by J. S. Cooper
“I’m not pouty and jealous.” I retorted.
“So, what happened to Angelique?”
“She’s in custody. And so is Braydon. They arrested him a few hours later. It seems Angelique turned on him within hours.”
“Wow.” Lucky looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think they will get lighter sentences if they are able to get Sanchez, the guy who’s running half the drugs from Mexico to L.A., but they will still go away for a long time.”
“Wow!” Lucky exclaimed again and held on to me tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been okay.”
“I’m sorry, Lucky. I wasn’t thinking.” I stroked her hair around my fingers. “Forgive me?”
“If you promise me you won’t do anything like this again without telling me.”
“I promise.” I paused. “Let me clarify, I promise to be open and honest with you and to trust that you can handle whatever comes up in my life.”
“I hope no more drug trafficking cases come up.” She made a face. “I mean, I’m glad you got Braydon and Angelique, but I’m not sure I could go through all of this again.”
“I promise no more drug trafficking.” I slid my hand to her knee. “I promise to focus all of my attention on you.”
“Oh really?” She giggled and I was happy to see the light back in her eyes as she stared at me and swatted my hand away.
“Oh yes, I’ll get out my copy of the Kama Sutra and I’ll spend hours each night devoting myself to your body.”
“Uh huh.”
“It’ll be tiring, but I promise to give it my all.”
“That’s one promise I think you’ll be able to keep, all right.”
“You forgive me?” I held my breath as I looked into her eyes, searchingly. “Say you forgive me.”
Instead of answering, Lucky leaned in towards me and kissed my lips softly. I could taste the remnants of orange juice on her lips. I sucked on her lower lip before plunging my tongue into her mouth and she grabbed the back of my head. I felt her fingers running along my scalp and I pushed her onto her back so I could feel her breasts crushed against my chest.
“Really, guys?” Leeza’s voice echoed through the backyard and I groaned as I sat up and pulled away from Lucky. “Lucky, I don’t know how you were able to forgive him so easily.”
“Leeza…” Lucky’s voice held a warning.
“I’m just saying.” Leeza whined. “Are we going to go and do something today, or am I expected to sit at home and watch Maury and Days of Our Lives?”
“We can drive you around Los Angeles.” Lucky jumped up. “Is there anywhere you want to go specifically?”
“Beverly Hills, 90210.” Leeza’s voice was excited and I rolled my eyes.
“Leeza, can you give Lucky and me a moment please? I need to ask her something,” I said.
“Whatever.” She twirled around and walked back into the house.
“I know she’s your friend, Lucky, but she really annoys me.” I muttered as I watched her friend leave. Even though I knew Leeza wasn’t planning something with Evan, I still couldn’t stand her. I was hoping in my head that she was on her way back to Florida very soon.
“What did you want to ask me, Zane?” Lucky looked at me with a worried expression and my heart went out to her. I felt ashamed of myself for making her feel that way. I made a vow to myself that I wasn’t ever going to give her a heavy heart again.
“So, remember when I asked you about going to London?” I took her hands in mine and used my fingers to trace the lines in her palm.
“You mean the other day?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and watched her face, carefully. “So, I was thinking, what about it? We could go for the weekend - just you and me. We could just take a break away from everything and relax.”
“But, London?” She half-smiled, considering my proposition. “It just seems so far away.”
“I just want to take a trip away, you and me. Somewhere romantic.” A light bulb flashed in my head and I exclaimed. “Or we could go to Paris. See the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. We could eat French pastries in bed and shop along the Champs-Elysees.”
“Well, I don’t have money to shop, but I do love croissants.” She smiled at me. “And I’ve always wanted to go to Paris.”
“See? It was made to be. You, me, and Paris.” I kissed the tip of her nose and we walked back inside the house. “This is going to be the trip of a lifetime. I love the French. They are such a romantic and passionate people.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “We could learn a thing or two from them.” I winked at her and she blushed. I felt a secret thrill that I could still make Lucky’s cheeks redden with embarrassment.
“I don’t really know much about the French, aside from the fact that they love French fries and that they got rid of their monarchy during the French revolution.”
“I can’t say I know much more than you, but Noah was obsessed with all things French. One of his favorite movies was called Jules et Jim and he would make us watch it every few years.”
“Oh really?” Lucky gave me a peculiar look. “Was there a reason why Noah liked France so much?”
“Not that I know of.” I shrugged. “Noah was a man with eclectic tastes, not that you would have known that by the look of him.”
“Oh?”
“Most people looked at him and thought he was just a playboy.” I laughed. “I suppose that’s how you thought of me as well.”
“Well, I…I didn’t really know you well,” Lucky stuttered.
“It’s okay.” I stretched my arms and turned to her. “So are we down for Paris?”
“This weekend?” Her voice was hesitant, but I could sense the excitement in her tone.
“No time like the present.” I grinned.
She laughed. “I guess so.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” Her voice was small and I lifted her up and swung her around. We were both laughing, but as I set her down, she gave me a worried look. “Don’t ever lie to me again, Zane. I don’t think I can go through what I went through last night.”
“I am so …” I started, but she held her hand up to stop me.
“I know how important Noah was to you, and I know you have been after Braydon for the last year, but I hope this is the end of it, Zane. I’m not sure my heart, or my sanity, can continue on like this. And I don’t know if our relationship could get through one more hurricane.”
“For you, I’d weather any storm, my love.” I traced the lines around her eyes and it saddened me that I had made my Lucky cry. She was the woman who had snuck into my heart without me even knowing it. She was the woman that had made me believe in love and she had broken down my walls. She was the last person that I wanted to make sad. Seeing her cry for me made my heart break. I wanted to see her with a smile on her face. She was the one I should be making happy. She was the one I should be lifting up to the heavens. I vowed to myself that I was going to make sure that no more tears would be shed on my behalf.
Chapter 10
Lucky
My head was spinning like a yo-yo. The last few days had gone by in a blur and I still wasn’t sure how I felt about everything. I put on a good face for Zane because I knew he worried easily, but I still felt tense and worried. When I thought about what could have happened to him that night, I wanted to scream. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me what he was doing. It wasn’t even sure about Angelique, though I knew I would hate her for the rest of my life. I could get over the fact that he had slept with her, though I didn’t like it. It had been before we had got together and it wasn’t as if I didn’t have a past. But for him to have gone behind my back and been part of some big drug sting and not even think to give me the details—well that made my blood boil.
I knew that Zane thought he was trying to protect me, but I wanted this to be a partnership, a real twenty-first
century partnership. I didn’t want to be stuck in the 1950s and in a relationship where Zane thought he was Ward Cleaver. I certainly didn’t want to be in a relationship where Zane was the provider and I spent all day cooking his meals. I had other plans and I didn’t want to give up my other dreams just because he was my dream man.
“This is our second plane ride together.” Zane beamed at me from his seat and winked. I knew he was trying his best to get things back to normal with me, so I tried my best to put on a good face.
“And my second time in first class.” I beamed back at him from the comfort of my chair. “You shouldn’t keep spoiling me like this. It might go to my head.”
“Uh oh, you’ll have me shopping for you at Cartier and Tiffany’s soon.”
“Don’t forget Chanel and Louis Vuitton.” I laughed.
He wrinkled his nose at me. “I knew you were only after my money.”
“Your money and your loving.”
“You mean my good loving.” He leaned over and stuck his tongue in my ear and I pulled away, shaking my head.
“Eww, that was all slobbery and gross.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t love it.” He winked at me and licked his lips.
“You’re disgusting, Zane Beaumont.”
“That’s not what you said last night.”
“How old are you, Zane? Fifteen or twenty-five?” I shook my head, but was happy at his teasing tone. The last few days had been slightly tense in the house. Leeza had been upset that we were leaving the country, so Zane had gotten her a first class ticket back to Miami and given her a check for $5000 to make up for her vacation being cut short. She had loved him then, told him she had always known he was a great guy. I’d been embarrassed at her transparent nature, but had still felt sad when she left.
I had given Zane a bit of a cold shoulder as he had gone back and forth to the police station to give more and more statements about Angelique and Braydon. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the whole ordeal.
We hadn’t made love in days and I knew he was sexually frustrated. But I wanted to make sure he knew that he couldn’t just do what he wanted and keep things from me anymore. If we were going to be in a relationship, then he had to learn to fully trust me and show me that trust with his actions as well as his words. I wasn’t going to let him think he could do what he wanted, say sorry and then weaken my resolve with sex. Our relationship was about more than sex. It was true that when we slept together, it was like the most magical moment of my night, but I knew that feeling alone could not sustain our relationship.
“Do you want to join the mile high club?” He whispered in my ear and I decided to have a little fun with him.
“I don’t have any panties on.” I whispered back and took hold of his hand. “I’m ready and waiting for you, big boy.”
Zane’s eyes widened and he looked down at my lap. My skirt was pretty conservative and fell just below my knees. He reached his hand down to my leg and inched it up inside my skirt and over my knee. I stopped his hand as it reached mid-thigh and shook my head.
“Not now, Zane.” I licked my lips and brought his hand up to my mouth. I took his index finger and put it into my mouth and sucked it while staring into his eyes.
“Holy shit, Batman, is this for real?” Zane’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I was just joking, Lucky, but I think you’re about to become the best girlfriend ever.”
“I think so too.” I winked and stopped sucking on his finger. I reached my hand down to his crotch and ran my fingers lightly over the thick package in his pants. I turned my face away quickly as I felt how excited he already was. I wanted to burst out laughing at his gullibility, but felt a bit ashamed at my little joke.
“Shall we go now?” He made to get up out of his seat. “I think we have time before the flight takes off.”
“Uh.” I bit my lip at his eager expression and I burst out laughing when I saw him loosening his belt. “Zane. Stop.” I reached over and placed my hand on top of his. “I was joking. I have on panties and I have no intention of joining the mile high club with you on this flight.”
“What?” He looked up at me with a look of dismay and then he started laughing. “You little minx,” he growled as he leaned forward and kissed me hard. “I’ll get you for that.”
“Uh huh.” I laughed, relishing in the feel of his warm lips against mine. He kissed me passionately as if his sole goal was to turn me on as much as possible. He nibbled on my lower lip and sucked on my tongue while running his hands through my hair. I felt his left hand slowly creep down my shoulder and graze my breast. My body tingled as he caressed me and I wondered if I shouldn’t change my mind after all. It had only been a few days since we had been intimate, but my body was already missing and craving his touch.
“Hi, guys, are your seatbelts both on and tightened?” The flight attendant stopped by our seats and smiled. “We’re about to take off.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zane pulled away from me and sat upright as I nodded and blushed. Zane grinned at me as the flight attendant walked on to the next seats and he reached over and squeezed my hand. “I’m so glad you’re here with me, Lucky. I’m so excited to show you Paris.”
“I’m excited as well.” I smiled back at him and tried to ignore the anxious feeling in my stomach. I was extremely excited for the trip and to be spending time with Zane away from all the craziness, but I was also a little worried. I had Zane’s mother’s phone number and address in my handbag and I was seriously thinking about getting in contact with her once we got there. It seemed to be as if this trip was fate’s way of saying, “go for it and see what happens.” I knew Zane needed closure. I knew that if he were ever able to start the healing process from his mother leaving, he needed to understand why she had left. In my heart of hearts, I was also hoping that his mother would have a change of heart and they would reconcile and develop a new relationship. Maybe she just needed to see him. I mean, what mother could just give up her son and walk away from him like that? I didn’t see how she could walk away again if she actually saw him in the flesh. I wanted to give this to Zane. I wanted to be able to help make his heart whole again.
“Are there any places you really want to see?” He looked over at me curiously. “Sorry I haven’t really asked you that before.”
“I think we already have a lot planned for five days.” I laughed and shook my head. “I’m not sure we could fit in any more even if I wanted to.”
“Good. I’m going to take you to all of Noah’s favorite places.”
My heart raced at his words and the smile on his face. This was the first time he had brought up Noah’s name in a positive and lighthearted context. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, he loved France. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had moved there. He went every few years at least.”
“Oh.” I looked at him cautiously. “Did he ever say why he went there so many times?”
“No, but I never really asked. I just assumed he had a thing for French girls or just really loved the food.” He chortled and turned to face me. “My brother was a bit of a player in his time.”
“Really?” I looked at him in surprise. “I thought he was really in love with, you-know-who.”
“Are we not saying her name now?” He grimaced. “Not that I want us to go down that road again.” He half laughed and half sighed. “Actually, to be honest, I was shocked when he became serious with Angelique. I mean, I knew he liked her, who wouldn’t? She’s a looker.” I frowned at him and he grinned at me mischievously. “My bad. Anyway, I meant that she wasn’t really the sort of girl I could see him falling for like that.” His expression turned serious. “That’s why I wanted to get Braydon. I honestly don’t think it was feelings that made Noah jump. I think it was the drugs. I think it was all the drugs.” He shook his head. “Noah was one of those guys who was open to love, but I certainly didn’t think he found the real deal with that bitch.”
“Oh.” I pursed my lips at his word
s, but inside I was happy that he was calling Angelique the word I called her in my mind. “Did Braydon ever say why Noah jumped? Like what happened exactly?” I spoke softly, not wanting to push the conversation if Zane wasn’t ready.
“You know what’s funny?” Zane looked at me with a confused expression. “When I was at the police station, the FBI office, Agent Waldron let me listen to some of Braydon’s interrogation. And Braydon kept shouting something about how he never actually witnessed Noah jumping. He said he wasn’t actually on the roof with him when he jumped. He was shouting that they weren’t going to pin Noah’s death on him. He said that Noah was talking all crazy, took the drugs from him and made some comments about flying, but supposedly Braydon then went to go and get some more weed from his car. He said when he went back to the roof, Noah had already jumped and before he knew it, the police were there and so was an ambulance. He said he saw Noah on a stretcher and before he could say anything, the ambulance was gone and he was pulled in for questioning.” Zane paused. “It was just weird.”
“Why was that weird?” I reached over and held his hand in mine and squeezed his fingers. Hearing about his brother’s death always made me feel so sad.
“I don’t know.” He cocked his head. “It’s just that the story was so much different from what I’d heard before.”
“Oh?” I looked at him with questioning eyes.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I always thought that Braydon was there when Noah jumped. The police made me think that Braydon was on the roof just standing there when Noah ran and jumped.” His voice cracked and my heart went out to him. “I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
“Maybe Braydon is just lying now.” I reached over and stroked his chin. “We both know how shady he is.”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I asked to talk to him. I wanted to know exactly what happened, but Agent Waldron told me it wouldn’t be possible.”
“What? After everything you did to help them?” My voice rose in disgust. “They should be ashamed of themselves. Why couldn’t they let you get some answers?”
