Toronto Collection Volume 3 (Toronto Series #10-13)

by Heather Wardell

  Her frown deepened, then her face cleared. "Sure, no problem." She leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. "Sorry. I'll behave."

  Zack's disbelief and disapproval seemed to waft from him like smoke, and before he could say anything I said to him, "What did your teacher think of your project video?"

  He turned to me, neatly turning his back to Lacey in the process. "Loved it," he said with satisfaction. "I got an A and I got to talk about it in front of the whole school at yesterday's morning assembly."

  I high-fived him. "If you'd invited me I could have filmed you showing off your film. It would have been epic, man, just epic."

  He laughed, recognizing that I was quoting one of our favorite games, and John did too.

  "It would have been, but I didn't get any notice that it was happening. If I had I would have invited you, and Dad too."

  A frown flickered over his face, and I knew why: John might have been too tired to go. He'd been sleeping in later and later on weekends, which I knew because Zack and I spent that time together so he wouldn't awaken his dad, but the bags under his eyes were developing their own bags and he'd actually fallen asleep last night in the few moments while we were waiting for a game to load. He insisted he'd be fine, though, and he clearly didn't wanted to discuss it so I hadn't pushed him.

  "What project is this? I haven't heard about it." Lacey's tone suggested that she heard about everything worth hearing and therefore this project wasn't.

  "I gave out ten five-dollar Tim's gift cards to people on the street," Zack said, not quite rudely but not with great friendliness either.

  John and I exchanged a quick glance but neither of us pushed him to tell about the 'free hugs' side of his project. I wondered if Zack was afraid Lacey would demand a hug from him. If so, he was probably right. Even more than the other times I'd seen her, she seemed to be trying for an 'I can be your new mom' vibe, and I felt sure Zack hated that.

  Shane leaned forward. "Neat project. I've always wished I had tons of money to give away. Did people appreciate them or was anyone rude about it?"

  Zack wrinkled his nose. "A tiny bit of rudeness, but..." Shane's interest obviously pleasing him more than Lacey's, he said, "I actually only gave one of them directly to a person. The rest I hid so people could find them."

  Lacey giggled. "Why on earth did you do that?"

  He shrugged. "So they could have the fun of finding it and not worry about having to thank me."

  Lacey poked me in the shoulder. "It's you they'd have to thank, really."

  I blinked, and Zack said, "How come?"

  She looked back and forth between us, then horror spread across her face. "He used his own money?"

  "Of course," Zack and I said together. We smiled at each other and I added, "It was his idea and his project, after all."

  She shook her head slowly. "Okay, but--"

  "No but," John said quickly. "It was Zack's decision to do it so he used his own money."

  Lacey still looked upset and confused. She glanced at me, then turned away and said, "Never mind."

  We sat in another awkward silence for a few seconds, then Shane cleared his throat and said, "Did you guys hear about the homeless guy who won five grand at Tim Horton's on the weekend? Maybe he found one of your cards and used it to buy whatever item he won on."

  Zack and I stared at each other, and matching grins grew on our faces. "Maybe," I said, knowing we both hoped the man Zack had handed the card to had been the winner. "Cool that he won, either way. No doubt he needs the money."

  "He'll probably just blow it on alcohol or something," Lacey said, checking her phone which had beeped as Shane spoke.

  "That's such a stereotype," Zack snapped. "We don't know why the guy's homeless. And I think it's awesome he got the money. I hope it lets him get his life going exactly how he wants."

  Lacey put her phone down and gave him a condescending smile. "Five thousand dollars won't do that, I'm afraid. Nowhere near enough. But it's sweet of you to want it for him." She reached out and ruffled his hair. "You're a nice kid, Zack."

  He jerked away and smoothed down his hair, and Shane said, "Angela, we should probably get going. Lawyers don't like it when you keep them waiting." He chuckled. "Although you have to pay for their time, so maybe they don't really care."

  Shane was meeting with a new lawyer to work on his divorce from Liz. I didn't particularly want to be there, but he'd gone on about how uncomfortable he'd feel dealing with it all alone until I hadn't felt like I had any choice.

  I looked around for our waiter, and mouthed, "The bill?" at him once we'd made eye contact. He smiled and nodded and brought it over.

  "I haven't hit the bank machine yet," Shane reminded me, "since I was running late. Can you cover me?"

  "Sure," I said, mentally adding up his share and mine and adding tax and tip. "Forty-five should do it." I pulled money from my wallet and laid it down beside the bill. "John, if I'm wrong, let me know later, okay?"

  "You got it." He turned to Shane and held out his hand. "Good luck with the lawyer," he said, sounding uncomfortable but also sincere.

  They shook hands, and Shane said, "Thanks," then I exchanged a fist bump with Zack and said goodbye to a strangely quiet Lacey and we were off. I didn't much want to go to the lawyer, but I was glad we were leaving. Lacey's attitude toward Zack's project made me feel sick.

  *****

  The following Wednesday after going out for dinner, Shane and I were walking from the parking lot toward the apartment building carrying my groceries when we encountered Lacey leaving in what could only be called a huff.

  We set down our bags and Shane started to ask if she was okay, but she turned on me before he could finish. "He's an idiot, but you're clueless too."

  I glanced at Shane, confused, then back at her. "He's not an idiot. And I'm not--"

  "Not Shane." She pointed up at the apartment building. "Him. But you are clueless and you're selfish too. It was so obvious we both wanted you to fund that cruise, but you didn't do it. It would have been nothing to you. And helping John out in other ways would have been nothing either. But instead you did nothing."

  I stood silent, shocked by her rage, and she rolled her eyes. "Why didn't you take the hint? He said he didn't want to put you out or make you uncomfortable, but obviously he did want the money. But no, you have to keep it all to yourself. You've given him nothing. You didn't even pay for our lunch! Selfish bitch."

  She stormed off down the sidewalk, and I stared at Shane. "John wouldn't have taken money for the cruise if I had offered."

  "No, probably not," he said soothingly.

  "Definitely not. I tried before. He barely let me send him and Zack for a ski weekend as a Christmas present, and there's no way he'd take money for another trip. Or even for lunch."

  Shane slipped his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sure you're right. Some people are just stubborn that way."

  Something about this sat wrong with me, but before I could say anything about it Dwayne the superintendent came out of the building shaking his head. "I hope those bags aren't heavy," he said, pointing to the groceries at our feet. "The elevator's out of service again."

  I groaned.

  He spread his hands wide. "I know, trust me. That's what everyone's saying. But it's old and not in great shape, and it ain't working."

  "How long do you think it'll be?"

  "I can't tell you. I don't want to get yelled at again."

  I pressed my fingers over my mouth to seal it shut and raised my eyebrows encouragingly.

  "Next week, if we're lucky."

  A squawk emerged from behind my fingers. I released my lips and said, "Seriously? That's insane. Why so long?"

  "When you refuse to pay for faster service, you get to wait. Well, he doesn't get to wait since he doesn't live here. But we do."

  I grimaced. "That stinks. Sorry everyone's yelling at you, though. It's not like you control the budget."

  He gave a sharp cold laugh.
"If I did, things would be totally different around here. Well, enjoy your walk upstairs."

  We didn't. Both of us were panting hard by the time we hauled the groceries into my apartment. "If I'd known about that," Shane said from where he'd collapsed onto the couch, "I'd have made you buy only potato chips and marshmallows."

  "And angel food cake," I said, walking around to slow my heart rate. "But that's about it."

  After a few moments, we'd both recovered enough to sit upright on the couch, and he said, "Look, I've got something to tell you, and I didn't want to do it at the grocery store."

  "Okay," I said, my heart rate picking up again at his serious tone and expression.

  He laughed. "Don't look like that, it's okay. My lawyer called last night and said the divorce is going ahead. On the advice of her new lawyer, Blair's son of all people, Liz is willing to admit to adultery since I have the pictures to prove it. That speeds everything up, so I should be free of her in no time."

  Free to be with me again. "I guess I should say congrats, but that feels weird," I admitted. "Congratulating you on your marriage ending."

  Wrapping his arm around me, he shook his head. "Say it, definitely. I'm thrilled. We've been wrong for each other for ages, probably for the whole time, and I'm so glad I get to move on." He brushed his fingers lightly over my cheek. "The only good thing Liz did for me was make me reconnect with you."

  His touch sent sparkly tingles through me, and I cuddled in closer to him. Having him back in my life felt amazing. I could finally get back to the path I'd wanted to be on, or at least closer to it, and maybe we could adopt a baby. We would sail along through our lives together, like I'd always wanted.

  He turned my face toward him and kissed me, and when we finally broke apart we were panting nearly as hard as we'd been after climbing the stairs.

  "You're an even better kisser than I remember," he said, stroking his thumb over my lower lip. "And I remember you being pretty damn good."

  Shivers shot through me at the caress. "Same to you," I said, and pulled him in for another round.

  He cut it short this time. "Liz has moved in with Blair so I have our old place all to myself, but I hate being there." He brushed my hair back from my face. "I was wondering whether you might have room here for me."

  Surprised, I didn't speak.

  "Or we could get a place elsewhere," he said, looking around. "You might NOT have room, actually, and you don't need to be stuck in a building with a busted elevator."

  Neither did John and Zack, who lived two floors higher, but I saw his point. I cleared my throat. "I'm not sure, Shane. Getting a new apartment together seems like a big deal."

  "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm fine to just stay here with you then."

  I wanted to be with him, but living with him? Already? I bit my lip, trying to figure out what to say.

  He drew it gently out from beneath my teeth. "You don't look like someone who's excited about having her boyfriend move in."

  "I didn't actually know I had a boyfriend," I admitted.

  He frowned. "You don't want me?"

  "I do." I kissed him. "I do. I'm so glad you're back. But it's all happening kind of fast. The lawsuit, and now your divorce... everything feels kind of weird and shaky."

  He considered this. "Would you prefer I went away for a while?"

  I was shaking my head before he finished the sentence, the mere idea of losing him again when I'd just got him back horrifying me, and he smiled. "Good. Me neither. Okay, I'll stay in the other apartment until things are more settled. Does that work for you?"

  I smiled back, relieved. "Definitely."

  His hand wound around the back of my neck. "You do... Angela, do you want me in your life?"

  I nodded, my eyes locked to his. "I do. Very much. I just need a little time. But not time without you."

  He moved so both hands cupped my face. "Good. I've had way too much time without you, and I want us to make up for that." He leaned in and kissed me, and I let the long-missed feel of his mouth on mine take me back to where I'd wanted so badly to be.

  When we broke apart, he smiled. "Then it's settled. I'll stay in my apartment and you'll stay here, and maybe we'll have sleepovers occasionally."

  I smiled back but had to say, "When your divorce is finalized." I couldn't bring myself to sleep with a married man, even one whose marriage was essentially over.

  He looked surprised but said, "Then that's even more incentive to keep the lawyer moving. Oh, and about that. I was wanting to ask you about--"

  A knock at the door cut him off, and I went to answer it wondering whether he'd been about to ask me for money. It had sounded like it, but I couldn't imagine he'd do that so soon after the lawsuit.

  As I neared the door, the person on the other side rapped five more times in a particular rhythm, and I smiled and opened the door without bothering to look through the peephole.

  "Check first!" Shane said from the couch, and I turned back to say, "No need," before returning my attention to John who stood in the open doorway.

  "Secret knock," he said, giving me a half smile.

  "You got it. Come on in."

  He did, and Shane said from the couch, "You two have a secret knock?"

  "Us three, actually," I said. "Comes from Zack's favorite game. Anyhow, what's up, John?"

  John looked at Shane sprawled on the couch and I saw him realize we had been there together. He cleared his throat. "Nothing, sorry, I didn't mean to bug you."

  "It's no problem," Shane said. "We were just talking. Well..." He grinned. "Mostly."

  I felt my cheeks go hot but John said, "I won't interrupt you for long," and turned to me. "I was wondering if you'd be here on Sunday evening. I'm supposed to be working and that's when Zack's coming home from Florida. I can miss work if I have to but..."

  He didn't finish, but since I knew he only got paid if he showed up he didn't have to. "That's fine, I'll be here. Do you need me to meet him at the airport?"

  He shook his head. "Tiff will drop him off. I just like knowing there's someone here for him."

  Lacey had said she'd be there for Zack, but though the memory of that seemed to hang in the air nobody mentioned it. I mentally begged Shane not to tell John about Lacey's comment to me outside, and to my surprise he didn't.

  "Anyhow," John said after a moment. "Thanks. I owe you one."

  I gestured to my lush bonsai. "You don't. One kid's no match for taking care of all these trees."

  John laughed. "Don't say that to him, he'll see it as a challenge. Okay, I'll get out of your hair. Have a good evening."

  "We will," Shane said, smiling at him. He then added, "You too," but it didn't do much to dispel the impression that he and I were going straight to bed the second John left.

  John had reached the door before I managed to stop feeling embarrassed and say, "Hey, can we do some letters Saturday?"

  He turned back. "You want to do them with me?"

  "Of course." I smiled at him. "It's tradition now."

  He smiled back. "I'm free all day without Zack. Should I let you know when I get up?"

  "Perfect, but don't wake up early on my account."

  He smiled and headed out, and as the door closed behind him, Shane said, "What letters?"

  "People send them to me asking for money."

  He shook his head. "And you answer them all?"

  "Nope. But I do read them. With John."

  He got up and came to me then wrapped his arms around me. "You know I'd do that with you, right?"

  I smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate it. But I've gotten used to going through them with him and sometimes with Zack."

  "You see a lot of him, don't you?"

  "Zack?" I knew he meant John, but I wouldn't let on. "Of course. He lives two flights up and he's a cool kid."

  Shane tipped my chin up. "Do I have anything to worry about?"

  "About Zack?"

  He gave me a firm stare. "You know damn well I don't mean
Zack. And do I?"

  "John's my friend. That's all."

  "Good." He kissed me lightly. "I'd like to be a lot more than your friend." His next kiss was hard and hungry. "Am I?"

  "Yes," I gasped, my mind wiped of anything but how good it felt to be back where I'd so longed to be: in his arms.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  "Ladies, you have to leave the guys alone. They can't concentrate on their work with you talking."

  Violet waved Dwayne off. "Then they should just tell me why they're finally installing a new one. I'd leave them alone if they did."

  He shook his head. "They told you, and I told you, that they got hired and they're doing it and that's all there is to it."

  "But why? I've lived here twenty-three years and that awful owner has never once put a penny into this building unless he was forced to, and now he's replacing the elevator?"

  Not he. She. But Dwayne had promised me he would never tell anyone who owned the numbered corporation that had bought the building two weeks ago and had immediately begun the elevator replacement project.

  When I went to Tiff, infuriated by the endless elevator issues, with the idea of buying the building I'd expected her to say I shouldn't spend such a huge chunk of my money in March, but she knew it was overall a good building since she'd taken Zack there lots of times and agreed that it would be a solid investment for me.

  Tyler had contacted the owner, and our offer of nine million dollars with no strings attached had apparently done the trick. Then Tyler created a numbered corporation to do the actual purchase so that my ownership of the building would be fairly secret, saying, "If they know you own it you'll have residents at your door at three in the morning when their toilets overflow."

  After a few days had passed and all of the paperwork was done, both for the purchase and for cashing in some of my investments to get the money, I had visited Dwayne in his apartment and explained that I was now his boss and that I wanted to know how much money he thought I needed to spend to take proper care of the building. To my delight, he knew exactly how much since he'd been writing reports to the old owner listing everything that needed to be fixed and the associated costs. We reviewed those and soon had a two-pronged plan: a hundred grand for the smaller things and two hundred and fifty grand to replace the elevator in its entirety.