah, they wouldn’t even let me bring Sylvester. Too afraid one of the kids might be allergic, get scratched, or some such shit.”
“Damn. Kindergarten wasn’t like that when we were in school.”
“No it wasn’t. Now you see why I’ve been stressed. It’s not just from missing Flame.”
She nodded and finished her water. I took another drink of mine and as I looked around I thought I caught a glimpse of Bob. But I blinked and looked again but didn’t see him. Damn. All the fun of being in the park evaporated like mist.
“I don’t blame you. So if you don’t teach what will you do?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Hey, want to get out of here? We can stop and pick up something for lunch.”
“Sure.”
The feeling of being watched stayed with me, like eyes boring in to my back, but I didn’t see Bob or anyone else. It gave me the creeps and I couldn’t wait to get back to the apartment. We picked up a couple of corned beef sandwiches on rye and a container of potato salad and brought it home.
Sylvester was waiting at the door for us as usual. Meowing his greeting and sniffing at our bags. I swear he could smell us as soon as we got off the elevator and knew if we had food.
“Meowww, meowwww,” he said, rubbing against my legs and almost tripping me as I tried to get to the kitchen.
One of these days I was going to fall on my ass in the middle of the hallway.
He’d probably like it too. I could see it now, he’d climb on top of my chest and do his happy feet thing until I passed out, then he’d find the food and eat it all.
Teresa must have gone to change because I realized I was the only one fighting with the cat. Then she came into the kitchen with her phone against her ear.
“No babe, she’s not avoiding him, at least I don’t think so.
Do you want me to check? No? Okay, then.
I’ll tell her to check her phone. Good. When’s your flight?
And when are you landing? Do you want us to meet you at the airport?
Are you sure? Gotcha. I love you, baby. Be safe and I can’t wait to.
..” She saw me staring at her, and turned whispering something in the phone.
I wasn’t trying to listen, not really. But she walked in and was obviously talking to Wrath. Grabbing a couple of plates I unwrapped the sandwiches and dished out the salad. Sylvester jumped against me and not expecting it I almost lost my balance.
“Damn cat. Wait ‘til Cynda gets back. You’re gonna be sorry.”
He didn’t even blink just gave me the usual, “meow.”
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 New York.
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 looking like 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.