Gerard leaned forward giving her an intense look. “You’re going to track him down and let him stay.”
Her spine stiffened, “Why would you assume that?”
“You can’t help it. It’s in your makeup as a woman, maternal.”
“That’s exactly what a man would say. Do all guys expect women to step in where there mommies left off?”
He gave her a huge grin. “We’re getting off subject. What are you going to tell him?”
Fine, it was pointless anyway. She had never won that argument with her brothers. There was a good chance she wouldn’t with Gerard.
“There was something about the way he left. He has a history with his mother. You know I thought he was using me as a mother figure. Now I have a feeling whatever the history is, wasn’t healthy.”
“Where’s he going to sleep?” Gerard asked.
“Not in my bed if that’s what you want to know.”
Gerard looked at his watch then stood, took his empty bottle and threw in the recycle bin. Once at the door, he gave her another grin. “Nope I wasn’t asking. Look, I’m sure you’ll work everything out. I wish I had more time but I have work that has a deadline. Thanks for the beer.”
He was out her door before she could form a response. Ari glared at the closed door. Good grief, he offers to be the voice of reason and then when the topic actually starts where the problem begins, he leaves.
Complication, that’s what Gerard was and she didn’t need it. She took another sip. The brew had warmed. The bitter hops wasn’t her favorite when it was cold. She dumped the stuff down the sink, spun around and rested her butt against the counter.
What should she do? The curious visit from her handsome neighbor had solved nothing. She was back to square one.
Her cell phone rang. Shoving away from the tiled ledge, she went to retrieve the thing. The caller ID showed Conner’s number. Excellent.
“Conner, I’m glad you called.”
There was a pause on the other end before he responded. He sounded as if he was still in whatever solemn mood he’d been in when he left.
“I’m very sorry about what happened, Conner. May we meet at the Java Latte for coffee and talk?”
She was relieved when Conner agreed to meet an hour later. Maybe she’d suggest he move in with the girl he seemed so friendly with at the Social Club. Because damn, Gerard was correct she would let Conner move in if he had nowhere else to go. There would be stipulations though.
She wasn’t a total push over.
She grabbed her backpack. Though not safe to wear on a scooter, she threw on a pair of flip-flops. Really how fast could she go at this time of evening?
The coffee shop had been closer than she remembered. She could have walked, oh well she loved riding the Love Machine. Parking could be a bitch, but tonight she was in luck.
Conner waited for her at the corner table, she waved to him and went to the counter to order a Latte. She knew she needed to be strong. She may not be a push over, still she didn’t want to be bullied or manipulated into an agreement she wouldn’t be comfortable making
“Conner, do you want a coffee?” Ari asked.
“No I’m okay.” His eyes watched her every action.
“Have you had dinner?”
Conner’s throat worked a swallow and he glanced over her shoulder. “I’m okay. Why did you want to meet me?”
The Spicoli attitude was still absent, even though it was irritating, she missed the silly Conner. That Conner didn’t have secrets or shadows in his eyes.
The Conner she knew sure as hell didn’t gaze with hunger at the other customers, then refuse to let her buy him something. She didn’t know what to think.
“I want to know what happened?”
“I lost my job and my roommate kicked me out. You don’t have the room for me.” He gave her an insolent lift of one shoulder and cocked his head. “End of story, I’ll figure something out. I always do.”
Ari clenched her teeth and slammed her back into her chair causing it to skid. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
“That’s what you’re getting. Anything else is off limits.” His shoved away from the table and stood. “I need to go.”
“Where?” She raised her hand. “Please will you sit back down so we can discuss this?”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You want me out. I’m a big boy I can find someplace.”
“Conner why did you call me?” If he didn’t want to see her, then what was the point?
“I wanted to ask if the few things I’d left there, like the chair, would be okay until I found someplace. But toss it if it gets in your way.” Again with the insolent shrug of his shoulder as he half turned to leave.
Her finger pointed at his seat. “I’m not your mother, I can’t tell you what to do. As a friend, I’d like to help you if I can. In order to do that I need to understand.”
Ari stood to look him in the eye. “Please?” He sighed, and then dropped into his chair with a thud. “Fine, what?”
She settled into her place stretched her neck from side to side, lifted her shoulders and relaxed them. She’d been ready for battle, that wasn’t what he needed. He didn’t need a bully, he needed a friend.
She’d almost forgotten. Conner had been there for her. She recalled the time when he’d found her sitting in this same coffee café crying in her coffee. He’d made her laugh when she’d needed it most.
Lifting an eyebrow in his direction, she waited for him to enlighten her. He shifted from side to side, his gaze drifted to stare at something behind her right shoulder. If a waiting game was what he wanted to play fine by her, other than working on her design tonight, she had nowhere to go. The dress could wait one more day.
Friends in crisis always came first.
“You’re not moving or saying a thing until I spill my guts are you?” Disgust filtered through his words as if he tasted bile with each one.
“Nope. You did the same for me. Remember? I was a stranger to you, but you wanted to help. I’d just lost one of my brothers in the war. You helped.” She swallowed back the emotion that threatened, this wasn’t about her. “Let me help, Conner, that’s what friends do.”
“It is? Since when?”
His statement caused her spine to stiffen, she straightened and her arms slid off the table into her lap.
“Do you have a low opinion of everyone, or is it just me?”
The pain in his eyes almost broke her.
Dear Diary;
The roommate
Anticipation rippled over my beaded bodice when the front door opened and I heard Ari’s voice. It’s strange after only been around her a full day I know the nuance of her voice. She wasn’t alone, I knew his voice also.
She had found Conner and brought him home like a stray spool of thread.
My mission is not impossible, but it will be much harder. Ribbons tightened in their eyelet’s as a thought wandered over my lace. Gerard knew Conner; could that work to my advantage?
Time will tell.
“I’ll grab you some sheets and a pillow, Conner.” Ari breezed through the door.
She appeared more relaxed than the last time I saw her. The decision to invite Conner to stay at the apartment took the weight off her shoulders.
Yes, our new roommate could be a blessing in disguise.
“Hello Bella, I’ll be right back.” Ari winked at me. Excitement swished over my lace. We were going to spend time together.
Conner and Ari were both standing by the couch; I had a clear view of them. Conner’s expression was pleasant while he watched, watched being the key word, Ari make his make shift bed on the sofa. Couldn’t men do that for themselves?
“There you go Conner.” Ari stepped away from the sofa allowing him room to sit, which he did without further invitation.
The small spool of like I had for the man had almost disappeared. Was Ari going to have to wait on him?
“Ari, man I really appreciate this
. I promise you’ll hardly know I’m here.” Though I couldn’t see his face I knew there was a smile when he continued. “I can make my own bed, you know.”
The spool began to fill again.
“Habit. With my brothers…” Ari’s shoulders hunched, and I heard a sniff. “…brother.”
Conner shifted enough for me to see the tender expression as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry to bring your memories back. I promise to repay you by not outstaying my welcome. It’s nice to know you actually care what happens to me.”
I wondered what he meant by that, I guess I’ll never know because he continued.
“First thing in the morning I’m beating a path to the employment office.”
“Good luck then.” When Ari turned to, I could see tears swimming in her eyes. My beads shivered at the sorrow there. When she stood by the door then glanced over her shoulder. “I’m going to work a bit before I turn in, do you mind if I listen to some music?”
Ari blocked most of my view, but I was able to see what caused her to giggle. He held up headphones. The same type I’d seen my other two brides use.
She shut the door behind her. A grin played around the corners of her mouth, to replace the sadness of moments before.
I had Ari to myself. What did she have planned? She kicked off her flippy things she used for shoes, slipped out of her jeans, drew on some shorts. After she dragged her tee over her head, her fingers worked the fastener on her bra. My beads warmed at the sight of my soul mate’s breasts, I shifted my attention.
“Oh Bella, are you modest? If you’re going to live here you better get used to the sight of me undressing.” Her chiding words heated my bodice.
She wanted me to stay. The thought tickled me to the edge of my hem. When I again focused on her, she’d pulled on a tank top and had made herself comfortable at her design table. Heidi had one very similar.
“What type of music do you like Bella?” As if I could really reply, she looked over her shoulder to wait for my answer.
I shifted a fraction to let the light cause a glimmer. At the salon music serenaded through the day, it was always soft and pleasing.
“You don’t think I saw your answer, you gave a little sparkle. I bet Heidi gave you all smoochie romantic music.” Ari giggled. The sound pleased me. “Tonight I introduce you to Derek Night. A little bit blues, a little bit jazz and a lot rock-a-billy.”
I had no idea what kind of music that might be. She reached and flipped on her iPod, anyway that’s what Jessie called the thing. My beads tightened in protest. Ari called this racket music?
My ribbons sighed in relief when she fiddled with the dial a bit more, and another more pleasant sound filled the room. Ari fluidly pulled herself up from her desk her hips swayed in rhythm. Her hands did a dance of their own full of grace as they waved. My satin tightened as I watched.
I belonged to her. She was my soul mate.
Ari weaved a pattern of circles bringing her closer and closer to my dress dummy. My lace tensed, then her cool hands softly clutched the arms of my bolero.
“You like to dance Bella? It clears my head so I can think.” She wrapped an arm around the back of the mannequin, lifted it and swirled around. Me in her arms as the air weaved through my ribbon, almost as if I was with her on her little pink scooter. “Heidi names her girls. I create stories to help me, and inspire me.”
She whirled me as she talked. My chapel train wrapped around my full skirt.
I wasn’t versed in the ways of the world, nor had I traveled. As she spoke, a picture splashed over my awareness and I could see the dress.
“My dress comes from a small town in Italy. On the cliffs overlooking the angry ocean, the water has pounded the rocks to a smooth slick surface leaving it the color of ivory silk.”
Yes, yes, yes! I wanted to shout. I knew what the dress would look like when she was finished. Focusing all the energy I could muster I projected the image to her.
Chapter Nineteen
Ari stopped dancing, she carefully put Bella and her stand on the floor. She turned toward her desk, an image flashed through her mind.
Swinging around, she stared at Bella. “It’s perfect.”
Bella’s silk shifted under her lace in answer. Ari pictured her creation perfectly. The cream of the satin, the amber minute beadwork over the bodice and skirt gave the same appearance as the wet smooth rocks of the cliffs.
“Bella, we’re going to work well together.” Ari skipped to her table, ruffled through her colored pencils found the perfect color for the material.
Joy squeezed her chest to near bursting. The story formed of a young maiden waiting for her man to come home from the sea, tears dripping to mingle with the surf and help form the rocks.
Ari bit on the end of the pencil, what could she do to bring the old world into the design? She glanced over her shoulder at Bella, who stood like a sentinel in the corner of her room. Watching and waiting for the design to unfold.
Her shoulders tightened and she rolled them to loosen them. With her arms above her head, she stretched, yawned and then glanced at the clock.
Holy crap!
It was nearly two a.m. She flipped the draft table light off at the same time she tossed a quick, “good night” over her shoulder to Bella.
She crawled onto her bed on the covers. Settling into the mattress, she yawned. She’d sleep well, it was a warm night.
Now Conner had moved in officially apparently he didn’t need to be quiet. He had his music blaring. She pulled her pillow out from under her and piled it on her head to block the sound.
“Hey, Ari?” preceded several loud thumps on her door.
Removing the pillow for a fraction, “What?”
“You’re alarm’s been blasting forever, don’t you need to get up or something?” Conner’s voice came through loud and clear.
Ari leaped from the bed in one shocked motion, it was her alarm, not his. “Crap. Thanks.”
She slapped the alarm to off before racing to the bathroom. Could she skip the shower? Lifting her arm, she inhaled, not bad. Then she caught her reflection. “God, I have a haystack on my head.”
Why did she have to sleep in on an event day? A quick shower would be the only way to tame the tangled straw.
A few minutes later, she emerged into her room, throwing a scrunchy on the end of her braid. Not that it would be there after her trip on the Love Machine.
“Bella, I’m off to a happy event.” She winked at her new confidant. “Someday, the bride will be wearing one of my creations.”
Sun glittered off Bella as the dress shifted. Somehow, Ari didn’t think it was her imagination. Bella responded to her. It was odd, scary, but somehow perfectly natural.
“I’m stopping at the park to watch the kids play soccer for a while after work.” Central park had always been an abundant source of inspiration.
Gently closing her door, she grabbed her workbag. All she needed was a cup of coffee. Damn, no time, she’d have to grab some of the sludge at work.
“Conner, you scared me.” Ari slid to a stop.
Conner stood at the sink, he looked over his shoulder at her “I’m leaving soon, I promise.”
When he faced the sink, his shoulders slumped in a posture of dejection. In her brief glimpse of his eyes, she’d seen the same shadows from last night.
Dropping her bag by the entry table, she went to stand next to him. His shoulder tensed where she placed her hand.
“What is wrong?”
“I don’t want to let you down.” The despondency in his voice caused an ache deep in her chest. It seemed Spicoli was his cover and now she’d unmasked him, they’d never visit that carefree place again.
“How are you going to let me down?”
He squirmed from her touch. “I let everyone down.” He paced to the other side of the small area and faced her. “You’re counting on me finding something, helping out a bit with food. Then keeping my bargain and moving out. Ask Reggie
, I couldn’t even keep a job so I could room with him.”
“I thought his girlfriend moved in.” When he’d told her, she’d had a feeling he wasn’t being honest.
“I lied. I always lie. Ask my mother. You can’t trust me.” She thought for a moment he was going to swipe his nose and let out wet snuffle like a ten year old. Thank goodness he didn’t.
Ari opened her mouth to answer, but then his shoulders straightened and he pushed away from the counter. “God, I’m sorry. I swore I wasn’t going to be a baby. Ari, I swear I’m not going to let you down.”
“I know you won’t. You came through for me when I needed you. I won’t forget again.”
He seized his case off the table as if it was a weapon and he was ready to do battle. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, a small salute and was out the door before she could form a response.
She stood staring at the door for several moments. What the hell had just happened? Déjà vu swept over her, hadn’t she felt the same yesterday when he’d left? Maybe Conner had more problems than she was equipped to deal with. What was she going to do?
Letting the air blow out over her teeth she resolved to do the only thing she could do, be a good friend.
She had better get to Classic Manhattan or she’d be in the unemployment line next to Conner. She retrieved her workbag by the table, grabbed her helmet, locked up and left.
Traffic in Manhattan never had a lull even on Saturday. She gave a brief thank you to the Gods for letting today be an exception. She pulled into the alley with minutes to spare. She raced to her locker and then to her desk before Gertrude needed her.
Thank goodness, she’d left her file open on her desk. No searching needed. She scanned the list of things to be done before the happy couple arrived. Now was time for work mode.
Classic Manhattan employees had been together long enough to be a well-oiled machine, so event day usually went smooth. Today wasn’t an exception, Ari watched the bride hear her cue and walk down the aisle formed by chairs in their atrium. The girl’s father had tears streaming down his cheeks.
Three Weddings and a Dress Page 18
