“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with my car. It may not be the prettiest thing around but it’s paid for and it runs.” She said.
“No worries. We don’t have to send the limo.” Armin replied.
“Wait, that’s not what I meant. I mean… I just don’t know what to say. No one has ever done anything like that for me before.” She said.
“Well shame on everyone then…” Armin said. He then smiled, leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek which lasted a fraction of a second longer than it should have. “It was a pleasure to meet you Anabelle, I’ve got to run but I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay…” she muttered. Anabelle was taken aback. Certainly he was just being polite, right? She tried not to get any hint that it had affected her but there was no denying that it did.
What the hell was that? She wondered as Armin turned and headed back towards their suite.
After a moment, Tanner once more placed his hand in the small of Anabelle’s back and said, “Come on, Anabelle, let’s get you home.”
They exited the hotel and as they did, her taxi pulled up. The doorman stepped in front of them and opened the door for her to get inside.
Tanner stopped, turned to face her and said, “It was nice to meet you Anabelle.”
She smiled, did the best she could to collect herself and replied, “It was nice to meet you as well Tanner.”
He stepped in closer and stopped. It was an awkward distance and certainly one in which anything might happen. He looked down at her and said, “I’m looking forward to spending some more time with you this weekend and getting to know you better.”
She could smell him.
His scent was a masculine mix. It was earthy, carnal and raw. She was finding it difficult to stay focused. With a shallow breath she responded, “Me too. If I don’t, I’ll be in big trouble with my journalism class.” It was meant to be a joke. Making people laugh was something that Anabelle did often in her life. It probably wasn’t the best time for it but old habits die hard.
Tanner nodded slowly and said, “Ahhh, so a working vacation for you then?”
“I guess, yeah.”
“Okay, well, we’ll try not to work you too hard.” Tanner replied. “That is, unless you like that sort of thing.”
Anabelle’s mouth parted slightly and she uttered, “I…”
Tanner raised his eyebrows and said, “Yes? Was there something that you wanted to say?”
Anabelle shook her head and replied, “No.”
Tanner smiled. He then said, “All right then, you can expect the limo there by ten o’clock in the morning. Is that okay for you?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Okay, great. Well, I suppose I’ll see you then.” He said.
“Alright… See you…” Anabelle replied. As she turned to leave and get into the taxi, Tanner grabbed her at the waist, pulled her close and kissed her other cheek. Wordless, he then guided her towards the cab, Tanner helped her inside and closed the door behind her.
As the taxi pulled away, Anabelle’s head felt like it was spinning.
What the hell just happened back there?
***
Twenty minutes later, Anabelle arrived home. A quick jiggle of the keys in the deadbolt and she was inside.
“What’s up girl?” her roommate Melissa called out from her bedroom.
“Hey, Melissa…” Anabelle replied. Her cat, Mr. Curly Boo, ran up to her and pressed hard into her leg. She immediately thought about their snide cat remarks.
Crazy cat lady… She thought as she shook her head.
“I see you down there Mr. Boo.” She said. “One second.” Anabelle placed her things on the kitchen counter and bent down to pick up her feline companion. As she stood, Melissa suddenly appeared before her.
“Hey…” Melissa said.
“Hey!” Anabelle chirped.
Melissa was Anabelle’s third roommate since coming to the university. The first one, Amy, flaked on the rent and only lasted about six weeks. The next one, Tricia, turned out to be a bit of slut. With strange men constantly around, Anabelle didn’t feel comfortable and eventually asked her to leave. Melissa had arrived shortly thereafter. They clicked almost immediately and had actually become pretty close. It was about as close as Anabelle had ever been to someone so she was grateful that Melissa was in her life.
“So you’re home a pretty late, aren’t you? Hot date?” Melissa said.
“Hah, I wish!’ Anabelle replied.
Melissa leaned against the kitchen counter and said, “Well, it’s not like you to be out so late on a school night. What’s up?”
Up until now, Anabelle had made a point to not reveal the nature of her assignment to Melissa. Melissa was a huge fan of Stung by Fate. In fact, she was supposed to have been at the very same show that Anabelle had been to the night before but because of some lab work, she couldn’t make it.
She cried about it.
Literally.
“Oh, I was just working on my journalism assignment.” Anabelle muttered.
“You were working on your assignment while you were drunk?” Melissa asked.
“Who said I was drunk?” Anabelle asked.
“Well… No one but you came home in a cab and you have a faded wine stain on your shirt. Where is your car anyway?”
A sheepish look came over Anabelle’s face. She’d forgotten about the stain. “Ohh… Right. I can explain all of that. My car? It’s, uhhmm, at the Peninsula Grand Hotel.”
Melissa’s eyes widened, “The Peninsula? What… Are you having an affair with a rock star or something?”
Anabelle let out a nervous chuckle and said, “No. Really, I can explain everything.”
Melissa smiled and said, “Yeah, I think you probably should you dork. I’m sure this is going to be good. I’m going to grab a glass of wine. Do you want some?”
“No thanks. I’ve had plenty…” Anabelle groaned.
Melissa picked up the bottle and the two of them headed to the living room. After they’d plopped down on either ends of couch, Mr. Boo took his customary position on Anabelle’s lap.
“Okay, I’m ready when you are.” Melissa said.
“Okay…” Anabelle said with a bit of trepidation in her voice.
“What?” Melissa asked.
“It’s nothing, it’s stupid, really…”
“What is?”
Anabelle stroked Curly’s head and said, “Okay, if I tell you, do you promise not to get mad?”
Melissa took a healthy swig of her wine and said, “Depends on what it is…”
“Come on.” Anabelle moaned.
“I’m just kidding. Of course, I won’t get mad. Besides, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s nothing to get mad about.”
“Okay, well, remember the assignment I told you about for my journalism class?”
“Yeah… The interview thingy? What about it?”
“Well, I never told you who I was assigned to interview.”
A puzzled look came over Melissa’s face. “Okay?” she said quizzically.
“Ugggh…” Anabelle sighed.
“Will you just tell me? I mean, it’s not like you are hanging out with Armin and Tanner Vossler or anything.”
Anabelle looked down at Mr. Boo, in silence.
After several awkward moments had passed, Melissa said, “Anabelle…”
Anabelle cleared her throat. “What?” she asked.
“It’s…not…like…you…are…doing…that…right?” Melissa said.
Anabelle rolled her eyes nervously.
“Well…” Melissa said as she leaned in towards Anabelle slightly.
Anabelle shrugged her shoulders. “Well…”
Melissa placed her glass down on the table and then turned back towards Anabelle. “Wait, wait, wait… Wait a second. So you are telling me, your best friend, that you were with Armin and Tanner Vossler, the lead singers of my favorite group on earth that I cried over not being able to see in person
last night. Is that what you are telling me?”
“Uhhhmm…” Anabelle said.
“Anabelle! Why would you keep that from me?!?” Melissa shrieked.
“I wasn’t keeping it from you.” Anabelle pleaded.
Melissa cocked her head to one side, leaned back into the couch and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Really? You weren’t?” she said skeptically.
“You promised me Melissa. You said you wouldn’t get mad.” Anabelle said quickly.
Melissa held her breath for a moment. With a grimace and a quick exhale she replied, “I know, I know. All right, I’m not mad at you. But you better tell me every single thing that happened or I will be.”
Anabelle looked down and said in a serious tone, “I can’t do that Melissa. I would be violating their confidentiality and I couldn’t do that in good conscience. A good reporter never does such things.”
“You little bitch! You better spill it or else!” Melissa said. She then made a fist and dared Anabelle to defy her.
Anabelle laughed and said, “Okay, okay… I was only kidding.”
She then spent the better part of an hour recapping all of the events of the evening. It was probably the quietest that Anabelle could ever remember Melissa being in all the time they’d known each other.
As she neared the end of her story, Melissa said, “Wow, that’s amazing. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous.”
Anabelle swallowed hard. She hadn’t yet mentioned the upcoming trip or what had happened to her before she left the hotel. The awkward emotion she was struggling with did not go unnoticed by Melissa.
Finally, Melissa said, “Anabelle? What is it?”
“Uhhm, I haven’t told you everything quite yet.”
“Okay… Well, what are you waiting for?” Melissa asked. “After all, what more could you possibly tell me? I mean, it’s not like you kissed them or something.”
Anabelle looked away and then quickly stood up. Mr. Boo hopped down to safety. She started to quickly walk towards the kitchen thinking that perhaps another glass of wine wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
From behind, Melissa said, “No way, no way, no freaking way!!”
Anabelle continued walking towards the kitchen without turning back to face her. But as she walked, she could hear Melissa’s footsteps rapidly coming up behind. She entered the kitchen and turned to see Melissa staring at her in the face.
“You kissed Armin and Tanner Vossler. Is that what you’re telling me?” She said.
“Actually, they both kissed me, on the cheek.” Anabelle replied.
“Bullshit. No way…”
Anabelle looked Melissa without speaking. If there was one thing that Anabelle wasn’t, it was a liar and Melissa knew it. As the realization sunk in, Melissa sat down on one of the barstools which slid underneath their kitchen counter.
Anabelle paused for a moment and said, “And… that’s not all. They want me to go with them to their show in Portland this weekend.”
Melissa simply shook her head. It was obvious that she was having a hard time processing everything. “Incredible…” she muttered.
“But, I really don’t know if I should. I mean, I have to because of my class and everything but part of me is just unsure.” Anabelle said as her voice trailed off.
“Are you crazy!?! Assignment or not, this is the chance of a lifetime. Besides, what are you unsure about?” Melissa asked.
“I’m unsure about them.” Anabelle replied.
“I don’t understand Anabelle. You aren’t making any sense right now.”
Anabelle said quickly, “It’s nothing. It’s stupid. You’re right. I’ll just go and get it over with. After all, I’m sure it will be fun.”
“No, no, no… Wait a minute.” Melissa said as she wagged her index finger at Anabelle. “You think there was something to those kisses don’t you?”
“No.” Anabelle answered unconvincingly.
Melissa threw her head back and let out a hearty laugh. She then looked at Anabelle and said, “Anabelle… Get real. I’m sure they were just being polite. Seriously, do you have any idea of the kinds of women that throw themselves at these guys everywhere they go? Besides, you always said you hated their guts. Now you are into them all of a sudden?”
Anabelle replied, “I know, you’re right. I already said it was stupid, okay? Look, I… I’m just going to go to bed. It’s been a hell of a long day.”
Melissa’s face curled into a slight pout.
She hadn’t intended to hurt her friend’s feelings. She got up from the bar and walked around the kitchen counter where she embraced Anabelle. After a moment they broke free and she said, “Anabelle, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I just know things have been tough on you recently and the last thing I would want is for you to set yourself up to get hurt in any way.”
“I know. I’m fine. Really. I think a good night sleep will help to clear my mind.” Anabelle said.
“Okay, can I get you anything before you go to bed?” Melissa asked.
“No, I’m fine, thank you though.”
“Okay, I love you Anabelle.”
“I love you too. Oh, before I forget, do you mind watching Mr. Boo while I’m gone this weekend?” Anabelle asked.
“No, not at all. He’s easy anyway.” Melissa replied.
“Thanks Melissa, I owe you one.” Anabelle said.
“Yeah, I know.” She said with a wink.
Anabelle smiled, gathered up her things and headed into her bedroom with Curly in tow. As she lay there staring up at the ceiling, her mind replayed the events of the evening.
Making any sense of the kisses had been hard but hearing the truth about them from Melissa’s mouth had been harder still. Anabelle wondered what in the hell she was thinking? Of course they were just being polite. What else could it possibly be?
Melissa was right.
Guys like this… They had no interest in women like Anabelle. If this trip was to be a success, Anabelle knew that she had to squelch any irrational feelings she might have. Her goal was within sight and unless she was able to stay focused she could very well risk losing it all.
Kisses aside, she felt horrible about the way she had pre-judged them. They weren’t arrogant jerks after all. Cocky, funny, sexy… yes… but, arrogant jerks, no.
***
Early Friday morning, Anabelle awoke to the vibration of her phone. Sleepily, she fumbled around for it and brought the greenish blue glow closer to her face.
A text read, “limo will b there in 1 hr. b ready.”
Horrified, she glanced at the time on her phone.
Shit! Nine o’clock already…
She scrambled around in a near frenzy in an attempt to get ready. After showering and putting herself together in record time, she hurried into the kitchen to grab her purse. Melissa was still asleep and so she scribbled a note reminding her to give Mr. Boo his hairball treatment. Just as she was finishing the note, she saw the limousine pull up outside. Taking care to not wake Melissa, laid the note on the counter, gently closed the door and headed out to meet him.
As she approached, he tipped his cap and asked, “Do you have any other luggage besides the bag over your shoulder, ma’am?”
“No… Just this.” She replied.
“Alright, ma’am.” He said as he stepped to one side and opened the limousine door for her.
“Thank you.” She said as she climbed inside. He closed the door behind her, started the limo up and about twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to a waiting aircraft. As she exited the vehicle, she was greeted by a ridiculously good looking woman.
“Hi, Miss Mitchell?” the woman said as she approached.
“Yes?”
The woman extended her hand and said, “Hi, my name is Cassie Warrant. I am the road manager for the band. I’m the one that set the interview up. Do you remember, we spoke on the phone?”
“Oh… right! It’s n
ice to meet you Cassie. You can call me Anabelle.”
“Alright, Anabelle.” Cassie looked over Anabelle’s shoulder and said, “Do you have all of your belongings?”
“Yes…” she said as she patted the bag flung over her shoulder. “Got everything in here.”
Cassie said, “Great, well you can leave that at the foot of the stairs as we board. Please, after you.”
“Okay.”
Anabelle walked up the stairs and made her way into the cabin. In a word, it was, luxurious. Anabelle didn’t fly often but when she did, she always seemed to wind up in the toilet row. It’s the only one on the whole plane where the damn seats wouldn’t recline. Luckily, that was not going to be a problem on this flight.
As Anabelle made her way aboard, Cassie spoke up from behind her and said, “Welcome aboard Anabelle. Have you ever flown charter before?”
Anabelle could hardly respond. “No…” she managed to grunt after a few moments had passed.
Cassie chuckled and said, “Well, this is a Dassault Falcon. As you can see, anything you might need is available to you. The chairs recline fully should you wish to sleep. As far as food or beverages, the flight attendant, Megan, will provide you with anything you wish.”
Anabelle made a small squeaking sound. Even she wasn’t sure what it meant.
“I’m sorry?” Cassie said.
She snapped herself out of it quickly and said, “Th…Thank you Cassie. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just not used to this sort of thing.”
“That’s totally understandable. There’s no need to apologize.” Cassie replied.
Just then, the flight attendant appeared from the rear of the aircraft. She walked up to Anabelle and said, “Miss Mitchell, welcome aboard, my name is Megan and I will be your flight attendant today. Would you care for a beverage? A glass of champagne or a cocktail perhaps?”
“No, no thank you. I’m fine. Thank you very much though.”
“Alright, if you change your mind, please let me know. I look forward to serving you.”
“Thank you Megan.”
As Megan walked away, Cassie tapped Anabelle on the shoulder from behind. Anabelle turned to face her and she said, “Wheels up in ten minutes Anabelle. Let’s take our seats, shall we?”
“Oh yes, of course. Uhhm, any one of them?” Anabelle asked as she pointed towards the seats.
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